Poland's Meat Consumption Holds Strong Amid Economic and Health Trends

Poland remains a nation of meat-eaters, with dietary habits showing remarkable resilience against price hikes, health trends, and ecological concerns. A recent study by UCE Research, Grupa Blix, and Proxi.cloud reveals that 54.7% of Poles consume the same amount of meat and processed meats as they did two to three years ago. Another 21.8% report a slight decrease in consumption, while a notable 20.4% indicate an increase.

Alarmingly, only 2.5% of the Polish population has completely eliminated meat products from their diet, a figure lower than in previous studies. The data underscores the continued importance of meat in the Polish diet, with a quarter of respondents consuming meat or processed meats daily and half eating them several times a week. In 2025, Polish households spent over 38 billion Polish zloty (approximately $9.5 billion USD) on red meat, poultry, processed meats, and plant-based meat alternatives, representing a nearly 12% year-on-year increase. Households purchased 1.8 million tons of meat products, spending over 2,700 zloty ($675 USD) per household and buying more than 125 kg of these products.

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If it is so, despite several years of increased inflation and a loud debate about plant-based diets, it shows that eating habits around meat and processed meats are among the most resistant to lifestyle changes for Poles.

Dr. Krzysztof Łuczak, chief economist at Grupa Blix, attributes the stability of meat consumption habits to decades of ingrained cultural norms, particularly the "meat with dinner" tradition. He suggests that significant shifts require strong economic, health, or generational triggers. The market is increasingly segmented, with consumer behavior diverging. Marcin Lenkiewicz, president of Grupa Blix, notes that while some consumers are increasing meat intake for high-protein or traditional diets, an equally large group is reducing it for health, economic, or ideological reasons. Experts observe that lower-income households are more likely to cut back due to budget constraints, while wealthier consumers may opt for more expensive cuts. Younger individuals are more frequently influenced by health and environmental considerations.

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This means that there is no single, dominant direction of change today, but rather attitudes diverging in both directions simultaneously.