State of the Meat and Poultry Industry 2019: Maze runners

Starting more than four decades ago, the “Have It Your Way” concept has anchored securely into the U.S. in so many aspects of our culture. U.S. consumers have become very specific about their dietary needs, including the sourcing of the food they consume. This self-centeredness has caused multiple enterprises to cater to the individual.

According to Manufacturing.net, in 2014 six out of 10 households in the U.S. had someone on a specialized or restricted diet. Flash forward to 2018, and one out of three people in the U.S. are on a specialized diet or eating plan, according to the 13th Annual Food and Health Survey. Keto, gluten-free, organic, vegetarian, locally sourced and many more demands affect the food industry, from the way proteins are raised and crops grown to consumer purchases and menu changes at restaurants. Even the menus now have icons indicating what their dishes offer to patrons. Added to this is that fact more people are eating alone and not as the family unit, allowing for their specific dietary preference to be maintained.