ANIMALS AND ANIMAL products make up a major part of Americans' diets. Only an estimated 1 to 2 percent of Americans are vegetarians or vegans. Vegetarians are people who do not eat any meat products, including beef, pork, chicken, and seafood, while vegans do not eat meat or any animal products, including eggs and dairy. The remaining 98 to 99 percent of Americans consume meat, eggs, and dairy in great quantities.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a typical American annually consumes 64 pounds of beef, 47.8 pounds of pork, 52 pounds of chicken, and 14.5 pounds of seafood. Additionally, an average person in the United States eats from 234 to 244 eggs each year and 580 pounds of dairy products, which include milk, cheese, and other milk-based products.

Americans eat meat and other animal products not only because they like the taste but also because these foods meet daily...