Yolie Michielsen | Public Backlash Against National and Local Meat Curtailment Policies: Insights into Ideological and Emotional Dynamics

The negative effects of meat consumption on health and the environment necessitate effective meat curtailment policies (MCPs). However, public backlash to these policies in the Dutch context have been significant, rooted in concerns about individual freedom and fueled by populist sentiments. This presentation explores the ideological and emotional underpinnings of this backlash through two case studies: online discourse surrounding proposed MCPs in the Dutch Climate Agreement and employee reactions to implemented MCPs in Amsterdam's municipal restaurants. Our findings highlight the interplay of neoliberalism, carnism, and populism shaping public resistance. Policy makers need to address these factors when designing and implementing MCPs, in order for these dietary policies to achieve widespread public acceptance.