China eats the most pork overall due to its massive population, consuming roughly half the world's supply, but countries like Hong Kong, Poland, and Croatia often lead in per capita consumption (kilograms per person). While China dominates total volume, these smaller regions and European nations have exceptionally high individual consumption, with Croatia often cited as the top per person.
The top consumer of pork in 2021 continued to be China, taking into account its special economic regions Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, whose consumptions were about 61, 52, and 37 kg/inhabitant respectively.
Different types of fish meat and stocks, chicken etc. are very common. Pork is also quite common, but certainly not used in everything.
China: the giant of pork production. China, the world's most populous nation, ranks first as the world's leading pork-producing country. With a rich pig breeding and production history, pork is an essential element in the Chinese diet and is part of its culinary culture.
Pork is considered impure and unclean in Islam due to its toxic nature and its habit of eating anything, including feces. Moreover, Pork can cause several diseases to humans, such as trichinosis , food poisoning, hepatitis E, antibiotic resistance, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, swine flu, and tapeworms.
It is only in Leviticus 11:7 that eating pork is forbidden to God's people for the very first time—“… and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.” This is where and when pork in all its forms (including ham, bacon, sausage, etc.)
Muslim scholars/jurists have different opinions with regard to the ruling that dogs are considered impure (najis). According to the majority of scholars from the Shafi'i mazhab (school of thought), dogs fall in the category of najis mughallazah (major impurity).
In the last 12 months, 1kg of pigmeat has been added to the meals of ordinary Australians. Pork has become the second-favourite meat for Aussie's, behind chicken, when fresh and processed pork products are combined.
Pork, for example, is the most consumed meat globally, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, making up 36% of the world's meat intake. The popularity of pork is closely followed by poultry, which is a staple in many countries due to its versatility and affordability.
The Hebrew Bible and the Islamic Koran both forbid adherents from eating pig flesh, and this ban is one of humanity's most deeply entrenched dietary restrictions.
The Japanese 80% rule, called Hara Hachi Bu (腹八分), is a Confucian teaching to stop eating when you're about 80% full, not stuffed, promoting mindful eating, moderation, and longevity, common in Okinawa, a region with many centenarians, helping to prevent overeating and support healthy digestion by allowing the brain time to register fullness.
Three Habits That Keep (Almost) Everyone in Japan Slim
Pork. Pork is the most widely consumed red meat in Asia. According to OECD data (Figure 1), South Korea, Vietnam, and China have the highest consumption per capita in the region.
Based on a comparison of 165 countries in 2020, USA ranked the highest in cattle meat consumption with 12,535 kt followed by China and Brazil. On the other end of the scale was Belize with 1.00 kt, Seychelles with 1.00 kt and Liberia with 2.00 kt.
“Pork is a source of high-quality protein and also contains a number of nutrients,” Zumpano says, “but it's also a source of saturated fat and cholesterol, so it should be limited in terms of how often you eat it and how much of it you eat.”
The most consumed meat in Australia is overwhelmingly chicken, making up nearly half of all meat eaten, with Australians consuming around 48-50kg per person annually due to its affordability, versatility, and convenience compared to beef, lamb, and pork, whose consumption has declined relatively.
The meat is highly prized in Asian cuisines, especially in China (including Hong Kong) and Northeast India, for its fat content and texture. Some religions and cultures prohibit pork consumption, notably Islam and Judaism.
Angus beef
The meat is highly prized for its exceptional marbling, which is believed to contribute to its superior texture, incredible tenderness, juiciness, and excellent flavor. The breed's characteristics play only a partial role in the meat's quality as the breed is often crossed with other cattle breeds.
That's why we also stock Coles Own Brand free range RSPCA Approved fresh pork, grown on selected farms in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia. All Coles Own Brand free range fresh pork is humanely farmed, with animals raised to high standards, assessed under the RSPCA Approved farming scheme.
The most unhealthy meats are processed meats (bacon, hot dogs, salami, deli meats) due to high salt, fat, and preservatives (nitrates/nitrites) linked to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; followed by fatty red meats (beef, lamb, pork) and charred/burnt meats cooked at high temperatures, which form carcinogens; while even poultry becomes unhealthy with skin, heavy breading, and high sodium.
In the Torah, pigs are listed among several animals that God forbids for human consumption because they are considered to be ritually unclean.
The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by many Muslims, and is admired for its cleanliness. Islamic miniature depicting Abu Hudhayfa ibn Utba (right) telling As'ad ibn Zurara he has become a Muslim, his house is depicted as clean (ritually and practically) and inhabited by a cat a visual shorthand for Islam.
It is not haraam to own a dog, though it is not hygienic and, therefore, not permissible to keep a dog in the house. It is not haraam to touch a dog – or any other animal, for that matter.