Humane World for Animals poll finds most Americans would swap meat for beans once a week

Most Americans who eat meat would be willing to replace it with beans at least once a week, according to a new survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals, with black beans emerging as the nation's favorite variety.

• Most meat eaters supported a weekly meat-for-beans swap.
• Cost, health and animal welfare drove interest.
• Black beans ranked as Americans' favorite variety.

The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Humane World for Animals, found that 57% of meat eaters would be willing to swap meat for beans at least once a week, while 62% said they were open to reducing their overall meat consumption.

The findings come one month after Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States, launched its Beansday campaign, encouraging Americans to replace meat with beans every Wednesday.

The poll also found that beans are already a regular part of the American diet, with 95% of respondents saying they eat them. Black beans topped the rankings as the country's favorite bean at 46%, followed by pinto beans at 41%.

Among meat eaters, financial pressures emerged as the leading concern associated with meat consumption, with 67% citing the impact on grocery bills. Personal health and animal welfare followed closely, each cited by 64% of respondents, while 58% expressed concern about meat's impact on the environment and climate.

Younger consumers appeared more motivated by animal welfare than older generations. Among meat eaters aged 18-34, 27% said choosing foods that are kinder to animals would encourage them to replace meat with beans once a week, compared with 19% of those aged 55 and over.

Karla Dumas, Vice President of Farm Animal Protection at Humane World for Animals and a registered dietitian nutritionist, said the findings reflected a broader approach to food choices.

"What stands out in these findings is that consumers are taking a broader view when making decisions about what they eat. They understand the impact of meat consumption almost equally on their budgets, their health and animals. It is encouraging that Americans are recognizing that animals matter and are willing to make dietary changes that reflect that."

She added: "We launched Beansday to give people simple, practical ways to put those values into action. Swapping meat for beans just one day a week is a small step that makes a big impact for animals."

Humane World for Animals launched the Beansday campaign in June with actor Kevin Bacon to encourage consumers to adopt a weekly meat-free habit centered on beans.

The Harris Poll surveyed 2,003 US adults between June 23 and June 25, 2026, including 1,919 meat eaters.