The EPA caved to pressure from the agricultural sector to dumb down its messaging on food waste and meat consumption after it deleted a tweet suggesting people reduce their red meat intake, according to the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition.
Stop Climate Chaos Coalition coordinator Sadhbh O'Neill, who is also a member of the EPA’s advisory committee, called for the agency to restore its advice on meat eating on its social media channels.
The tweet also pointed out that 10% of meat bought is thrown out.
Following a complaint from the Irish Farmers' Association, the EPA responded to the farming organisation saying it was its intention to share helpful advice, not to cause anger but it acknowledged it may have been perceived differently.
"Therefore we have deleted the tweet and would welcome the opportunity to meet with the IFA," the EPA said.
Ms O'Neill said that "the scientific basis for advising the public to reduce meat consumption could not be more clear".
"If the EPA wants to be taken seriously as an impartial scientific body, then it must continue to tell the truth, even if the message is inconvenient or unwelcome."
She said it is particularly worrying the EPA has ignored its own research, which shows a strong level of public understanding of the link between meat consumption and climate change.
She cited a number of EPA research studies that show that some people already link less red meat to helping combat climate change, and one international study, she said, advises cutting red meat and processed foods as part of a healthy diet.
Ms O'Neill said that "if the EPA is prevented from giving dietary sustainability recommendations, by the same rule nor should it give advice to shift away from cars to cycling and walking for health and environmental benefits, which would clearly be ridiculous".
The IFA had told the EPA the tweet had caused "considerable anger amongst farmers who feel it goes beyond the remit of the EPA and is not consistent with Government dietary guidelines".
The IFA also requested a meeting to discuss the post, which the EPA has agreed to.
