I suspect what the GP meant was: by making meat as affordable as it is, so that virtually all Americans can eat a substantial amount of it for every meal, we've

I suspect what the GP meant was: by making meat as affordable as it is, so that virtually all Americans can eat a substantial amount of it for every meal, we've reduced our ethical and quality standards. It's an easy trope to suggest it's cruel to state meat should be less accessible to the poor. But virtually nobody would claim caviar, truffles, or saffron should be ubiquitous foods.