Because Americans glorified meat consumption back when the industrial revolution happened. Meat was traditionally was a rich person food. Once meat prices plumm

Because Americans glorified meat consumption back when the industrial revolution happened. Meat was traditionally was a rich person food. Once meat prices plummeted, if you were "someone" you ate meat. It became a status symbol. You can see it in TV advertisements too. Once meat consumption took off in the US there was a proliferation of antidiarrheals, antacids, and other medications to deal with the symptoms of a high meat diet. You can see it on TV advertisements. Kind of interesting. Even today, a high meat diet is a status symbol in the US.