How Much Water Is Hidden in Our Food?

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1. 01How Much Water Is Hidden in Our Food?

   Hello, everyone. We usually think about the water we drink or use for showers. But there is also water we never see: the water used to produce our food. Today, I'll show you some surprising numbers.

2. 02What Is a Water Footprint?

   A water footprint is the total amount of water used to make a product. For meat, it includes the water used to grow animal feed, the water animals drink, and water for cleaning.

3. 03The Numbers

   According to the Water Footprint Network, one kilogram of beef needs about fifteen thousand four hundred liters of water on average. Pork needs about six thousand, and chicken about four thousand three hundred.

   Source: Water Footprint Network, "What can consumers do?" (based on Mekonnen & Hoekstra, Ecosystems, 2012)

4. 04Why Beef Needs So Much

   Why is beef so high? Most of the water is used to grow the animals' feed. Cattle live for years and eat a lot before they become food.

5. 05A Picture to Remember

   Here's a picture to help you remember. The Water Footprint Network says the water footprint of two hundred grams of beef is about the same as forty-seven eight-minute showers.

   Source: Water Footprint Network, "What can consumers do?"

6. 06What We Can Do

   This doesn't mean we all have to stop eating meat. Small changes help, like choosing chicken or beans a few times a week, and not throwing away food, because wasted food means wasted water too.

7. 07Conclusion

   To sum up, every meal has hidden water. Knowing the numbers helps us make better choices. Next time you order a burger, remember those forty-seven showers. Thank you.