Individual US diets show wide variation in water scarcity footprints

A fivefold variation exists in the water scarcity footprint (WSF) of individual diets in the United States, affecting 16,800 participants.

• Meat consumption contributes 31% to the average diet's WSF, with beef accounting for approximately six times the WSF of chicken.
• Larger intakes of meat, fruit, nuts, and vegetables are associated with significant differences in WSF among individuals.
• The study highlights the regional scarcity of water as a critical factor in evaluating the environmental impact of food production.
• A novel approach was developed to analyze the types and quantities of foods, the irrigation water needed, and the scarcity of water in producing those foods.

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