Fox News’ John Roberts Issues Correction to Viral Segment on Supposed Biden Burger Crackdown

Michael LucianoApr 26th, 2021, 4:24 pm
 

Fox News anchor John Roberts issued a fact-check regarding a false claim about President Joe Biden’s climate plan — and what it means for burgers — that rocketed around conservative media over the weekend.

Roberts corrected the record on Monday:

On Friday, we told you about a study from the University of Michigan to give some perspective on President Biden’s ambitious climate change goals. That research from 2020 found that cutting back how much red meat people eat would have a drastic impact on harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The data was accurate, but a graphic and the script incorrectly implied it was part of Biden’s plan for dealing with climate change. That is not the case.

The Fox News report that inspired this meat correction began Thursday when British tabloid The Daily Mail published a lengthy if not loose analysis of Biden’s climate change plan, which presently doesn’t have very many details. Nevertheless, the author cited this possible bone of contention:

Americans may have to cut their red meat consumption by a whopping 90 percent and cut their consumption of other animal based foods in half.

Gradually making those changes by 2030 could see diet-related greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 50 percent, according to a study by Michigan University’s Center for Sustainable Systems.

To do that, it would require Americans to only consume about four pounds of red meat per year, or 0.18 ounces per day.

It equates to consuming roughly one average sized burger per month.

The problem is the Biden administration hasn’t said anything about Americans needing to reduce their meat consumption. Instead, the Mail cited a University of Michigan (and not, as the Mail says, a “Michigan University”) study that appears to have no connection whatsoever to whatever climate change plan the Biden administration has in the works.

Nonetheless, several conservative commentators and politicians ran with the story. Larry Kudlow of Fox Business claimed Americans would have to eat brussels sprouts instead of burgers for the Fourth of July. Citing the false Fox News report, Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) tweeted of Biden’s nonexistent meat mandate “Not gonna happen in Texas!”

Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. claimed, “I’m pretty sure I ate 4 pounds of red meat yesterday. That’s going to be a hard NO from me.”

And gun-toting Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) told the president to “stay out of my kitchen.”

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Michael Luciano - Senior Editor

Mike is a Mediaite senior editor who covers the news in primetime. Follow him on Bluesky.