Why people in the US don't eat mutton

In the UK it was more down to marketing - mutton fell out of favour but lamb remained popular. But it seems different factors were at play in the US

In 1861, Abraham Lincoln served roast mutton at his inaugural dinner. America once had over 50 million sheep. Today, the average American eats just one pound of lamb per year — and mutton? You can't even find it in most grocery stores.

So what happened?

The answer involves bloody range wars between cowboys and shepherds in the Wild West, a World War II feeding disaster that traumatized an entire generation, a chemical invention that destroyed the wool industry overnight, and the most successful meat marketing campaign in history.

This is the story of how America forgot an entire meat.

having lived for a time on the navajo reservation, i am a big fan of mutton. it’s not the only way i feel like the odd man out in american culture! slowly preparing for the eventual introduction of sheep to my home system.

I live in the US and I have eaten Lamb, but not mutton.

The grocery store I shop at has Lamb but no Mutton.

I don't know why mutton is not sold in the US.

Veal used to be a thing though I have not seen it in stores in a long time.  I think this has something to do with Baby Beef.

I'm starting to see more offering of mutton and lamb where I live from farmers but I'm unsure how much business they truly do. I think if someone were to teach HOW to best cook these proteins then maybe there would be wider adoption of the meat.

I plan on getting some lamb to try out, I just know that I am nervous as I have never tried it before!