Ten percent of people in Great Britain no longer eat meat, study finds
The data suggests a wider shift towards more plant-forward eating habits, as millions in the country now consider themselves vegan or follow a diet that reduces or eliminates meat.
A study has revealed that one in 10 people in Great Britain are reducing their meat intake, as part of a wider cultural shift towards plant-forward diets and meals.
The new data which charts dietary habits in the country also found that 3 percent of people - representing approximately 2 million individuals - now identify as vegan or follow a plant-based diet.
The results come from a survey conducted last year that asked 10,000 adults in the UK about their diets and meat intake.
Of the 10 percent of respondents that are reducing or eliminating animal products in some way, 3 percent consider themselves as vegan or plant-based, while 7 percent identify as either vegetarian or pescetarian.
A file photo of a recipe with vegan chicken.
Analysis of the responses found different trends throughout the country, with the percentage of vegans reaching almost 4 percent of the population in the North East, South West, and London regions, but dropping to as low as 2 percent in Wales, Scotland, and the East Midlands.
Those that answered the survey as vegan were then asked further questions about their motivations and habits. The top reasons for being vegan among those surveyed included animal welfare, for their physical health, and for the environment.
The UK’s Vegan Society, which commissioned the study, said the data shows a “remarkable transformation” in attitudes towards veganism and plant-based living across Britain.
The data also show that significantly more women (3.60 percent) than men (1.98 percent) say they are vegan or plant-based.
And perhaps the most significant trend was age, with younger age groups said to be leading the shift to more plant-based food habits. According to the study, adults aged 16-64 are twice as likely to be vegan as those aged 65 and over.
Claire Ogley, Head of Research at The Vegan Society, said that “it’s inspiring to see younger generations leading the way, with a growing number of people adopting more sustainable and compassionate lifestyles for a variety of reasons, from health to the environment to animal welfare."
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