Vegetarian options increase as a third eat less meat

According to new research carried out for the Vegetarian Society over the last 12 months, just under a third of those spoken to said that they have reduced the amount of meat they were eating. An additional 10 per cent said that they were thinking about cutting down on the amount of meat they currently eat, or even wanted to stop eating it entirely.

The report was produced by NatCen, one of the leading independent institutes on social research, and it revealed that 44 per cent of those surveyed were either eating less meat, no meat, or strongly considering reducing the amount of meat they were eating.

The main reason for most people making this decision came down to health, with 58 per cent of those asked saying that this was the main factor. Other influences included a desire to save money, concerns over animal welfare, and concerns over food safety. These views were shared by roughly a fifth of the participants. A final reason for one in ten was in relation to environmental concerns.

This change in dietary trends has led to restaurants and catering agencies offering more vegetarian options to reflect the shift in public opinion. New research reveals that of all new menu items introduced, 30 per cent are vegetarian, and in some leading pub chains, 19 per cent of all choices are aimed at those choosing not to eat meat.

The chief executive of the Vegetarian Society, Lynne Elliot, said that: “there is an increasing awareness of the issues relating to our food choices, and that has resulted in a large number of people reducing the amount of meat they eat or cutting it out altogether.”