Beetroot burgers replacing beef on the barbecue

HAMBURGERS are giving way to ones made from beetroot on barbecues in a dramatic shift away from red meat.

Traditional carbs such as pasta and rice are also being pushed aside by butternut squash fusilli and cauliflower couscous.

Research by retail analysts Mintel found that one in four shoppers – led by young people – have cut down on meat consumption in the past six months. Links between eating red meat and cancer, coupled with concerns about animal welfare and the environment, are driving the trend.

Meanwhile, bloggers and vloggers such as Deliciously Ella and the Hemsley sisters are encouraging young women to switch to veg. The barbecue season is normally dominated Tesco said sales of spiralised vegetables have soared by 40 per cent in the past two years. Sales of organic prepared salad sales were up by nearly 90 per cent and packs of healthy fruit snacks up 400 per cent.

Emma Clifford, senior food analyst at Mintel, said: ‘Despite the ingrained popularity of meat and poultry, a clear trend has emerged of people cutting back and limiting how much of these products they eat.’