(But half of them are secret meat eaters)
HALF of Britain’s self- declared vegans and vegetarians sometimes eat meat.
They admitted to researchers that they occasionally tuck in to a bacon sandwich at the weekend or they might sneak a slice of turkey with a chipolata during Christmas dinner.
Their guilty secret emerged in the annual survey of shopping and eating habits by supermarket Waitrose, which also gives a fascinating insight into the nation’s changing tastes.
Despite the occasional lapse by vegetarians, Britain as a whole is moving away from meat, with many people adopting a ‘ flexitarian’ approach and eating mostly but not exclusively plant-based meals.
The store’s report said: ‘One in eight Brits, almost 13 per cent of the population, is now vegetarian or vegan, with a further 21 per cent identifying as flexitarian This means that a third of us now have meat-free or meat-reduced diets.
‘But half of all those who say they’re vegetarian or vegan also eat meat “at weekends”, “occasionally” or “on special occasions”.’
Asked what they missed most, 41 per cent of non-meat eaters said the Sunday roast, 32 per cent bacon sandwiches, 29 per cent sausages and 18 per cent burgers.
Searches for vegan and vegetarian barbecue recipes on the Waitrose website rose by 350 per cent over the summer, with beetroot burgers and celeriac steaks emerging as the most popular options.
The chain launched vegan sections in 134 stores this year and other
supermarkets are going down the same route. Waitrose chief executive Jonathan moore said: ‘Vegetarianism has grown and evolved – people dip in and out of it.’
The study also identified the food trends of 2018, which range from aquafaba, the water from tins of chickpeas used as an alternative to egg white, to jackfruit, a ‘sweet and sour’ plant in the same family as figs and mulberries. The study also revealed a major backlash against plastic and throwaway packaging.
Waitrose managing director Rob Collins said of the trends: ‘a consumer revolution is quietly taking place. as we become increasingly mindful of our own health, the wellbeing of our family and that of the planet, we’re reshaping how we shop, cook and eat.’