Historically known for its cheese and foie gras consumption, France is embracing more plant-based fare as revealed by the 24 percent soar in vegan and vegetarian product sales in 2018.





Researchers at Xerfi, the firm that reported the rising sales, predict the trend will continue. They expect an annual growth of 17 percent in sales of plant-based products between 2019 and 2021. Their report credits not only flexitarians but major retailers, such as Carrefour, which launched new vegan items by major food companies Nestlé and Danone.





The Xerfi report concludes:

The multiplication of food scandals, the questioning of the supposed benefits of milk and meat, or the increased sensitivity to animal welfare have in fact pushed the French to turn away from meat products in favour of vegetable proteins.



But the move away from animal products isn’t unique to France; it’s a global trend. A recent survey by comparethemarket.com and Gresham College professor Carolyn Roberts reveals that the number of vegan U.K. residents has spiked over the past two years. The data shows that around 3.5 million now identify as vegan, a whopping 7 percent of the total U.K. population





Similarly, Australia is seeing an increase in plant-based diets . According to the Food Revolution Network, between 2014 and 2016, the number of food products launched in Australia carrying a vegan claim rose by 92 percent.





Germany is also one of the fastest-growing places for veganism, in large part because of the country’s interest in animal welfare and environmental protection. A 2016 study based on 2008–2011 data estimated that 4.3 percent of Germans between 18 and 79 identified as vegetarian









This shift to eating plants goes a long way toward reducing suffering. Globally, billions of animals are raised and killed for food each year. The cruel conditions these animals face is nothing short of horrifying. Sadly, many of the abuses are considered standard practice at factory farms.





See for yourself:







