The rise of the vegans: Are we falling out of love with meat?

The rise of the vegans: Are we falling out of love with meat?

Ceren Senkul, News Reporter

As the UK finishes the last of its turkey sandwiches, eats all the cheese it can handle and drinks the last drops of wine, the focus shifts to changes to be made for the new year.

And each year, more and more people are going vegan.

There are at least 542,000 vegans in the UK according to The Vegan Society, which doesn't seem like a lot - but that is three and half times as many as there were in 2006, making it the fastest growing lifestyle movement.

It is being driven by young people making more ethical and compassionate choices, with nearly half (42%) of all vegans in the UK aged 15-34 compared to 14% who are over 65.


There are also around 1.2 million vegetarians in Britain.

With January on our doorstep, New Year's resolutions will include Veganuary, where people commit to a vegan diet for the entire month.

It started in January 2014, with 3,000 participants, and it has grown year on year.

Image: Protest against animal cruelty in Trafalgar Square. London

Some 12,000 people signed up in 2015 with 23,000 in 2016. In 2017, 60,000 signed up, and 2018 is expected to hit more than 100,000 participants.

So are we falling out of love with meat?

There is no danger of bacon sales dwindling any time soon.

But changing markets is proof that going meat and dairy free is definitely a trend that is sticking around.

Ocado saw a 1,678% spike in vegan sales last year, and Tesco has hired a director of plant based innovation who will drastically transform the vegan offering.

People care more about what they eat and where their food comes from. Perhaps more importantly, they care about their health.

Research suggests there is an increased risk of certain cancers in people who consume more meat than those who do not.

The internet means people can share videos, photos, articles, opinions and recipes with virtually anyone who happens to stumble across their page.

It means that you cannot escape hearing news stories about heart disease and cancer.

Myth #1 - Vegans are missing out on all the good food

Because of the growing demand for plant-based foods, you would be hard-pressed to find something that doesn't have a vegan alternative.

So while meat-eaters view veganism and vegetarianism as "missing out", it is actually much easier to stay away from meat and dairy now than it ever has been.

Pizza Hut has launched a vegan pizza, and you can also get vegan options at other popular restaurant chains too, including Zizzi, JD Wetherspoon, Wagamama, Pret A Manger, Carluccio's, to name just a few.

You can even eat vegan at Nando's with a few substitutions.

Your local supermarket will have a dedicated section for dairy-free milk alternatives, which includes milk from almonds, oats, coconuts and soy. You can even get dairy-free Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Not only that, but even at Christmas itis easy to enjoy all the things others do.

If you fancy a little hot chocolate you can now get vegan whipped cream which is made from coconuts.

Or, if you wanted to push the boat right out, there's now a Baileys drink which is made using almond milk.

All these changes have happened in the last few years, which shows demand is increasing at a rapid rate.

But why do people care all of a sudden?

A lot of people view being vegan as something they would probably do if it meant they weren't giving up so much, but the sheer number of alternative products mean it is easier now to stay on the bandwagon.

Let's look at two of the main reasons for people choosing a plant-based diet.

Ethics

Myth #2 - I care about animals, so I always buy ethically

Thinking about it in the simplest terms, being an animal lover and eating meat just doesn't add up.

But, as Britain prides itself on being a nation of animal lovers, we try to do our bit by saying we always opt for products labelled ethically sourced, free-range or organic.

Dominika Piasecka, a spokeswoman for The Vegan Society, tells Sky News it is a cheap marketing trick.

"It's tempting to believe that the animals we eat lived happy, healthy lives and experienced no pain or fear," she says.

"Unfortunately, the sad truth is that all animals raised for meat, dairy and eggs - including those labelled 'free range' or 'organic' - end up in the same slaughterhouse.

"The idea of 'ethical meat' is flawed because 'ethical slaughter' is an oxymoron; no matter how they are treated when alive, all animals experience the same fear when it comes to slaughter.

"We wouldn't think it's any more ethical to kill someone who had a pleasurable life than someone who didn't. 'Ethical meat' claims are a cheap marketing trick designed to make the consumer comfortable with buying the product while ignoring the fact that an animal was exploited to produce it."

Health

Is eating less meat healthier?

Dr Hazel Wallace, author of The Food Medic, says there are drawbacks to both a vegan diet and a non-vegan diet.

She told Sky News: "The debate as to whether a plant-based diet is healthier than an omnivorous diet inclusive of both meat and plant products is extremely complex and there are benefits and drawbacks to each.

"A leading concern regarding a vegan diet is that there is a higher risk of nutrient deficiencies.

"At the moment the evidence is that eating red meat is a probable cause of colorectal a cancer, and that processed red meat is a convincing cause of colorectal cancer."

"Well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets can be incredibly nutritious and healthy because they tend to be lower in saturated fat, higher in fibre, and contain greater amounts of fruit and vegetables than omnivorous diets.

"However, there are a handful of nutrients which are slightly more difficult to obtain from plant based diets."

Myth #3 - If you want to build muscle and be healthy, you need meat protein, don't you?

Image: Veganuary ambassador and Team GB triathlete Daniel Geisler

Venus and Serena Williams manage well on a raw vegan diet. So does UFC fighter Nate Diaz who defeated Conor McGregor before Floyd Mayweather did.

And Veganuary ambassador and Team GB triathlete Daniel Geisler didn't have any trouble winning a silver medal.

He told Sky News: "Your body needs energy to function, recover and move and a vegan lifestyles is perfect for this.

"I am faster and stronger than I have ever been. It was proven with my silver medal at the age-group duathlon World Championships."

Will we all look back one day and think of meat-eating as barbaric?

Image: Derek Sarno: Vegan is going mainstream

Derek Sarno, former senior global chef at Whole Foods Market in the US and Tesco's new director of plant based innovation, told Sky News veganism is definitely an upward trend.

"A whole new generation of free-from animal foods will disrupt the food service market across the board," he said.

"Everybody these days knows someone that is vegan and more are going that way, it's empowering and makes a difference by impacting our health, environment and the lives of animals."