Facts to coincide with National Vegetarian Week

Amongst the sample (broadly representative of UK shoppers) MMR found 6.5 % were vegetarian and 0.5% were vegan. On average, women were much more likely to be vegetarian than men (8% vs 3%). Vegetarians are more likely to be from the higher social classes (64% ABC1 amongst vegetarians vs. 56% amongst non vegetarians). Veganism could be a growing trend: of the vegetarians the MMR spoke to, only 19% had become vegetarian in the last 5 years. For vegans, this figure was 72%. Half of vegetarians actually cook meat for other members of their household and this figure rises to two-thirds amongst those with children. Overall, only 59% of vegetarians can be classified as "strict veggies" (i.e. eat no meat or fish). The main foods missed by vegetarians are: bacon (35%), chicken (19%), beef / burgers / steak (11%) and sausages (5%). The five most common reasons (unprompted) why people go vegetarian are: animal rights / cruelty / welfare (31%), dislike meat / taste of meat (20%), it is not right to kill / eat animals (16%), health reasons / healthy eating (15%), I could not eat animals / animal flesh (11%). 10 percent of lapsed vegetarians have moved away from a vegetarian lifestyle primarily due to concerns over health and nutrition. The majority of UK vegetarians feel the need to supplement their diet with vitamins and minerals. Around a quarter of vegetarians are not satisfied with the choice of vegetarian options available to them in their supermarket.