A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, fish, or other animal products. Some vegetarians avoid all animal products while others only avoid meat. People become vegetarian for various reasons like animal welfare, health concerns, or environmental impact. As vegetarianism has grown in popularity in the UK, more food companies have created meat substitutes and other vegetarian options to meet demand. Vegetarians must carefully read labels to avoid animal products in ingredients like gelatin or rennet.

1. What is a vegetarian?
A vegetarian is someone who doesn’t eat meat, fish or maybe anything that
comes from an animal. Some vegetarians only don’t eat meat but eat fish and
other things from an animal and some don’t even eat anything to do with
animals. Some people can adopt vegetarianism for all different reasons, some
people could think its mean because it is killing an animal or some people may
have found out how the animal is killed and put them off eating meat. Some
people can be as drastic as not eating honey from a bee and this is because they
feel that even from the animal things shouldn’t be used. There are also certain
types of people that are known as drastic vegetarians, which are people who are
even bothered about the types of clothes that they wear anything that could
have the slightest involvement from and animal. Although there are some less
dramatic who feel that the gelatine in sweets shouldn’t be eaten as it comes from
pigs.

2. • Demographic Information
In the UK in 2012 2% of both adults and children
reported that they were vegetarians and less
than 1% reported following a vegan diet. 1,582
children and 1,491 adults were vegetarians in
2012.
•
• In 2011 1,095 children and 1,031 adults were
vegetarians so that is about 400 more vegetarians
in one year but in 2010 it is both around 500.
Also research predicts that the number of
vegetarians in Britain will increase from 5% of the
population to 10% in the next 2 years.

3. • Reasons to be Vegetarian
People who earn over the average wage a year
a more likely to be vegetarians as the food is
actually quite expensive. Also people who get
paid more might be more aware and have
more sense than others as to earn more
money you have to be good at your job or be
doing a good job so they might be more aware
of their health and the way they live.

4. • Foods they can eat
Quorn, the vegan society and redwood are companies that specifically
target vegetarianism. Quorn is the leading brand for imitation meat
in the UK. Quorn is extracted from the fungus fusariumvenenatum.
It is mainly sold as ready cooked meals for people who don’t eat
meat or can be a good way to start to not as it seems like the meat
but instead is a substitute to replace the food you’d be used to.
Also Marlow Foods first produced Quorn as a retail product in 1985.
The Vegetarian Society is a British charity established in 30
September 1847 to support and increase the number of vegetarians
in the UK. Redwood specializes in producing animal free
ingredients. They are made from kinder alternatives to meat fish
and dairy free cheese. They also make foods that are free from
hydrogenated fats, eggs, genetically modified
organisms, cholesterol, artificial colours and preservatives. Some
supermarkets have their own branded vegetarian foods and they
are all different in each supermarket. But they all try to compete
with each other to make the most popular vegetarian food.

5. • Food they don’t eat
The foods that vegetarians don’t eat is obviously
meat but depending on the type of vegetarian it
is depends on what they eat because some don’t
eat fish and others choose not to eat any type of
produce that and animal has been involved in the
making of such as sweets like marshmallows and
they are made by pigs by using the gluten
although some foods can be made gluten free to
allow for vegetarians to eat it. They eat a meat
substitute that is made from plants like Quorn
products or another product is tofu.