This document discusses demographics and trends related to vegetarianism in the UK. It notes that 6% of UK households contained at least one vegetarian member in 2003, and England had the highest percentage at 6%. Households with higher incomes over £44,000 were also more likely to be vegetarian. The document defines types of vegetarians such as lacto-ovo vegetarians and provides various reasons people adopt a vegetarian lifestyle including religion, health, and moral/ethical stances. It discusses companies that target the vegetarian market like Quorn and Redwood and organizations like The Vegetarian Society. The types of foods vegetarians cannot consume are also outlined.

1. Vegetarian Fact-file
Demographics of the vegetarian community:
It is notable that ”6% households contained at least one vegetarian member”¹ in 2003,
according to the Food Standards Survey, which shows that within the UK, the number of
vegetarian consumers are on the rise, and people are open to admit that they live a meat-
free lifestyle, consuming vegetable-based products primarily. Also, in 2001, England was
recorded as having the highest number of vegetarian individuals within the UK, at the figure
of “6%”¹ , which initially shows that Britain is becoming more „healthy‟ in a sense, diminishing
the reputation that it is a nation of binge eaters, fasting on takeaway goods, living a fruit-free
lifestyle.
Furthermore, it is important to state that this „stereotype‟ is often associated with individuals
who earn under “£44,000”¹ per year, as discovered by the FSA (Food Standards Agency),
where individuals who have a significantly higher household income are more likely to be
vegetarian. This particular piece of information shows that demographics take a forefront
within the vegetarian community, where „middle class‟ individuals are more likely to adhere
to a vegetarian diet, due to the fact that they can afford to purchase a high abundance of
goods that are linked to the vegetarian way of life, (e.g. fruit, vegetables, gelatine and animal
fat-free products). It is interesting how the income of a household can determine their eating
habits, but it also strengthens the stereotype of the under classes indulging on unhealthy
products, which is a form of injustice, as “2%”¹ of households that earn under £44,000, do in
fact live a vegetarian lifestyle.
Vegetarian (definition):
A „vegetarian‟ is an individual who adopts a lifestyle of consuming goods that do not contain
any animal remains, as it contradicts with their moral beliefs and ethical stance. It is notable
that they will not eat any meat products whatsoever, unless they are a pescatarian, who
consumes seafood, but not any other type of meat. Also, a vegetarian can take many forms,
with some eating meat on an occasional basis, who are labelled as „flexitarians‟, as well as a
„lacto-ovo-vegetarian‟ , who does not eat any form of meat (including fish), but adds dairy
products into their diet, such as milk and cheese.
Furthermore, it is notable that this type of individual will stand up for animal rights, opposing
to controversial issues such as fox hunting, as well as the badger culling, and are likely to
hold strong opinions over the welfare of animals, as they refuse to consume them, due to the
fact that they believe that it is cruel to slaughter an animal for mere consumption. They may
support charities such as RSPCA, PDSA, and may be a member of PETA (People for the

2. Ethical Treatment of Animals), which is an organisation that campaigns for animal rights, and
protests against the use of fur for clothing, seal hunting, as well as animal testing.
Various reasons that individuals adopt a vegetarian lifestyle:
Religion:Itis notable that various religious groups prohibit certain types of meat, for
example, in the Islamic culture, pork cannot be consumed at all, and only „halal‟ meat is
allowed, where a prayer is performed before the animal is killed. Also, in Judaism, „kosher‟
meat (also known as kashrut) is eaten, as it is in accordance with the Jewish dietary rules,
where the meat itself is prepared in a specific way which meets the „halacha‟ (the laws of
Judaism).
Health:In order to lead a significantly healthier lifestyle, an individual may adopt a
vegetarian diet, so that they can improve their overall well-being, as well as enhancing their
everyday diet, by adding a range of various vegetable-based dishes to their recipe list.
Moral/ Ethical Stance:An individual may be opposed to the mistreatment of animals, and
will therefore adopt a vegetarian lifestyle, as they will be against animal slaughter for
consumption purposes. Also, it is notable that their beliefs may have been ingrained into
them from a young age, (if their family were also vegetarian) which means that they may
have unknowingly adopted this particular way of life. The individual may also have concerns
over how an animal, (which is being utilised as food) is being treated before their death,
which may convince them to either become a vegetarian, or alternatively purchase free-
range meat products, so that they can eat meat in the knowledge that the animal has not
been confined to a small space, and has lived a good life, which will inevitably diminish any
sense of remorse that the consumer may have inhabited beforehand.
Companies that specifically target the vegetarian market:
Quorn –This particular company tailors their products primarily to the vegetarian market,
however, it is notable that this meat substitute (formed from a type of fungi) is also eaten by
non-vegetarian consumers due to its prevalence on the mainstream market. It has become
increasingly popular, and is now a household brand, that is bought by a variety of
individuals, as opposed to a niche, strictly vegetarian audience. The website of the company
issues a list of several recipes, which can be shared, as well as printed by the consumer, so
that they can utilise Quorn products as a substitute to meat, which will in turn, make them
significantly healthier as individuals.
Redwood –This is a corporation which panders primarily to the vegetarian market, however,
it also caters to the vegan market, distributing products that are strictly animal-free, with

3. dairy-free cheeses, which are constructed utilising soya as a substitute. Their key goal is to
obtain all of their ingredients from a natural plant-based source, and to diminish any
hydrogenated fats, eggs, and artificial colours from their products, initially making their
products safe for consumption. Also, the company itself has been approved by the Vegan
Society, which reinstates its authenticity as a legitimate corporation.
The Vegetarian Society –This particular organisation is associated with individuals who live
on either a vegan or vegetarian diet, where it offers support for them, as well as listing a
wide range of recipes in which the consumer can view, and then perform for them. It also
encourages the consumer to join the „community‟ of the organisation, contributing their
opinions, so that fellow vegetarians can read their views, and learn from them, which may
also bribe them into publishing their views on the stated organisation. However, it is notable
that this specific website utilises emotive language such as “around two million land animals
are slaughtered every day in the UK alone, just so that people can eat their flesh”¹, in order
to make individuals who consume meat, feel a sense of remorse. It is notable that this is a
form of propaganda, which is used to convert people into adopting the vegetarian lifestyle,
and is a clever marketing technique which will initially give the organisation more
recognition, as they are „pioneering‟ the campaign against meat-consumption.
The types of food that a vegetarian cannot consume:
A vegetarian cannot consume any type of meat, even fish (otherwise, they would be classed
as a pescatarian). As a vegetarian cannot eat any animal-based products, they are therefore
prohibited to eat products such as marshmallows, as they contain gelatine (which derives
from the fat of an animal). It is also notable that lacto-ovo vegetarians (a sub-form of
vegetarianism) can eat dairy products, as it does not involve the slaughter of an animal;
however, they are restricted from consuming any meat product, as inevitably, that goes
against their ethos as individuals, as well as contradicting their diet. Also, any fast-food
product, even if it is vegetarian, cannot be consumed in most cases, due to the hindering fact
that the product itself is usually cooked in lard, which is a beef fat, and therefore, is not
recognised as a „vegetarian‟ meal.
Furthermore, various canned products, especially soup, can contain animal fat, so that they
can be preserved for an extended period of time. The most common type of „fat‟ which is
found in these types of products is bouillon, which is a form of beef broth, and even though
it is not a „proper‟ kind of meat, it is still something that a vegetarian should avoid, as it
contains the remains of an animal, which significantly contradicts with the ethos of the
vegetarian lifestyle. Also, the most obvious type of product in which a vegetarian cannot eat
is meat itself, as if a supposed „vegetarian‟ consumed this animal-derived product, they
would not be classed as a vegetarian, but a flexitarian, who occasionally dines on meat, but
generally consumes vegetable-based produce.

4. References:
¹ http://www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=755
By Catherine Giggal and SanemKoyupinar