Vegan, Vegetarian and Flexitarian Diets

What are vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets?

Vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian are food diets that are primarily plant-based.

Vegan lifestyles do not involve meat or animal products, including eggs or dairy. Vegetarians also do not consume meat but may include animal products such as eggs or honey. Flexitarian diets are broader. They are primarily plant-based, but meals occasionally include meat, fish, or milk-related products. For example, flexitarians may only eat meat once a week. There are many other diets, such as pescatarians, who do not eat meat but do eat fish, and pollotarians, who eat poultry but no other meats.

The rise of ethical eating and changing diets

There are many reasons that consumers follow plant-based diets – but the three most common concerns relate to animal welfare, the environment, and health.

Ethical Concerns Over Animal Cruelty

Ethical concerns over animal cruelty, is a significant reason consumers choose not to support certain farming practices and want to avoid harm to animals. Many consumers choose to avoid supporting certain farming practices due to concerns about animal welfare. Factory farming, in particular, is criticised for inhumane conditions, driving some individuals to adopt vegetarian, vegan, or more ethically-conscious omnivorous diets. Animal cruelty concerns have led to increased interest in humane certification schemes and plant-based alternatives.

Environmental Impact of Meat Consumption

Some consumers avoid meat due to its environmental impact. Meat production, especially beef and lamb, is associated with high greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water usage.

As a result, environmentally conscious consumers often reduce or eliminate meat consumption. Studies show that plant-based diets generally have a lower carbon footprint, motivating some to adopt vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian lifestyles.

Health-Conscious Consumers Choosing Plant-Based Diets

Many individuals perceive plant-based diets as healthier, often due to their emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and reduced saturated fats. This appeal extends to those managing specific health concerns, such as cardiovascular issues or weight control. Some scientific evidence supports the health benefits of plant-based diets, including reduced risks of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Dietary Needs of Individuals with Multiple Allergies

Individuals suffering from multiple allergies, such as eggs, fish and dairy, may find vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian diets more suitable.

The Food Standards Agency’s recent research into vegan food labelling and its effects on those with allergies has found that 29% of consumers were unaware they should also check allergen labelling.

They assumed products labelled “Vegan” were free from allergens related to animal products, such as milk, eggs, fish, and crustaceans. 54% of consumers with allergic reactions to animal products have occasionally assumed vegan food is safe to eat without checking the product ingredients.

Ensuring correct allergen and ingredient labelling is essential, as consumers must know what they eat is right for them and their dietary requirements.

At LiberEat, our allergen error detection technology detects allergen and ingredient food data errors. This is particularly helpful for food businesses with allergen claims and those who want to declare their food vegetarian and vegan. It’s vital for food businesses to product consumers who avoid ingredients, for safety reasons.

How many vegans are there in the UK?

A 2024 UK Finder study found that:

Vegans represent 4.7% of the UK population, that is an estimated 2.5 million individuals
Vegetarians represent 5.8% of the UK population, that is an estimated 3.1 million individuals
Pescatarian represent 5.7% of the UK population, that is an estimated 3 million individuals
16% of the UK population eat a meat-free diet, that is around 8.6 million people
Between 2023 and 2024, the number of individuals who identify as vegan has risen by around 1.1 million

LiberEat’s Allergen Error Detection Technology

LiberEat’s Allergen Error Detection technology identifies allergen and ingredient food data and labelling errors. Our technology ensures the 14 major allergens in the UK or the nine major allergens in the US are displayed correctly for consumers.

Our food safety software helps minimise human error by working alongside Food Safety and Quality Assurance teams with their existing food safety systems. It ensures all allergen data is accurate and up-to-date. Our systems act as a second layer of defence and are easy to learn.

LiberEat’s mission is to “Make Food Safer for Everyone.” Consumers with allergens, food hypersensitivity, lifestyle, and dietary requirements can be assured they are being protected from incorrect allergen labelling and misinformation. This also reduces the risk of legal and reputational damage to your food business and eases the burden of managing all food safety compliance practices.

Vegan

Vegetarian

Flexitarian

By 2026, the global vegan food market value will reach over 24 billion.
Meticulous Research’s market research shows that Europe’s plant-based food market will be worth $16.7 billion by 2029.
Research from Mintel shows that the UK was recognised as a world leader in launching vegan products in 2018.

UK consumers spent nearly £600 million on meat-free products in 2020, almost double from 2016.
Plant-based and vegetarian ready-meals have increased, with 1-in-5 being meat-free in 2021.
In 2023, 11% of British 18-24-year-olds stated themselves as vegetarian, compared to 4% of over 55-year-olds.

2024 YouGov data shows that 13% of Britons are flexitarian.
36% of flexitarians in Europe state plant-based milk as their most used plant-based product and 2,000 respondents say that tasting good and being healthy motivate what they purchase.
Data from Numerator shows that in 2023, 72 million American households identified as flexitarian