1000 visitors to The Vegetarian Society website were asked the following questions:

1. Are you a vegetarian? (The Vegetarian Society defines a vegetarian as someone who does not eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter house by-products such as gelatine or animal fat.)

2. Have you visited eating establishments that think that vegetarians eat fish?

3. Would you feel comfortable dining in a restaurant that offered fish as a vegetarian option?

4. Would you choose to return to a restaurant that included fish dishes on its vegetarian menu?

85% of respondents have visited eating establishments that think vegetarians eat fish.

89% of respondents would NOT feel comfortable dining in a restaurant that offered fish as a vegetarian option.

86% of respondents would NOT return to a restaurant that included fish dishes in its vegetarian menu.

60% of the NON-vegetarians who completed the questionnaire would NOT feel comfortable dining in a restaurant that offered fish as a vegetarian option.

60% of the NON-vegetarian respondents would NOT return to a restaurant that included fish dishes on its vegetarian menu.

The Vegetarian Society believes these figures speak for themselves.

Vegetarians spend approximately £1.26billion on eating out each year and cafes and restaurants that list fish as a vegetarian option are losing out on over £1billion of this income.

Editors
For more information please contact Kerry Bennett or Liz O’Neill in The Vegetarian Society Press Office on 0161 925 2012/3