General
Statistics since 2000:
 Food
Standards Agency – Public
Attitudes to Food survey 2009
UK wide survey of 3,219 adults Oct/Nov 2008
3% of respondents were found to be “completely vegetarian”,
and an additional 5% “partly vegetarian (don’t eat some types
of fish or meat)".
Food
Standards Agency – Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards survey
2008
UK
wide survey of 3,627 adults Aug/Oct 2007
2%
of respondents were found to be “completely vegetarian”,
and an additional 5% “partly vegetarian”.
England – 3%
vegetarian, 5% partly vegetarian.
Scotland – 1%
vegetarian, 3% partly vegetarian.
Defra
survey of attitudes, knowledge and behaviour in relation to the environment
UK
wide survey of 3618 adults, published November 2007
3%
of respondents were found to be vegetarian, an additional 2% vegan, and
an additional 5% ate only fish and/or chicken as well as vegetarian food.
Male – 2%
vegetarian, 3% vegan, female – 3% vegetarian, 2% vegan.
The
highest number of vegetarian/vegans was found in 16-29 year old females
at 7%.
Food
Standards Agency – Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards survey 2007
UK
wide survey of 3,513 adults Aug/Oct 2006
2%
of respondents were found to be “completely vegetarian”,
and an additional 7% “partly vegetarian”.
England – 2%
vegetarian, 8% partly vegetarian.
NI – 0%
vegetarian, 3% partly vegetarian.
Scotland – 2%
vegetarian, 6% partly vegetarian.
Wales – 2%
vegetarian, 4% partly vegetarian.
Key
Note Vegetarian Foods Market Assessment Report 2007
Survey
by NEMS Market Research April 2007 of 1,003 adults aged 16 and over in
Great Britain.
8%
of respondents claimed that “I or another member of this household
is “a vegetarian, who perhaps eats fish”. 7.5% claimed that “I
or another member of this household used to be a vegetarian, who perhaps
ate fish”.
The
total UK Vegetarian Food Market was put at £718.5 million pa.
Key
Note Vegetarian Foods Market Assessment Report 2006
Survey by NEMS Market Research April 2006 of 1,000 adults aged 16 and over
in Great Britain.
12% of respondents claimed to be vegetarian, or said that someone else in the
household was a vegetarian.
9.9%
of respondents said that they or someone in their household used to be
vegetarian.
The
total UK Vegetarian Food Market was put at £670 million pa.
Food
Standards Agency - Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards Survey 2005
UK
wide survey of 3,143 householders Sept/Oct 2005
4%
of households reportedly contained at least one vegetarian member.
5%
contained at least one person who ate no meat, but did eat fish.
Figures
were 7% amongst 16 – 25 year-olds and 8% among 26-35 year-olds
compared to at most 3% among the older age groups.
By
social group ABs were 7% compared with DEs 3%. Respondents of nonwhite
ethnic origin were 10% compared with white respondents 3%.
Food
Standards Agency - Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards survey Sept/Oct
2004
UK wide survey
of 3,229 householders Sept/Oct 2004
5% of households
claimed to contain at least one vegetarian member
6% contained
at least one person who ate no meat, but did eat fish.
BMRB
Access Panel research for Key Note May 2004
UK wide
panel survey of 1,018 adults aged 15 and over
7.6%
considered themselves to be vegetarian
Food
Standards Agency - Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards Survey September/October
2003
UK wide survey of 3,121 householders Sept/Oct 2003
6% of households claimed to contain at least one vegetarian member,
By age: 16-49 – 7%, 50+ 3%. By class: AB – 9%, C1C2 and DE – 5%
By country: England - 6%, other countries - 3%. Black and minority ethnic groups
- 14%, white respondents - 5%.
Fish but not meat – 4%
Vegetarian by area in England: NW - 5%, NE - 4%, Mids – 5%, SW – 9%,
SE – 7% Fish but no meat by area in England: NW – 2%, NE – 3%,
Mids – 4%, SW – 4%, SE- 6%
Food
and Drink Federation April 2003
A poll of 1003 adults.
7% of those polled claimed to be vegetarian.
Two thirds had eaten a meatless meal in 2003.
JMA
Marketing & Research Survey for Scolarest - Eating on Campus Report 2003
Poll of 1,051 university and college students in 2002
8% of students claimed to be vegetarian. 11% women, 4% men. 20% of the vegetarians
would not eat eggs.
Food
Standards Agency Consumer Attitudes to Food Safety Report September/October
2002
A poll of 3173 individuals
5% of households contained at least one vegetarian
5% of households contained at least one person who was "mainly vegetarian" ie
ate fish but no meat
Ages 16-25 - 6%, 26-35 - 7%, 36-49 - 6%, 50-65 - 5%, 66+ - 2%
England - 6%, Scotland - 4%, Wales - 4%, N Ireland - 2%
MORI
Poll for the Coalition for Medical Progress April 2002
Poll of 1,023 adults
“ Have you ever been vegetarian or vegan over the past two years or so?” Yes – 9%
National
Diet & Nutrition Survey 2001
Survey of 2251 adults aged 19 to 64
5% claimed to be vegetarian (7% women, 2% men).Reason for going vegetarian/vegan – 51%
moral or ethical, 29% health, 25% didn’t like the taste of meat.11% of
women aged 19 to 34 claimed to be vegetarian.
Mintel
Meat-Free Foods Report December 2001
Mintel estimates that 5.7% of the population are vegetarian.
Gallup
Poll for Realeat August 2001
4% of those polled were vegetarian
33% ate meat only occasionally
7 million were vegetarian or avoided red meat
TGI
Annual Survey 2001
Survey of 25,000 adults found 6.5% of those surveyed agreed with statement "I
am a vegetarian",
5.7% of the men, 7.3% of the women.
ICM
Poll for the Daily Telegraph 20-22 April 2001
Poll of 1,005 adults aged 18 and over
9% "don't eat meat", 7% of men, 10% of women.
NOP
Poll for the National Consumer Council, 30
March - 1 April 2001
Poll of 1001 adults
With the foot & mouth outbreak in mind, have you changed or are you considering
changing your eating habits? Yes - 23%
If so, in what way have you or would you change your eating habits? Stop eating
meat - 29%, Stop eating red meat - 35%
NOP
Poll for The Sunday Times, 15-16 March 2001
Poll of 1,426 adults
12% reported they had already given up eating meat, a further 26% say they
will eat less meat or none at all (30% women, 22% men).
ICM
Poll for Today Programme, March 2001
Poll of over 1000 adults
Which of the following best describes you?
A meat eater - 87%, Vegetarian "who eats fish" - 7%, Vegetarian - 2%, Vegan
- 3%.
How long have you bean a vegetarian?
Always - 17%, Quite some time - 56%, Quite recently - 27%
Would you consider not eating meat?
Yes - 32%
Mail
on Sunday MORI Poll, March 2001
Poll of 503 adults aged 18 plus
Since the Foot & Mouth outbreak, have you...?
Eaten less meat than usual - 11%
Eaten more meat than usual - 0%
Don't eat meat - 10%
Food
Standards Agency, Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards Report, October-December
2000
Face to face interviews of 3,153 householders
5% of households surveyed contained a completely vegetarian member - including
1% vegan; 6% in England, 3% in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 7% had
a "mainly vegetarian" member who ate fish but no meat.
Taylor
Nelson Poll for the RSPCA, June 2000
A survey of 1000 adults
5% did not eat meat
An additional 4% did not eat red meat
3% ate meat just once a week or less
25% said farm animal welfare was their number one priority when choosing fresh
meat
80% said they would like to see better welfare conditions for Britain's farm
animals
RealEat
Poll 1999 - with demographic breakdown | 
