Gallup poll for Granose
June 1998
A survey of 2,071 adults aged 16 and over.
3% never ever eat dairy products.
4% rarely eat dairy products.
31% were positively attempting to reduce their consumption of dairy products.
2% of those reducing dairy intake were doing so for ethical/moral reasons,
12% for medical reasons and 73% for health reasons.
NOP poll for Dalepak
and The Vegetarian Society May 1998
A survey of 1004 adults aged 15 and over.
7% agreed with the statement "I am a vegetarian and eat no meat at
all" (female 10%, male 4%).
12% of 15-24 yr olds, 9% of 25-34 yr olds, 7% of 35-44 yr olds, and 4%
of 45+ yr olds agreed.
6% were "currently a meat eater but would like to become a vegetarian".
25% thought that is not "safe and healthy", rising to 34% in
15-24 yr olds.
36% of non-vegetarians would consider becoming a vegetarian if they felt
animal farming was cruel.
82% felt that in the future there will be more vegetarians.
75% felt that in the future people will eat less meat.
80% claimed to prefer to buy food that is cruelty free and good for the
environment.
NOP poll for Animal
Aid May 1998
A survey of 1004 adults aged 15 and over.
31% believe a vegetarian diet to be healthier than one that includes meat
(35% female, 26% male).
58% believe a diet that includes meat to be healthier.
60% believe that animals suffer at the time of slaughter (Female 62%,
male 57%).
76% of 15-24 year olds believe that animals suffer at the time of slaughter.
86% believe that all animals have the right to a life free from cruelty
and abuse (female 89%, male 84%).
MORI poll for Nestle
November 1997
A survey of 984 adults aged 15 and over.
17% avoided beef because of safety fears, 13% avoided shellfish.
16% believe food scares all or most of the time, 35% rarely or never.
9% trust the Government to give credible information on food hazards.
Gallup Poll for the
British Chicken Information Service June 1997
A survey of 1,004 adults
39% admitted eating less beef than they used to.
75% said chicken was their family's favourite type of meat.
NOP poll for the
RSPCA June 1997
A survey of 1,941 adults aged 15 and over.
78% said they would like to see better welfare conditions for Britain's
farm animals.
Nationally 44% said they take animal welfare into consideration when buying
meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products, this varied frrom 52% in the South
to 37% in the North West.
69% were willing to pay more for a product which comes from a humanely
reared animal.
42% were willing to pay 25% more.
NOP Poll for Seven
Seas and The Vegetarian Society May 1997
A survey of 1,479 adults aged 15 and over.
Vegetarian:- 7% overall, 5% male, 8% female.
By age:- 15-24: 9%, 25-34: 9%, 35-44: 7%, 45-54: 5%, 55-64: 4%, 65+: 5%.
By class:- AB: 8%, C1: 8%, C2: 6%, DE: 6%.
By region:- South: 8%, Mids/Wales: 6%, North: 6%, Scotland: 6%.
Reason for being vegetarian:- Health: 22%, Moral: 44%, Food Scares: 9%.
Eating less meat nowadays:- overall: 41%, male: 31%, female: 51%.
11% could imagine themselves becoming vegetarian in the future: male:
5%, female: 16%.
17% were either vegetarian or could imaging themselves becoming vegetarian.
11% male, 21% female.
NOP Research Group
March 1997
Poll of 996 adults aged 15 and over.
25% were just as worried about BSE as they were 12 months ago.
56% were concerned at the prospect of CJD becoming widespread in Britain.
70% believed the Government "should do more" to reassure people
about beef.
Jra research, NHS
Survey 1996
Poll of 920 housewives aged 16-64
52% had stopped eating or cut down on meat (any).
27% had stopped eating or cut down on beef.
16% had stopped eating or cut down on beefburgers.
Taylor Nelson AGB
Family Food Panel 1996
4% consider themselves to be vegetarian.
11% never eat red meat.
Gallup poll for the
Daily Telegraph 27 March - 1 April 1996
A poll of 1,119 electors.
"As a result of hearing about BSE are you and your family eating":
-"fewer cuts of beef such as steak and roast beef?":- fewer - 17%, stopped
eating beef - 10%, vegetarian 7%.
-"less of other kinds of beef products such as sausages and burgers?":-
fewer - 31%, stopped eating beef products - 25%.
"Are there are any other kinds of meat, apart from beef, that you are
eating less of because of BSE?":-
yes - 8%
"Are you vegetarian?":- Total: 7%, men: 6%, women: 8%, 18-34: 11%, 35-44:
3%, 45-64: 7%, 65+: 5%.
ICM Poll for The
Guardian March 30-31 1996
A poll of 1,011 adults over 15.
Refering to the BSE "scare":
"Which were you prepared to eat before the scare and now?":
Any beef: 60% - 32%.
Only joints or steak: 27% - 34%
No beef of any kind: 8% - 23%.
Only foriegn beef: 1% - 5%.
No meat at all: 5% - 7%.
Women prepared to eat any kind of beef - 25%, men - 39%.
NOP poll for The
Money Programme March 22 1996
A telephone poll of 502 adults (two days after the Stephen Dorrell BSE
statement).
46% were "less inclined" to eat beef.
39% would still eat beef.
14% did not eat beef anyway.
87% thought products should be clearly labelled with which part of the
cow the beef came from.
NOP survey for Hill
& Knowlton/Tesco February 1996
Survey of 977 adults aged 15 and over.
25% identified a member of their household or family as a vegetarian.
Over the past ten years 59% thought vegetarianism was becoming more popular
and 46% thought vegetarianism was becoming more mainstream and acceptable.
25% of non-vegetarians considered that their children were likely to become
vegetarian.
21% had considered becoming vegetarian.
50% claimed to be eating more vegetarian meals.
Del Monte Healthy
Lifestyle Report October 1995
RSGB survey of 1000 adults.
40% ate less red meat than 5 years ago
NOP Poll for the
Danish Bacon and Meat Council October 1995
Percentage of Customers willing to pay more for meat/food produced by
"cruelty-free" methods:
No more/don't know - 34%. up to 5% more - 21%, 6 to 10% more - 22%, 11
to 15% more - 5%,
16 to 20% more - 7%, more than 20% more - 11%.
Audience Selection
Poll for BBC Watch Dog programme November 1995
A poll of 1,017 adults aged 15 and above.
23% had stopped eating beef or were eating less beef because of BSE.
85% continued to eat beef.
51% were concerned about BSE (56% women, 45% men).
RSL Nutritional Labelling
Study for MAFF February 1995
A survey of 1,079 adults acting as main food purchaser in household.
7% of respondents had a vegetarian or vegan in their household. 11% when
respondent was of social grade AB. 18% when respondent finished their
education over the age of 19.
1.5% had changed to a vegetarian/vegan diet "over the last few years".
60% had changed their diet to be healthier/better for you.
24% were eating less red meat than a few years ago.
19% thought that "we should be eating less red meat".
72% thought that "we should eat more vegetables".
Gallup Poll for The
Daily Telegraph August 1995
A survey of 1037 over 16 year olds in Great Britain.
6% described themselves as vegetarian.
8% of women polled described themselves as vegetarian.
4% of men polled described themselves as vegetarian.
11% agreed that "it is not right to slaughter cows, sheep and other animals
for food".
60% agreed that "it is non right to feed farm animals with anti-biotics".
68% agreed that "it is not right to export veal calves to the continent".
72% agreed that "it is not right to raise battery hens".
78% agreed that "it is not right to keep veal calves in crates".
1% agreed that "it is not right to milk cows".
CWS Retail ethical
purchasing survey 1995
Gallup poll of 30,000 people.
71% feel retailers had a responsibility to animals.
70% rank environmental issues as a major concern.
62% want clearer, more informative labels on products.
30% claim to have boycotted a store or product on ethical grounds.
Three in five are willing to pay more for goods meeting ethical standards
- up to 77p extra for goods costing £10.
Marketpower Healthy
Eating Out Report Sept 1994
A telephone survey of 1,003 adults and 45 child consumers over the age
of 12 found 4% of respondents describing themselves as vegetarian.
NOP survey for Supermarketing
Magazine June 1994
A survey of 1,006 adults aged 15 and over.
85% eat red meat (only 63% of these eat it more than once a week).
92% eat white meat or poultry.
84% eat fish or seafood.
4% only ate vegetarian or vegan food.
36% (44% female, 27% male) ate less red meat than they did a year ago.
64% did so for health reasons, 32% for cost reasons, and 37% for moral
reasons (42% female, 28% male).
Taylor Nelson Family
Food Panel 1994
6% of adults strongly agreed with the statement "I consider myself to
be a vegetarian" and 10% with the statement "I never eat red meat".
JRA Research NHS
survey Q3 1994
Survey of 907 housewives aged 16-64.
Had stopped eating or cut down on:
40% meat (any), 16% red meat, 11% beef.
Euromonitor Report
on the Meat Market 1994
Puts vegetarianism in Britain at 6%.
Healthy Birmingham
2000 survey Aug 1993
7% of women questioned were vegetarian.
3% of men questioned were vegetarian.
Frozen Food Information
Service May 1993
"The 21st Century Report" estimates that over the next decade as many
as one person in five may become vegetarian.
Gallup Omnibus survey
of 1038 adults Sept 1992.
An estimated 3% of the population are vegetarian (female 4%, male 2%).
A further 3% do not eat meat but may eat fish and/or dairy products made
with animal by-products (female 5%, male 1%).
33% of consumers are trying to reduce their meat consumption.
Vegetarianism by age: 16-24 7% (inc 1% vegan), 25-34 3%, 35-44 2%, 45-64
4%, 65+ 1%.
Vegetarianism by class: AB 4%, C1 3%, C2 3%, DE 3%.
Vegetarianism by region: South 3%, Midlands 5%, North 2%.
Taylor Nelson Family
Food Panel 1993
4% of adults strongly agreed with the statement "I consider myself to
be a vegetarian" and 9% with the statement "I never eat red meat".
Marketpower 1992
A survey of 500 caterers.
More than 80% of all main courses listed on catering menus contained meat
or fish.
More than 75% of all snacks listed on catering menus contained meat or
fish.
NOP September 1992
Survey of 1,010 adults aged 15 or over.
7% of female respondents were vegetarian.
4% of male respondents were vegetarian.
9% of respondents in the South were vegetarian.
4% of respondents in Midlands and North were vegetarian.
14% of Households had at least one member as vegetarian.
6% of Households had a child aged 13 or above vegetarian.
1% of Households had a child aged 12 or under a vegetarian.
14% of respondents aged 15 - 17 were vegetarian.
7% of respondents aged 18 - 34 were vegetarian.
5% of respondents aged 35 - 44 were vegetarian.
4% of respondents aged 55 plus were vegetarian.
By Class 18% of AB, 16% of C1, 12% of C2 and 10% of DE Households contained
at least one vegetarian.
Of the meat eaters 18% were consciously trying to replace meat at home,
and 7% when eating out.
Mintel September
1992
Survey of 2000 adults under 54 years.
10% of single people had a mainly vegetarian diet.
6% of non-single people had a mainly vegetarian diet.
SAFE Alliance February
1992
Survey of 1002 adults.
51% responded yes to the following statement: "Do modern intensive farming
methods harm Farm Animal Welfare in any way?".
National Consumer
Council (MAFF sponsored) Jan 1992
MORI poll of 1,053 adults aged 15 years and over who had eaten out in
the previous 6 month period.
4% claimed to be vegetarian
1% claimed to be vegan
16% avoided eating certain things due to Animal welfare/Vegetarian reasons.
By Sex: Men 12%, Women 19%
Class: AB 21%, C1 17%, C2 14%, DE 13%. Age: 15-24 18%, 25-39 19%, 40-59
15%, 60+ 11%.
35% felt that having a healthy diet was important to them.
British Market Research
Bureau Target Group Index March 1991 to April 1992
Survey of 25,358 adults.
11.4% said their diet was "mainly vegetarian".
By age: 15-17 year olds - 17.0%, 20-24 year olds - 12.9%, 25-34 year olds
- 11.7%, 35-44 year olds 11.1%, 45-54 year olds - 10.3%, 55-64 year olds
- 9.3%, 65+ - 10.4%.
By Social class: AB - 13.7%, C1 - 13.2%, C2 - 9.3%, D - 9.4%, E - 11.8%.
By area: London - 13.3%, South - 10.7%, Anglia/Midlands - 11.9%, South
West/Wales - 10.9%, Yorkshire/North East - 10.6%, North West - 10.5%,
Scotland - 10.0%.
Parental status: With children - 10.6%, No children - 12.1%.
Miller Lite December
1991
Gallup poll of 18-35 year olds
14% of "southerners" are likely to be vegetarian.
Food Attitudes Monitor
December 1991
Statement: "I try to serve some vegetarian meals to my family".
16-44 year olds: 19% strongly agree, 34% strongly disagree.
45 yrs+ 17% strongly agree, 42% strongly disagree.
ABC1: 26% strongly agree, 28% strongly disagree.
C2DE: 15% strongly agree, 44% strongly disagree.
Mintel September
1991
Survey of 1100 adults.
10% avoid or have given up red meat.
Safeway August 1991
Survey of 2000 adults aged 16 plus
There is a vegetarian in 7% of Households = 1.5 million households and
over 3 million vegetarians, 63% of whom eat no meat or fish.
81% are vegetarian for moral reasons.
42% for health reasons.
32% "Don't like meat".
9% are vegetarian for medical reasons.
37% of vegetarians are under 35 yrs against 27% of the general population.
Those living in the South of England are twice as likely to be vegetarian
as those living in Scotland or the North of England.
64% of households with a vegetarian member had just the one.
Taylor Neilson August
1991
6.2% of sample claim to be vegetarian, but in a two week period half may
eat fish, poultry or red meat.
44% of lunches contain no meat/poultry or fish.
50% of teas contain no meat/poultry or fish.
Mintel Healthy Eating
July 1991
Survey of 1500 adults.
8% avoided meat or were vegetarian.
Mintel - The Green
Consumer April 1991
Survey of 1336 adults.
23% avoid "factory farmed food".
Dalepak March 1991
48% of the population eat both vegetarian and meat based meals.
26% of the population are cutting down or only occasionally eating meat.
Vegetarian Society
Food Survey January 1991
Bradford University Survey of 943 adults and 2651 11-18 year olds.
7% of adults claim to be vegetarian (3,100,000).
9% of adults avoid red meat (4,000,000).
4% of male adults vegetarian, 10% of female adults vegetarian.
Vegetarians by age: 11-24 year olds - 9%, 25-34 year olds 8%, 35-44 year
olds 6%, 45-54 year olds 4%, 55-64 year olds 9%, 65+ years 4%.
Vegetarians by Socio-Economic Groups: AB - 4%, C1 - 8%, C2 - 9%, DE -
6%.
8% of 11-18 year olds claim to be vegetarian (500,000).
RSGB September 1990
Survey of 900 women (16-70 years).
1 in 4 are reducing the consumption of red meat.
15% eat little or no red meat.
Complan 1990 Report
A Survey of 700 participants carried out at the London Marathon, Great
North Run and the English Schools Athletics Championships recorded 9%
of athletes as being vegetarian.
Nielson Market Research
June 1990
6% of the population do not eat meat but may eat fish.
Further Information
