Number of UK Vegetarians

Department of Health and Food Standards Agency (FSA) - National Diet and Nutrition Survey

2012 - (1,582 children (1.5-18 years), 1,491 adults)

• 2% of both adults and children reported that they were vegetarian
• Less than 1% reported following a vegan diet
• Years 1,2 and 3 (combined) of the Rolling programme 2008/09-2010/11

2011 - (1,095 children (1.5-18 years), 1,031 adults)

• 2% of both adults and children reported that they were vegetarian
• Less than 1% reported following a vegan diet
• Years 1 and 2 (combined) of the Rolling programme 2008/09-2009/10

2010 - (583 children (1.5-18 years), 548 adults)

• 2% of both adults and children reported that they were vegetarian
• Less than 1% reported following a vegan diet
• Year 1 of the Rolling programme 2008/09

 FSA - Public Attitudes to Food Issues - UK (stand- alone survey)

2009 - 3,219 adults

• 3% vegetarian
• 5% partly vegetarian - not eating some types of meat or fish

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - Survey of attitudes, knowledge and behaviour in relation to the environment (series of reports, only 2007 includes vegetarian statistics)

2007 - 3,618 adults

• 3% vegetarian (2% male, 3% female)
• 2% vegan (3% male, 2% female)
• The highest number of vegetarians/vegans were found in 16-29 year old females at 7%

Key Note - Vegetarian Foods Market Assessment Report

2011

• 6% 'mainly vegetarian' (ate fish but no meat)
• 3% estimated to be completely vegetarian
• 2001-2011 number of people completely vegetarian fell from 3 million to 1.9 million

2007 - 1,003 adults

• 8% claimed 'I, or another member of this household, is a vegetarian who perhaps eats fish'
• 7.5% claimed 'I, or another member of this household, used to be vegetarian, who perhaps ate fish'

2006 - 1,000 adults

• 12% claimed to be vegetarian, or someone in the household was vegetarian
• 9.9% claimed they, or someone else in the hosuehold, used be vegetarian

FSA - Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey (stand alone survey)

2007 - 3,728 children and adults (age 2 years and over)

• 2% men and 3% women vegetarian or vegan (vegetarian: men 2%, women 3%; vegan: both <0.5%)
• There was little variation between age.
• Results from the 24 hour recalls showed that, of the self-declared vegetarian or vegans, half consumed either meat or fish during the survey

FSA - Consumer Attitudes to Food Standards Survey (Discontinued after 2007 results)

2007 - 2,627 adults

• 2% vegetarian
• 5% partly vegetarian - not eating some types of meat or fish

2006 - 3,513 adults

• 2% vegetarian
• 7% partly vegetarian - not eating some types of meat or fish

2005 - 3,143 adults

• 4% households contained at least one vegetarian member
• 5% contained at least one person who ate no meat, but did eat fish

2004 - 3,229 adults

• 5% households contained at least one vegetarian member
• 6% contained at least one person who ate no meat, but did eat fish

2003 - 3,121 adults

• 6% households contained at least one vegetarian member. By age: 16-49 – 7%, 50+ 3%
• By area (England): NW - 5%, NE - 4%, Mids – 5%, SW – 9%, SE – 7%
• 4% households contained at least one person who was "mainly vegetarian" i.e. ate fish but no meat

2002 - 3,173 adults

• 5% households contained at least one vegetarian member. By age: 16-25 - 6%, 26-35 - 7%, 36-49 - 6%,50-65 - 5%, 66+ - 2%
• By area (UK): England - 6%, Scotland - 4%, Wales - 4%, N Ireland - 2%
• 5% households contained at least one person who was "mainly vegetarian" i.e. ate fish but no meat

2001 - 3,120 adults

• 5% households contained a completely vegetarian member
• 6% in England - highest of all UK
• 6% households contained at least one person who was "mainly vegetarian" i.e. ate fish but no meat

2000 - 3,153 adults

• 5% households contained a completely vegetarian member, including 1% vegan
• 6% England, 3% Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• 7% households contained at least one person who was "mainly vegetarian" i.e. ate fish but no meat

 The 21st Century Toddler Survey - Commissioned by Mother and Baby Magazine and Pampers Kandoo

2003 - 2,000 parents

• 6% under 3 year olds vegetarian

Mintel - Vegetarian UK

2000

• 3 million vegetarians in the UK – over 5% of the total population

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