BRITS PREFER BOOZE TO BUDDHISM
NEW POLL REVEALS THE MOMENTS VEG DEFINED HISTORY

The British public admit they prefer booze over Buddhism and beautiful artwork in a new poll of the moments when fruit and veg changed history forever.

13.5% of boozy Brits selected winemaking as the key moment that humble fruit and vegetables hit the history books - choosing their beloved alcohol over Buddha’s enlightenment, genetics and the temptation of Adam and Eve.

The survey, commissioned to mark National Vegetarian Week (18-24 May), sponsored by Cauldron Foods, found modern medicine (22.2%) to be by far the most popular veg-inspired discovery, as much early medicine was derived from herbs.

In second place, with 15% of the vote, was the moment from Greek mythology when Persephone escaped Hades but inadvertently created the seasons: Spring, Summer Autumn and Winter by eating pomegranate, fruit of the underworld.

Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity (14%) when an apple fell on his head won the close fought battle for 3rd place, smashing the potato (11.1%) and the changes it brought to British cuisine into 4th.

Liz O’Neill, Head of Communications for the Vegetarian Society, comments: “The survey was commissioned as a bit of fun in honour of National Vegetarian Week, but we were rather stunned that so many chose winemaking as the key moment that defined history. I think sense won out overall putting medicine in first place but it’s surprising so few opted for genetics and gravity!”

For further information please contact:
Fiona McGarva
Hoopla Publicity
Fiona.mcgarva@hooplapublicity.com / 07786 434313

Contact Su or Liz in the Vegetarian Society Press Office on 0161 925 2000. Outside office hours the Vegetarian Society Press Office can be contacted on 07973 108
165/ 7.

Notes to editors:

The above survey was carried out by The Vegetarian Society via surveymonkey.
236 people took part in the survey.

Full details below:

The results:

22.2% Medicine – early medicine was derived from herbs and led to the world’s scientific discoveries

15% Seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter were created when Hades forced Persephone to eat pomegranate, the fruit of the underworld, as a result she had to remain in the underworld for a number of months a year, when she returns to her mother Demeter, the earth again produces flowers, fruit, and grain.

14.0% Discovery of gravity - Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head

13.5% Winemaking – wine has formed the basis of our modern social society!

11.1% The potato - Sir Walter Raleigh introduces the potato: permanently transforming British cuisine

10.6% Buddhism - the founder of the religion, Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha, achieved enlightenment one day in 528 B.C. while sitting under a bo tree, a kind of fig tree

4.8% Adam and Eve – they leave the Garden of Eden when Adam is tempted by the apple and history is born!

3.9% Still Life from ancient Egypt and Rome, through to modern day, the simple bowl of fruit has inspired some of the most beautiful artworks known to man

3.9% Genetics – is based on Mendel’s theory of pea pods and led to massive changes in modern science

1.0% William Tell – the moment he shot the apple on his son’s head sparked a rebellion that led to the formation of the Swiss Confederation