One in eight Britons are now choosing to be either vegetarian or vegan, according to a new report.
The figures have been released as part of an annual food and drink survey compiled by Waitrose, which looks at shopping trends among its customers.
The vegan movement continues to grow as millions of people around the world celebrate World Vegan Day, which is always on 1 November and was initially introduced in 1944 to mark the launch of the Vegan Society.
World Vegan Day is the first day of World Vegan Month, which is celebrated worldwide to recognise how beneficial a vegan diet can be.
Veganism is predominately a plant-based diet where animal produce including dairy items and all meats are completely avoided.
Earlier this week a review of several research studies showed that eating a plant-based or vegan diet could significantly reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes and also improve psychological wellbeing.
The Waitrose report report revealed that the age group of 18-34 were particularly more likely to switch to veganism, but those aged 55 or older were less inclined to switch to the diet.
According to the Vegan Society the number of people who are following the food movement has grown fourfold in the past four years from 150,000 to 600,000.
Rob Collins, Waitrose managing director, said: “Being mindful of how we live and eat has become a priority in today’s world. A consumer revolution is quietly taking place. You wont see people shouting about it in the shopping aisles, but it’s happening nonetheless.”
We have recently introduced a Vegan Meal Plans series on our award-winning Low Carb Program. The meal plans feature 11 weeks of low carb breakfasts, lunches and dinners, as well as shopping lists to help you on your low carb journey.
