The Vegetarian Trend

Information Farmed Animal Watch: n.19, v.6

Benchmark wholesale prices for chicken are down 20% from a year ago, and beef and pork prices are down over 8%, reports the Livestock Marketing Information Center. As the Atkins diet loses popularity and people seek out more balanced diets, meat eating has gone into decline?despite raised production rates in 2004 and 2005. Export problems for chicken and beef have added to the problem. Long-term, however, the USDA projects a steady rise in meat consumption with a lowered price.

Still, meat-free diets are becoming more prevalent around the world. About 3% of the U.S. population eats no flesh of any kind (up from 1% in 1997), including 10% of 25- to 34-year-olds, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group. A poll taken in 2000 found more than 1.7 million vegans in the U.S. The market for animal-product replacement foods is estimated at $2.8 billion, according to research consumer company Mintel International Group, Ltd. A food industry publication examines the reasons why people opt for a meat-free diet (see source below). In Beijing, numerous restaurants have begun catering to vegetarians in response to the rising popularity of the diet in China. Body-conscious white-collar workers and the growing number of Chinese suffering from excess weight and hypertension are especially interested in it.

Source: Farmed Animal Net - contact

Link: Diet Trends Driving Down Cost of Meat
Link: Food Systems Insider
Link: Healthy Diet, Healthy Body
Link: Veganism Creates $2.8B Market
Link: Vegetarianism Now a Popular Diet


Other EVANA-articles about this topic:
UK/Vegetarian Society: Britain's favourite celebrity vegetarian announced (en)

Will We See Meat Even Vegetarians Can Love? (en)

Alicia Silverstone on the Ellen DeGeneres show, talking about veganism (en)

USA: The trend toward vegetarian eating in this country is clearly growing and becoming more visible (en)

India/Mumbai: House for sale - only strict vegetarians need apply (en)