Nils-Gerrit Wunsch
Research expert covering foods trends in North America, Europe, and the global food system
Get in touch with us nowAdults who do not or are planning not to eat meat by generation in Great Britain 2024
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In January 2024, Generation Z was the generation with the highest share of responding adults who planned not to eat meat in the coming year in Great Britain (GB). Approximately 26 percent stated that they did not intend to eat meat in 2024. Another 26 percent of Gen Z respondents stated that they were already meat-free.
Reduction in the meat consumption of British consumers
Recently, there have been noticeable changes in meat consumption by consumers in the United Kingdom (UK). Almost one-third of survey respondents stated that they eat less or much less meat, as compared to half a year ago. Moreover, an average of approximately 40 percent of British respondents had recently purchased plant-based alternatives for the first time. This was higher than the share of respondents who had done so in the United States and Germany, which was on average around 31 and 37 percent, respectively. Not only are meat alternatives tried by many new consumers in the UK, but such products are also consumed across all generations, with relatively low variations. The share of consumers who eat meat substitutes in the UK by generation was lowest among baby boomers and highest among millennials and Gen X.
Veganism in Great Britain
According to a recent survey in the UK, the share of vegans is approximately four percent. There is only a minor difference among the share of vegans when it comes to gender. Moreover, an average of about 56 percent of adults in the UK follow no nutritional rules or diets. Among the different regions in GB, the percentage of vegans slightly varies. In London, the share of people who follow a vegan diet tends to be particularly high, whereas the share of vegans in the Midlands and the rest of the South tends to be relatively low. The main reason for being vegan in the UK is an ethical motivation. Almost 90 percent of survey respondents stated that they do not consume animal products because they think the way animals are farmed and killed for food is cruel. Environmental reasons were also considered by about four-fifths of respondents.
