What is a vegan lifestyle? When we talk about veganism, many people hear the word diet as the most important part of the conversation. After all, one of the most well-known aspects of the vegan lifestyle involves not eating meat or animal byproducts. Yet by centering diet as the soul of veganism, we might be doing a disservice to vegans. Theres far more to the ethos of veganism than simply controlling what one puts in ones mouth, and ignoring these other facets of the vegan lifestyle denies its power.

If youre thinking about going vegan or if you already consider yourself a vegan, its important to understand why you make specific choices as a human and as a consumer, and why you choose to avoid things that other people consider commonplace. No, you dont have to become an academic scholar, nor do you need to tell everyone you meet about your vegan lifestyle. However, part of the movement involves living your values. Instead of just expressing them, you demonstrate them through what you choose to do and not to do.

Lets take a deeper look at the vegan lifestyle and what it truly means to those who practice it.

The Vegan Society defines the vegan lifestyle as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Thats pretty comprehensive.

Vegans lead with intent. They do their best, however small, to create a world in which no animals are harmed by service to humans.

And it goes far beyond diet. Vegans have been behind many protests against circus acts and other entertainment venues that force animals to perform for human entertainment. A circus has nothing to do with diet unless you count popcorn and cotton candy but everything to do with animal welfare. Animals forced to perform for human entertainment often show no signs of enjoying the work or wanting to perform. Consequently, the trainers have to use pain to evoke the desired response from the animal.

The vegan lifestyle involves actively avoiding any practice that damages animal welfare or subjugates animals for our benefit as humans.

A vegan lifestyle is a creed and a way of life that denies that other animals exist for our use. We were all put here for our own purposes, and animals other than humans contribute just as much as we do to our ecosystem. Vegans believe that we can live side by side with animals rather than as apex predators. Instead of exerting dominion over animals, we can help them live their lives as naturally as possible.

The vegan lifestyle does involve diet. Vegans dont eat meat, eggs, dairy, or any other animal byproduct, including the honey that bees produce. However, its much more than that.

We know that animals are used to create many consumer products, from soaps and cosmetics to clothing. Vegans wear synthetic fabrics, for instance, instead of wool made from sheep, llamas, alpacas, and other animals. Its true that these animals arent killed for their fur. However, theyre terrorized during the shearing process, which they dont understand, and are left without their natural protection from the elements.

Just as the vegan lifestyle is about intent, its also about mindfulness. Before buying something at the store, a vegan considers whether or not it has had a deleterious impact on animals in any way.

According to statistics from 2017, the incorporation of vegan foods into meals across all American households has risen by 40 percent. Furthermore, nearly half of all Americans support banning slaughterhouses, and in some countries vegan populations have increased by as much as 600 percent. The data is clear: more people are going vegan every day.

This evolution creates significant demand for consumer products that fit the vegan lifestyle. Businesses, including factory farming operations and slaughterhouses, operate on supply and demand. If nobody wants to eat meat or animal byproducts, these businesses shut their doors because they cant justify continued operations.

Part of the vegan lifestyle means refusing to put dollars into the hands of people who would hurt animals in any way. As more people take up the vegan lifestyle, vegans voices become louder and more difficult to ignore.

Nobody can deny that vegan food is delicious. Its whole, plant-based, and diverse, which means you cant possibly get bored if youre open to all the foods available to you. However, the vegan lifestyle doesnt revolve around food alone. As mentioned above, its an ethos or creed that helps people to live their values. Vegans know what they believe, and what they hold sacred, and they do their best to ensure that their behaviors follow their hearts.

Its important to understand the vegan lifestyle, because its easy to say that you love animals and support their rights but still to chomp down on an all-beef burger for dinner. Its similar to an environmental activist driving a gas-guzzling car and drinking water from disposable plastic bottles.

When other people see that youre living a vegan lifestyle, they might become curious. Most people dont enjoy hearing lectures, but they emulate behaviors they admire and respect. Thats the key to turning your vegan lifestyle into a statement that spreads to those around you.

Lets look at what it means to put vegan beliefs into practice as a lifestyle.

When it comes to living your beliefs, there are three stages:

When people talk about their beliefs and ideologies but act in direct opposition to them, others dont take those people seriously. Theres a dissonance between belief and action, and intent is often the missing link.

When youve defined a belief for yourself, such as that all animals should be treated humanely, you then need to think about how that belief will manifest. What changes do you want to make? How do you want other people to treat animals?

From intent follows action. Once you create an intention, the next logical step is to act out that intention through your habits as a consumer and a human being. The vegan lifestyle isnt just about what you put in your mouth at mealtimes. Its about how you show other people what you believe.

Very few people will say they hate animals or want them to suffer. Nevertheless, omnivores outnumber herbivores by a significant margin.

Theres a cognitive dissonance in cuddling your cat right before digging into a steak or enjoying a bucket of fried chicken. Just because a chicken or a cow doesnt look like your family pet doesnt mean those animals dont experience the same emotions and instincts. All animals want to live. They desire to thrive with other animals of their own kind, form emotional bonds, care for their young, and protect each other from predators. By consuming animals and otherwise using them for our own benefit, we deny them those basic rights.

If you live a vegan lifestyle, however, you make a statement with every product you buy, every article of clothing you wear, and every piece of food you eat. Instead of just saying how much you love animals and wish the best for them, youre contributing to their cause.

Many of the industries that vegans fight against contribute to pollution, deforestation, reduced habitats, and other impacts on animals lives. For instance, animal testing has become a huge strain on our collective resources, requiring large labs in which to house and feed animals. The same goes for dairy farms. These operations consume massive amounts of fossil fuels, contribute to contaminated soil, and introduce large quantities of ammonia into the environment. None of these things is healthy for humans or other animals.

The vegan lifestyle is directly tied to environmentalism. We want to preserve the earth for all creatures, including our own descendants. By selfishly farming animals and using up resources without thought for the future, we contribute to a world far less hospitable than the one we enjoy now.

If you believe that we should reduce our carbon footprints and protect animals, the vegan lifestyle is the perfect way to live your beliefs and show that veganism is more than just a diet.

We dont have to hurt others to survive; human beings have proved that through centuries of living on this earth. Despite political and social divisiveness, were still a social species. Humanity has only survived because of our ability to care for one another, whether that means staying awake at night to make sure a predator doesnt ravage our village, or shouting a warning to a stranger whos about to step in front of a moving car. The fact that we still exist despite the innumerable ways in which we could destroy each other is proof positive of our destiny to live peaceably.

This doesnt mean, however, that doing no harm to our fellow humans is enough. We also have to realize that harming animals and the environment leaves just as obvious a stain. Were wired to bond with other animals. We domesticated dogs before any other creature, and for centuries weve worked alongside canines in mutually beneficial relationships. Dogs enjoy working with humans, just as horses and many cats do, because we care for each other.

The problem, though, is that many people pick and choose. If you embrace the belief that you should do no harm to another sentient creature, its impossible to separate dogs and cats from cows, chickens and fish.

One of the purest ways to embrace the vegan lifestyle is to ask yourself one question:

Are you willing to slaughter an animal yourself to feed your family, when other alternatives exist?

If not, youre a good candidate for the vegan lifestyle. You dont want to slit a cows throat, boil a chicken alive, or gut a fish from head to tail, so in your mind youve separated the animal from the food in the supermarket. A chicken breast doesnt look like a chicken, so weve allowed ourselves to compartmentalize. Once you take a more holistic view of the world and realize that all lives are sacred, however, eating meat and using animal byproducts become repulsive.

Ancient cultures often hunted animals because they had no other choices. They lived in areas where crops couldnt grow, for instance, so they had no other food sources. These peoples often prayed over the animals they killed even revered them and vowed to use their bodies in as many ways as possible to honor their unwilling sacrifice. They viewed all lives as sacred but were forced to kill to survive. Anyone who has the ability to read this article doesnt live in such circumstances. Other food choices exist, so honoring animals means not needlessly exploiting them.

Youre excited about the vegan lifestyle. Youre ready to commit. So what do you do to ensure you live your beliefs and help spread the word about veganism?

Start by learning everything you can about the vegan lifestyle. The Sentient Media articles youve read are a great start. Learn about nutrition and healthy living, research ways to get the foods you love without harming animals, and find any supplements you need to make sure you meet your bodys requirements.

The vegan lifestyle is a practice. You might screw up. Maybe you find yourself out to dinner with friends and accidentally order a dish that has milk or eggs in it. Dont beat yourself up.

Practice veganism. Learn how to read labels and ask questions. Before you travel, research vegan-friendly supermarkets or restaurants in your destination city so youre not forced to scramble. Take snacks with you on the go. Plain nuts, dried fruit, and similar foods are perfect for slipping into a pocket, purse, or briefcase. Carry water, too, so you dont get dehydrated.

Its not a coincidence that people who openly live a vegan lifestyle are also advocates for healthy living and good nutrition. They talk about hydration, exercise, sleep, and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Remember, its not just about diet.

You dont have to proselytize over the Thanksgiving dinner table. Most people dont respond well to that approach. Simply let your friends and family know that youve adopted a vegan lifestyle and ask them to respect it.

Who knows? Your loved ones might start asking questions and learning more about veganism. Thats a great start. Live by example live your beliefs so others can witness what youre willing to consume and what youre not.

Surrounding yourself with people who believe what you believe can be immensely helpful. For one thing, you can learn from one another about how best to live a vegan lifestyle. For another, you can keep yourselves on track.

If you go to the gym with a few fellow vegans, youre unlikely to suggest a trip to Taco Bell afterward for beef quesadillas. Youll keep yourself honest while enjoying the company of people who believe, as you do, that all animals deserve rights.

Keep your eye out for situations in which animals are mistreated. Adopt unwanted pets from a local rescue organization, report animal cruelty to law enforcement, and refuse to patronize businesses that serve animal products.

Your dollars matter. Organizations that fight against animal abuse need your money to further their efforts on animals behalf. Donating even a small recurring amount, such as $5 or $10, can make a huge impact on the lives of animals in your community and around the world.

The vegan lifestyle doesnt require advocacy, but if youre moved to get involved in a more active way, consider joining an animal rights organization. These groups help fight against animal cruelty on numerous fronts, and you could become part of their work.

Veganism isnt just about a diet. Its about a way of life. If you believe that all animals deserve to live their lives free of obligation to humans, youre on the right path.

Subscribe to the Sentient Media newsletter to learn more about the vegan lifestyle and animal matters in which you might be interested. Dont hesitate to join conversations about veganism, animal rights, animal cruelty, and other issues that impact our animal friends.

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Vegan Lifestyle: Why Veganism Is More Than a Diet

2020 was a big year for veganism in the UK. And judging by the response to Veganuary this year, the rise of the movement for culinary, social, and agricultural change is set to continue in 2021. Whats more, the responses from retail giants and entrepreneurs will continue to make it easier for people to switch to a plant-based diet.

Weve rounded up the most important veganism facts and statistics for the UK as more Brits make the decision to go vegan.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Brits sign up for the Veganuary campaign a pledge to embrace plant-based diets for a month.

According to the Guardian, a record 500,000 people, of whom 125,000 are based in the UK, took the Veganuary pledge to eat only vegan food in January. The figure is up by 100,000 on last years, and its double the number of people who signed up for Veganuary in 2019.

However, this time, its not just individuals who are getting into the vegan spirit. The beginning of 2021 has seen major supermarket brands doing more to cater to the growing number of Brits who have turned their back on animal products.

Aldi, Asda, and Iceland published detailed vegan recipe and product pages on their websites. Marks & Spencer created a 31-day vegan meal plan, and Tesco ran an advertising campaign to promote Veganuary on radio and television. Veganuarys Toni Vernelli speaks of how the Aldi website features a message which says that cutting down on or totally avoiding animal products demonstrates a commitment to make a difference to the planet.

Its not just supermarkets that are seeing a demand for vegan options; food delivery services like Deliveroo are noticing an increased demand from customers for vegan dishes.

The UK-based delivery service saw the number of vegan restaurants on its app more than double since last year, with 12 000 restaurants now offering vegan-friendly options. The most vegan orders in 2020 were placed in Brighton, Bristol, London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

VegNews reported that in the first week of 2021, at the beginning of Veganuary, searches for vegan food on Deliveroo spiked by 153% compared to the previous month. Many Deliveroo partners have added special vegan options to their menus, from Wagamamas vegan sticky ribs to Majestic Wines vegan wine options.

Research on plant-based meat alternatives conducted by investment bank UBS last year also indicates rising interest in vegan lifestyle choices. Its also in keeping with some of what are predicted to be the biggest vegan food trends in 2021.

UBS research found that the number of people who tried plant-based meat alternatives increased from 48% to 53% between March and November last year. Of those who tried plant-based alternatives, approximately half said that they would continue to eat them at least once a week.

The banks Andrew Stott said the survey also revealed why some consumers are not happy to switch to an entirely plant-based diet just yet. He explained that 59% of respondents who were not willing to try plant-based meat substitutes did not think they would taste good, 29% said plant-based alternatives were too expensive, and 37% objected to the highly processed nature of the products.

Even so, more than half of respondents agreed that plant-based alternatives were the environmentally friendlier and healthier option. UBS surveyed 3,000 consumers in the UK, Germany, and the US.

Veganism is said to be most popular among younger generations. Food Revolution Network believes this is partly due to their increased availability of information via the Internet about where their food comes and how its made.

As encouraging as many of these stats are, 2021 is not likely to be the year in which Britain goes vegan. British Nutrition Foundation and YouGov research found that 61% of Brits were unlikely to switch to a plant-based diet this year. Of course, that simply may be because they havent been exposed to what are predicted to be the big vegan food trends of 2021.

The last few years have seen the launch of various vegan food products as well as all sorts of culinary innovations by creative cooks. Vegan Food And Living reckons that this year will be no different. In fact, the options for folks who are committed to a plant-based diet are going to get even more exciting. Some of the top trends the magazine predicted will be on the rise this year include:

Vegan butchers Last year saw the launch of Rudys Vegan Butchers in London. The establishment looks very much like a traditional butchers shop, minus the carcases and animal meat. Instead, its counters and fridges are packed with plant-based meat substitutes. Not to be outdone, Asda started trialling a vegan butchers counter at its Watford store earlier this month.

Vegan egg replacements Aquafaba is the vegan go-to egg replacement, but that may change in 2021. One of the predicted food trends this year is egg replacements, such as the liquid egg replacement launched by Crackd last year. Singaporean and French scientists recently unveiled an egg replacement that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

Vegan sweets The magazine also predicted that more and more major confectionery brands will release vegan sweets in 2021. According to Vegan Food And Living, vegan chocolate recipe internet searches increased by 31% last year.

Vegan chicken replacement Many plant-based meat alternatives were created as substitutes for red meat. Very little attention was paid to replacements for chicken, but 2021 looks like it could be the year in which that changes. In the last year or so, weve seen the launch of vegan alternatives to chicken by KFC, Marks & Spencer, Subway, Papa Johns, and Nandos.

(Source: The Vegan Society and Finder)

In the mood for some plant-based cuisine? Have a look at our list of vegetarian restaurant gift vouchers for an unforgettable meat-free dining experience.

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Veganism Statistics 2021 How Many Vegans Are There in ...

Veganism is typically equated with healthy eating, but todays factory-produced fake bacon, sausages and burgers could be tarnishing the halo of a plant-based diet. New Scientist investigates

By Helen Thomson

Kyle Bean

DONALD Watson was born in Yorkshire and spent much of his youth on his uncles farm. But rather than making him feel at ease with breeding animals for food, the realisation that these friendly creatures went for slaughter horrified him. He became a vegetarian in 1924, aged 14. Two decades later, with his wife and four friends, he coined the word vegan from the first and last parts of the word vegetarian, and founded the UK Vegan Society.

Watsons diet was filled mostly with nuts, apples, dried fruit, vegetables and, when wartime rations allowed it, lentils. Fast-forward to today, and Watson would have been astonished at the wealth of vegan-friendly offerings. Browse the aisles of supermarkets in the UK, US, Australia and beyond and you will find a growing amount of space dedicated to vegan fish and meat alternatives. But while Watsons diet turned out to be a healthy one, a different picture is emerging for some of todays vegans.

Take a look at the ingredients in the ever-increasing variety of products and they can seem more like junk, packed full of salt and ingredients such as soya protein concentrate that you wouldnt find in a chunk of meat.

While todays factory-produced foods make it easy to switch to a vegan diet without the need to make drastic changes to eating patterns, these alternatives might be worse for our health than the meat versions they are replacing. Finding out is increasingly important, due to the growing number of people avoiding meat and dairy in their diet. So what do we and dont we know?

When Watson applied for vegan

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Are vegan meat alternatives putting our health on the line? - New Scientist

Vegan products are taking over the meat and dairy market by storm, with demand for nutritionally competitive vegan meat and dairy products gaining impetus with every passing year.

With scientists highlighting the positive effect of vegan lifestyle on ones own health and the environment, its safe to say veganism is here to stay. Heres what industry insiders say about the vegan industry and growth strategies adopted by top market players.

With scientific research establishing a deeper connection between diet, health, and environment; demand for vegan alternatives has increased exponentially. The frozen dessert segment has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this trend. Top market players are increasingly making moves to introduce vegan ice-cream options to capture maximum market share. For instance, Froneri, an ice cream manufacturer, owned by R&R and Nestle, introduced a novel-plant based ice cream range ROAR.

Following increased awareness of the detrimental influence of food additives, chemicals, and animal antibiotics on human health, consumers are switching towards vegan protein alternatives. To cater to such demands, Smithfield Plc. recently introduced its Pure Farmland plant-based protein product range.

Likewise, Kelloggs launched its new INCOGMEATO plant-based ground package manufactured with 100% plant protein with 48% less saturated fat.

Collaboration between market players is on the increase as producers work to make vegan food items more accessible. For instance, Subway collaborated with Beyond Meat Burger in order to provide more efficient products and services to their customers.

Industry Insider predicts that both companies and investors involved in the vegan business have backed the right horse, given the expected growth of the vegan food sector. With Europe and North America leading the vegan revolution and collectively holding 65% of the global protein supplement market, according to MarketNgage, a potential strategic advantage is emerging for these regions going forward.

With thanks to Hakimuddin Bawangaonwala of MarketNgage for the input.

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Industry Insiders Discuss Veganism: Companies Must Focus on Winning The Game - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine

Going vegan or vegetarian has become mainstream in Britain, as new coverts join the momentum to switch to a plant-based diet

By Prasun Sonwalkar

Published: Fri 29 Oct 2021, 10:46 PM

What do global movers and shakers eat when they meet and confabulate about major issues? Next week, world leaders will congregate in Glasgow for the COP26 summit, with mixed hopes among billions across the globe of what the event will eventually achieve in terms of global warming and climate change. But keeping with the events aspirations, one aspect has already been decided: plant-based dishes will dominate the menu, with 80 per cent of the food seasonal and sourced in Scotland. Overall, 95 per cent of the food will be from the United Kingdom, focused on the idea that sustainability should be at the heart of catering for the summit, reducing emissions and promoting environment-friendly food production. Campaigners wanted a 100 per cent vegan menu to be served, but the fact that most of the dishes will be plant-based at such a high-profile international event is music to their ears.

Each item will have an estimate of its carbon footprint, helping delegates make climate-friendly choices. Items will include Edinburghs Mara Seaweed, which is abundant, sustainable, does not require fertiliser, fresh water or soil to grow, as well as Benzies carrots and potatoes that use wind turbines to power their cool storage, biomass to provide heating and actively recycle the water they use. Cups used to serve drinks will be reusable, washable 1,000 times; it is estimated that this approach will save up to 250,000 single-use cups. Says Alok Sharma, Cabinet minister in the Boris Johnson government and COP26 president: There will be a tremendous amount of work to be done at COP26, with many hours of negotiations and long days, so the choice of food that we serve our visiting delegations, staff and all our volunteers is very important. It is exciting to see such innovation in the menus that will be on offer and to understand the thought and effort that has gone into making dishes both healthy, sustainable and suitable for different diets and requirements. We very much look forward to giving our international visitors a flavour of the wide-ranging cuisine the UK has to offer.

This focus on a plant-based menu at the Glasgow summit seems inevitable given the growing momentum in Britain in recent years to switching to a vegan diet, which is a step further than a vegetarian diet, since it excludes dairy products (vegan was coined from the first three and last two letters of vegetarian in 1944, when The Vegan Society was formed with just 25 members). According to the society, A vegan is someone who tries to live without exploiting animals, for the benefit of animals, people and the planet. Vegans eat a plant-based diet, with nothing coming from animals no meat, milk, eggs or honey, for example. The momentum is driven by philosophical, religious and other reasons, but mainly by widely-publicised scientific research that animal agriculture and animal products are disastrous for the planet, and that cutting out animal products from the diet is the single-most effective action an individual can take to help fight climate change.

A vegan supply chain

From the United Nations calling for a wider global uptake of plant-based diet in 2010, to a host of studies and mass awareness drives by campaign groups subsequently, veganism has gone mainstream, with superstores, restaurants as well as manufacturers of cosmetics, medicines, toiletries, fashion and textiles making it known that their food and goods are vegan, catering to a growing niche customer base. Coffee lovers can now enjoy a flat white with soy, oat, coconut or almond milk instead of whole milk, besides a large number of dishes that earlier used dairy products. Cadbury hit the headlines when it announced that from November there would be a vegan alternative to its signature Dairy Milk chocolate bar. The new Cadbury Plant Bar would substitute almond paste for the glass and a half of milk that is supposed to be in the Dairy Milk bar. Veganuary, a charity organisation that encourages people to try vegan diet in January and beyond, enlisted pledges of more than 580,000 people this year.

Says senior journalist Syed Zubair Ahmed: Its been over a year since I last had meat. My journey to being vegetarian was slow. First, I gave up eating beef way back in 1984 when I was a university student. I tried to give up eating meat completely several times since then but it was difficult to resist. Gradually, I stopped cooking meat at home. And then in the first month of Covid I decided to cut out meat completely... Going vegan or vegetarian appears to be a fad in the West but those who have turned vegetarian or eating vegan food know what they are getting into. Even when I ate meat I believed vegetarianism is a higher form of living. Eating meat was fine when we lived with nature 12-13,000 years ago. We have a choice now. Giving up animal products is achieving that higher form of living I have always been hankering after. My next goal is to stop eating all animal products, including milk and eggs. I love oat milk anyway. I believe being vegan is being more civilised.

According to new research by The Vegan Society, a large number of Britons reduced the amount of animal products they consume since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It found that 1 in 5 (20 per cent) people have reduced the amount of meat they are eating while 12 per cent said they have minimised their eggs and dairy intake. Seven per cent of respondents revealed they have cut down on all three, meaning that 1 in 4 (25 per cent) have actively cut back on some form of animal products since the first lockdown. It also found that more than a third (34 per cent) people are spending more time with their companion animals, and 32 per cent are thinking more about their personal impact on the planet. In a second survey aimed at those who had cut back on animal products, 35 per cent said they were mainly motivated by health concerns, with that figure rising to 39 per cent for those aged 55+, while 30 per cent said the environment was their primary motivation, and almost 1 in 4 (21 per cent) said it was down to animal rights issues.

Louisianna Waring, Insight and Commercial Policy Officer at the society, says: Its fantastic to see that not only are people consciously cutting back on animal products, but that this trend has continued over the last 12 months. Its no surprise that the pandemic has inspired so many consumers to make the switch to plant-based alternatives and adopt a more planet-friendly diet. Covid-19 has certainly made people think twice about what theyre eating and where its coming from. This is highlighted by the large number of people cutting down on animal products because of their own health concerns. New research published in the British Medical Journal says that plant-based or pescatarian diets were associated with lower odds of moderate-to-severe Covid-19. The Vegan Society will make its presence felt at Glasgow through its various campaigns (Plate Up for the Planet), adverts and messaging on buses, digital billboards, subway stations, performances and an outreach stand in a shopping mall.

The legislation debate

Campaigners would like the turn to veganism to be backed by legislation, with subsidies for plant-based food, but opinion within the Johnson government is mixed. According to the independent Climate Change Committee, people should be encouraged by the government to cut the amount of meat and dairy they eat, recommending a 20 per cent shift away from those products by 2030, since reducing meat and dairy consumption will cut emissions from agriculture and release land to plant trees to help absorb carbon dioxide. But the Johnson government has said it will maintain peoples freedom of choice in their diet.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has spoken to the media about the importance of veganism to climate change. He may adopt a vegan diet at some point to play his part in the global climate effort, since lifestyle changes would be needed across society if the UK government is to hit its new emissions target: cut by 78 per cent on 1990 levels by 2035. He says: Im certainly reducing my meat consumption, not only for environmental reasons but also for health reasons. Im eating a lot more fish than I ever did before and maybe I can move to a full vegan diet at some point. The number of people who are vegans, who are reducing their meat intake, is going up all the time. I think that there is a lot of societal change that will actually help us and drive the progress to 2035, admitting that the government should accelerate the change and praised the boom in plant-based diets, which is taking place without government legislation.

Kwartengs views about veganism stand in sharp contrast to Johnsons. According to the prime minister, veganism is a crime against cheese lovers. Asked recently on BBC about his 2020 resolution to lose weight and if he would be ditching meat and dairy products from his diet, he said it would require too much concentration, adding that while he tipped his hat off to vegans who can handle it, a vegan diet is a crime against cheese lovers. Campaigners were quick to point out that vegan-friendly cheeses are now available in every grocery store, besides other alternatives to dairy products.

The latest alt-milk to hit the market besides almond, soy, coconut, oat is potato milk; the market for plant milk alone is estimated to be 400 million a year, while the global plant-based alternatives market is pegged at over 115 billion. The Vegan Trademark is already established, helping users identify that a product is free from animal ingredients since 1990. Over 56,000 products worldwide, including cosmetics, clothing, food, drink, household items, and many more display the Vegan Trademark. In 2019 alone, The Vegan Society registered 14,262 products with the Vegan Trademark, which was an increase from 2018, when 9,590 products were registered. The Vegan Trademark is present in 108 countries, with over 50 per cent of products registered coming from companies based outside of the UK. Vegan and plant-based foods are the fastest-growing category of foods people are ordering, according to leading food-delivery companies in the United States, Canada and the UK. Campaigners say globally the number of vegans is nearly 80 million; of those in the UK, 66 per cent are women.

A new report by think-tank Chatham House says post-Covid economic recovery efforts by governments across the globe provide a unique opportunity to put in place measures for a green recovery. Its report, Food System Impacts On Biodiversity Loss, says: Over the past 50 years, the conversion of natural ecosystems for crop production or pasture has been the principal cause of habitat loss, in turn reducing biodiversityWithout reform of our food system, biodiversity loss will continue to accelerateReform will rely on the use of three principal levers: Firstly, global dietary patterns need to converge around diets based more on plants, owing to the disproportionate impact of animal farming on biodiversity, land use and the environmentSecondly, more land needs to be protected and set aside for natureThirdly, we need to farm in a more nature-friendly, biodiversity-supporting way, limiting the use of inputs and replacing monoculture with polyculture farming practicesDietary change and a reduction in food waste are critical to breaking the system lock-ins that have driven the intensification of agriculture and the continued conversion of native ecosystems to crop production and pasture.

The flip side

For all the enthusiasm to adopt veganism and stick to it rigorously, it has many critics, besides attracting the old joke: How do you known someones a vegan? Answer: Theyll tell you. There is also the fact that almost everything edible involves some kind of animal suffering; all one can do is try and minimise it through food choices. One website is dedicated to its point that almonds are not vegan. It may be impossible to be 100 per cent vegan, since plants get nutrients from the soil, which often contains decayed remains of animals, besides pollination by bees and others species. The jury is out and both sides hold on to their positions passionately.

Ward Clark, author of Misplaced Compassion: The Animal Rights Movement Exposed, writes in an online essay titled The Myth of the Ethical Vegan: Unfortunately for the ethical vegan, the production of their food alone reduces their claim to impossibility. Animals are killed in untold millions, in the course of plant agriculture. Some are killed accidentally in the course of mechanised farming; some are killed deliberately in the course of pest control... Every potato, every stick of celery, every cup of rice, and every carrot has a blood trail leading from field to plateEthical vegans, as a class, fail utterly to put any of their professed ethics into action. They claim to not cause harm to animals, but they do; when confronted, they claim to cause less harm to animals than the non-vegan, but they are utterly unable to show that to be true... They are intimately involved, every day, in an activity that causes the deaths of millions of animals...

(Prasun is a journalist based in London. He tweets @PrasunSonwalkar)

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The rise and rise of veganism in Britain - Khaleej Times

Nigella loves sesame chicken and isn't ready for plant-based jelly. (Getty Images)

Veganism has taken over the world in the past few years, as concerns about climate change and animal welfare push what we eat to the top of the agenda.

Now, every supermarket has a dedicated plant-based aisle and there are vegan versions of every food, from chorizo to king prawns to stir-fry chicken.

But though the public are increasingly ditching meat in favour of vegetables and replacement products like pea protein and tofu, one very famous cook isn't so keen.

Nigella Lawson tried going vegan for a fortnight recently, and concluded that she "doesn't see the point" in giving up animal products.

Watch: Communal Table: Jamie Oliver

She added that while she likes vegetables and also respects the vegan viewpoint, it's not for her.

Nigella believes that "humans have the teeth for meat" and admitted she craved eggs within the fortnight, saying that without meat or dairy, she felt run-down.

"As far as Im concerned I want to eat proper food," she said.

"I dont want to lecture anyone because I feel, well, I cling to the thing that we have the teeth for meat and so its natural for us to want to eat it... its an argument that a lot of vegans disagree with I respect that position but I feel that Im not ready."

Nigella Lawson is not going plant-based just yet. Or ever. (BBC)

More in tune with the growing vegan vibe is Jamie Oliver. The famous chef has announced that he will reduce or "eliminate" meat in two-thirds of new recipes, in a bid to go carbon-neutral over the next 20 years.

His hugely popular recipes will still use some meat, but he also pledged to cut down the amount used in individual recipes such as spaghetti bolognese. However, he failed to set a deadline for changing his approach.

Read more: We tried 14 vegan cheeses and ranked them just for you

A spokesperson for The Vegan Society said: While its hugely encouraging to see well known food giants, such as the Jamie Oliver Group, making an effort to reduce the amount of meat theyre offering customers, its perhaps not as ambitious a pledge as others have already made.

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"It would be great to see the Jamie Oliver Group step it up a little.

Others in the spotlight who are promoting the vegan cause include baker Freya Cox, just voted off this year's Great British Bake Off on Channel 4.

Vegan brownies made with courgettes. They look just as good... (Getty Images)

The 19-year-old cook promised to showcase vegan baking, and created impressive challenges and showstoppers using aquafaba instead of egg white and replacing butter with a vegan alternative.

Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith were complimentary, but Freya went home last week.

Other advocates of the vegan lifestyle include actor Joaquin Phoenix, who used his Joker Oscar winning speech to promote the cause, asking the audience: "Why (do) we feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable?

Phoenix: Not here to make us feel good about our choices. (PA)

Pop star Billie Eilish is also a vegan, recently posting: "Leave animals alone. Damn," while Harry Potter actor Evanna Lynch is a campaigner for animal rights and says she stopped eating meat aged 11, after feeling "viscerally repelled by the idea of eating animal flesh.

Actor Elliot Page is also a vegan who often speaks up on behalf of animals in interviews and on social media.

TV presenter Fearne Cotton has released a vegan cookbook, as has Made In Chelsea star Lucy Watson.

Even veteran star Stevie Wonder is a convert. He turned vegan in 2016, saying: (It's) helped my already good-looking self. I think that eating healthy is important.

Billie Eilish is not here for your meat-eating nonsense. (Getty Images)

Read more: Alicia Silverstone on how she raises her son Bear by example: 'I'm not running around and shouting and getting angry'

Others have put their money where their mouths are, with Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton recently opening the restaurant Neat Burger, serving plant-based burgers.

Actor Rooney Mara co-founded vegan fashion label Hiraeth and narrated Dominion, a documentary on animal welfare, with her partner Joaquin Phoenix.

Well-known vegan and animals rights advocate Pamela Anderson often appears in campaigns, and recently opened a pop-up vegan restaurant in France.

Lawson may not be ready to climb onto the vegan bus just yet but plenty of others are already on board.

Why Joaquin Phoenix won't 'force' veganism on his and Rooney Mara's son

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Why Nigella won't go vegan and the stars who are - Yahoo Entertainment

By Lutho Pasiya Oct 29, 2021

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Nigella Lawson only managed two weeks of the vegan diet, and she says she sees no point in ditching animal products.

Talking to Sunday Times about her new book, Cook, Eat, Repeat, the television chef admitted: I cant be a vegetarian, even though I like vegetables. I dont see the point.

Lawson said she tried veganism but broke down due to her craving for eggs.

I couldnt be vegan, although I love vegetables. I dont see the point in that, she said.

Lawson added: Im very happy I dont eat that much meat, but I love it. I am also in a privileged position and get great salted beef or lamb, so I never like to lecture people. I felt very exhausted, and in any case, I am low on iron. So I needed it.

The media personality said she wants to be able to eat the right food and believes that humans are made to eat meat.

She added: I feel like we have teeth for meat, and therefore it is natural for us to want to eat it. I know vegans disagree with this argument, so I respect that position, but I feel Im not ready.

She later tweeted to clarify that she does, in fact, completely understand the point of veganism, adding: I just want to say, concerning the quote published in the ST, I actually completely get the point of veganism, and while I admire those who can follow a vegan diet, I dont see the point in making going vegan the only commendable change. I feel that encouraging more people to eat plant-based meals would have greater take-up, and would thus have a huge impact and benefit.

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The reason why Nigella Lawson only lasted two weeks on a vegan diet - IOL