Groups aim to double UK vegans by year-end

[Guest guest]

24/05/2007 - Twenty-five UK groups have joined forces to form a Super Vegan

Dream Team to promote the vegan diet, say the organisers of a vegan event in

Bristol, buoyed by attention to the animal-product-free lifestyle in consumer

media.

 

Yaoh Hemp Products, which organises and sponsors the annual Bristol Vegan Fayre,

has said that the aim is to double the number of vegans in the UK by the end of

the year.

 

The Vegan Society (one of the 'dream team' members) does not give a precise

figure for the number of vegans in the UK at present, but says that there are

three million vegetarians and vegans in the country, including thousands of

Hindus.

 

" A further 3 million people with problems digesting milk; millions more who

avoid particular animal products for ethical, health or religious reasons. "

 

While Yaoh Hemp's goal may be ambitious, there are certainly indications that

more consumers are attracted by vegetarian and non-animal products, and there is

a general trend towards food companies adapting their product formulations and

ingredients to make them inclusive to such groups.

 

For instance, last week Masterfoods bowed to pressure from vegetarians and

agreed not to go ahead with plans to use rennet from calves' stomachs instead of

a vegetarian source in their confectionery brands.

 

Although some vegetarian and vegan consumers remain sceptical that big-brand

products are truly suitable for them (and Masterfoods' products are certainly

not suitable for vegans), such considerations are weighing on the minds of

decision-makers.

 

At the same time, businesses must still factor in formulation issues and cost

benefits of catering to specialist diets.

 

What is more, products aimed at bridging nutrient gaps in the diets of

vegetarians and vegans (such as vitamin B12, which can only be obtained from

animal products) present opportunities for specialist food and

supplement-makers.

 

 

 

Peter H

 

 

 

 

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