Fad or Fix: Is Veganism Here To Stay?
Consumer habits are rapidly changing in 2020, with a rising interest in veganism being one of the main challenges for catering. Home economist and food stylist, Jill Weatherburn, shares her expertise in this area; answering the big question of whether this trend is a fad or here to stay.
Over half a million people now claim to be vegan in the UK. There are multiple reasons why more people are turning to a vegan diet, including health reasons, environmental issues and moral grounds. Whether these motives are sustainable is another question.
A common belief regarding veganism, is that it holds nutritional benefits and improves diet. While there is some truth in this, it is important to remember to have a balanced diet without ignoring any food group. According to Bupa, some health benefits linked to veganism are; reduced risk of diseases due to a high amount of minerals and fibre, as well as more wholegrains, which help to protect your heart. Veganism can also have a positive effect on weight loss, which decreases the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
That said, Bupa have also highlighted the health risks associated with a vegan diet, including nutritional deficiencies, such as calcium and vitamins. Like any diet, vegans need to be aware of the nutrients they are missing from meat and dairy, and substitute these in other foods. For example; pulses, beans and nuts all hold nutritional value that can contribute to a balanced diet. With this in mind, pregnant women and children need to take extra care when following a vegan diet in order to stay healthy.
While choosing to follow a vegan diet is a personal choice, it is debated that this could be a ‘fad’ due to the way the media is portraying the trend. For example, the recent documentary released on Netflix called ‘Game Changers’ portrayed veganism as the main diet to follow using research that was not necessarily concrete evidence. Media distribution such as this can give people a false sense of the benefits veganism has, and why it is an important lifestyle change.
However, outside of media scrutiny, there is clear evidence which proves going vegan helps the environment, and in theory, this should be the main motivation of why people follow this trend. It is a common argument that cows and other farm animals create methane, yet this is a small contribution of the negative effects meat and dairy products have on the environment. PeTa has recently released a study explaining how processing, transporting and storing animals is a major contributor to greenhouse gases.
The fight against climate change is spurring people to change their eating habits in order to save our planet.
Consumer habits are changing, there’s no doubt about that. Whether this will continue, or is merely a passing trend, is anyone’s guess. The big thing food retailers and manufacturers need to focus on, is whether they are doing enough to adapt to this evolving habit.
For restaurants and caterers, this is a great chance to be creative and innovative with recipes and menus, in order to tap into this growing market. Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients will encourage customers with delicious produce and a good reputation.
The real challenge is for food retailers and manufacturers, who will need to ensure they are producing and supplying enough to meet the vegan demand. As meat and dairy alternatives are heavily sought after, it is the perfect time to venture into this market in order to thrive in this popular trend.
At the moment, it appears that veganism is here to stay, and will be followed by more people in the near future. With pros and cons associated with a vegan diet, it really comes down to personal choice. In the food industry, it is definitely worth looking into this area of the market, as it could prove to be a great return on investment.
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