Hello goldenavatar,
Thank you for your very interesting question. I am particularly
interested in it because I am a vegetarian, I think it's the
healthiest and most ethical decision a person can ever make in their
lifetime, and I certainly hope that vegetarianism is rising.
According to a Zogby poll of Americans conducted in 2000, at that time
there were 4.7 million vegetarians and 1.7 million vegans. This
amounts to 2.5% of adults being vegetarian and .9% being vegan.
A 2006 estimate put the number of vegetarians in the UK at 5.6 percent
of the whole population, or 3.5 million vegetarians and .25 million
vegans.
NutraIngredients
"New labelling guidance taps growing vegetarian demand"
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=66930-fsa-vegan-vegetarian
"Overall vegetarianism has followed a steady upwards curve over the
past decade. A 2002 Datamonitor report estimated that there are around
12 million vegetarians across Europe."
A 2000 poll found that 2.5 percent of the US population were
vegetarians, and PETA maintains that that has grown to 4% since then,
with 19,000 people making the healthy choice to become a vegetarian
each week.
Five to nine percent of US adults are "almost vegetarians" who choose
to eat little meat or only fish. 20-25% of the population are
"vegetarian-inclined", eating four or more vegetarian meals per week.
"Vegetarianism: Eating for Life"
http://www.downbound.com/Vegetarianism_s/470.htm
"There's little doubt anymore that vegetarianism is going mainstream.
In the United States alone, more than 12 million people are
vegetarians, and 19,000 more make the switch to a meat-free diet every
week."
"AR-News: Reasons for optimism"
http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20031117/011012.html
"A Zogby poll on vegetarian issues and concern for animals
indicates that a majority of Americans in all ethnic groups sometimes,
often, or always eat vegetarian at home."
There have been a number of health scares relating to eating meat in
recent years-- mad cow disease in the UK, which possibly accounts for
the large number of vegetarians in the Queen's country. There is also
the looming threat of avian flu in the rest of the world-- the flu is
caused by the terrible conditions in which chickens are raised without
concern for hygiene.
Sources:
Vegetarian Resource Group
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/market.htm
"So You're an Environmentalist; Why Are You Still Eating Meat?"
http://www.alternet.org/story/12162
Search terms:
vegetarianism growth 2000
12 million vegetarians
25 million americans vegetarians
If you need any additional clarification, let me know and I'll be glad
to assist you.
--keystroke-ga |
