A new study published in/Science of the Total Environment/reveals that
the proportion of UK people eating and drinking plant-based alternative
foods such as plant-based milk, vegan sausages, and vegetable burgers
nearly doubled between 2008â??2011 and 2017â??2019.

The study, conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
(LSHTM), with partners at the University of Oxford is believed to be the
first analysis of plant-based alternative foods (PBAF) consumption
trends in the UK. Dr. Pauline Scheelbeek from LSHTM led the group in
gathering trends from more than 15,000 individuals aged 1.5 years and
over using consumption data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey
2008â??2019.

The team found that the proportion of people who reported eating and
drinking plant-based alternative foods nearly doubled over the period of
the study from 6.7% to 13.1%. The study also revealed the following:

* The largest increases were reported among Generation Y (11-23 years
old), millennials (24-39 years old), and among those that reported
low meat consumption.
* Women were 46% more likely to report consumption of plant-based
alternative foods than men.
* Plant-based milks were most popular among the UK population with
approximately 1 in 13 people (7.4%) reporting to consume plant-based
milks in 2018 and 2019 as compared to 2.3% in 2008-2011.
* The consumption of plant-based alternatives for other dairy products
â?? such as vegan cheese and yogurt - showed to be taking off at a
slower pace, with only 1.2% of the respondents reporting to consume
such products in 2018 and 2019.

The researchers say their study suggests alternative plant-based foods
are likely to play an important role in dietary change away from meat
and dairy and take a considerable place in UK diets.

Plant-based alternative food consumption may have doubled in UK over ten
years suggests first analysis of its kind | LSHTM
[www.lshtm.ac.uk]