One in three New Zealanders, or 34 per cent, have cut down their meat consumption, new research has revealed.
The findings – commissioned by not-for-profit think tank Food Frontier
and Australasian vegetarian food manufacturer Life Health Foods, with
help from polling agency Colmar Brunton – were published today.
Of the 1107 New Zealanders surveyed, 31 per cent identified
as “flexitarian”, defined as eating meat one to four times per week, or
“meat-reducers”, defined as eating less meat in the last year. A further
3 per cent of New Zealanders are vegetarian or vegan.
It also
showed that Kiwis have reduced their meat consumption over the past
year, with an 18 per cent increase in those whose diets were categorised
as flexitarian. The group is led by Generation X, while
meat-reducers were most likely to be baby boomers.
Kiwis seeking to eat less meat named health as the number one reason to do so, citing their overall health, reducing the chance for heart disease and stroke, and to limit the risk of developing cancer.
The environment, animal welfare, cost and the increasing variety of plant-based options available followed close behind as the other most important reasons to reduce meat consumption.
“Retailers and food businesses are working hard to deliver new and improved meat alternatives, so people don’t have to compromise to find convenient and familiar foods, like mince and meatballs, that address their growing health, environmental or ethical concerns,” said Food Frontier CEO Thomas King said.
The study also looked at whether the rapid increase in plant-based meat was causing confusion at the supermarket, with 94 per cent saying they had never mistakenly purchased the products.
“Make no mistake, consumers are actively seeking out plant-based alternatives,” Mr King said.
“They’re not being duped into purchasing these products. Terms such as ‘sausage’ or ‘burger’ support consumers in understanding the product’s intended use, coupled with qualifiers like ‘plant-based’ that indicate what it’s made of.”
The 6 per cent who had made the mistake were more likely to be vegetarian or vegan, results showed.
While only one in five New Zealanders have tried plant-based meat alternatives, a further 44 per cent of people expressed that they would like to try them, including half (49%) of those who indicated they were meat-reducers.
Source: One News
