Choosing a plant-based alternative: Limiters versus Vegans

During the recent A taste of trends: plant-based products in 2023 panel discussion for Food Matters Live, the question was posed: Is it vegans who are the main consumers of meat and dairy alternatives? Or is it people who are cutting down on their consumption of animal-based foods – meat and dairy limiters? Thanks to Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer: Health and Nutrition survey, it is possible to determine the answer.

Two-thirds sometimes eat plant-based meat and/or dairy

To begin with, we can see how often people are consuming plant-based meat and plant-based dairy alternatives.

Plant-based dairy is more likely to be consumed frequently, thanks in large part to the standard daily use of milk (in hot drinks, at breakfast, as an ingredient, etc.). However, it is clear both types of alternatives have made significant inroads into consumers’ diets – only 34%/28% “never” eat plant-based meat and plant-based dairy alternatives respectively.

The alternative eaters

By utilizing Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer: Health and Nutrition survey, it is possible to determine how often vegans (people who do not eat meat, fish, dairy products, or eggs) consume plant-based meat and plant-based dairy alternatives.

It is also possible to see how often people who are “trying to limit [their] meat intake” consume plant-based meat alternatives, and how often people who are “trying to limit [their] intake of dairy” consume plant-based dairy alternatives.

As can be seen, vegans are more likely than meat limiters to eat plant-based meat alternatives and are more likely than dairy limiters to eat plant-based dairy alternatives. The standout result is that over six in 10 vegans report consuming plant-based dairy alternatives weekly or more frequently.

** You can Read the Full text on Euromonitor International **