Research shows meat eaters saved £6.7 bn in 2019 by cutting down meat

While there is said to be a common misconception that the cost of going meat-free can be prohibitive, research commissioned by Linda McCartney’s, the UK vegetarian brand, showed that for 28 percent, saving money through a controlled diet is one of the biggest motivations for making the switch. Over half (51 percent) of those questioned said they felt meat is too expensive.

The research surveyed 2,000 adults, and found that 44 percent believed a meat-free lifestyle is more affordable now than ever before, and that in 2020, more than a fifth (20 percent) of them intend to reduce their intake even further, either for the first time, or to eliminate meat from their diet completely.  

“​There can be a real misconception around the cost of eating meat-free, however, this research proves that there is actually a lot of money that could be saved by making a veggie or vegan commitment. I believe in showing people how to make delicious, affordable food, and meat-free options are just the same; it does not need to be expensive or fancy to be satisfying and tasty,” commented Miguel Barclay, author of ‘One Pound Meals’, who has teamed up with Linda McCartney’s.

The Linda McCartney’s research discovered that those who eat meat do so four times a week on average – with one in six eating meat every day of the week. While a quarter of  those admit they eat ‘too much’ meat, six in 10 said that they have been contemplating cutting back for some time and just under half revealed they are now more open to a completely meat-free diet than ever before.

The research also revealed that two-thirds of carnivores have tried alternative products, with more than three quarters saying they liked what they ate. Approximately four in 10 of those surveyed said that they intend to become more (or completely) meat-free in 2020 in order to help the planet.

Alongside benefits to the planet, 44 percent said they hope this change to their diet will improve their health, while 11 percent described it as a personal challenge.

14 percent stated that they simply do not enjoy meat as much as they used to.