Influences On Meat Avoidance Among British Students
This study of undergraduate students who had just chosen a vegetarian dish in a campus dining hall reported a variety of meat avoidance habits prior to arrival at the university. The reasons given for this behavior were diverse, but always included at least two of the following factors: ethics of raising/killing animals; concern for health; sensory factors; disgust; and influence of friends.
Undergraduate students who had just chosen a vegetarian dish in a campus dining hall were surveyed to analyze their motivations for choosing vegetarian options. During the study, more women than men avoided animal-based foods, with the exception of fish. Chicken and turkey were the least avoided animal foods among all surveyed.
The reasons given for avoiding animal non-vegetarian items were diverse, but the reasons always included at least two of the following motivations: ethics of raising/killing animals; concern for health; sensory factors; disgust; and influence of friends.