Meat And Vegetarianism Beliefs Among Australians

This journal article summarizes a survey conducted in 1999 discussed meat consumption habits among South Australians, estimating the vegetarian population to be 1.5% of the population and the semi-vegetarian population to be 7.2% of the population.

This sample estimated the vegetarian population of South Australians to be about 1.5%, while the semi-vegetarian population is about 7.2%. An estimated 40% were interested in vegetarianism, although likely more are interested in broader plant-based diets. The majority of respondents perceived vegetarian diets as having health benefits. An additional survey found that vegetarians are more likely to hold universal values than non-vegetarians and to use or trust more unorthodox sources of information. 15% of non-vegetarians held beliefs similar to vegetarians and could be considered potential vegetarians. These potential vegetarians were more likely to be female. The five most important benefits to a vegetarian diet include:

• Eating more fruits and vegetables (74%)
• Decrease saturated fat in my diet (65%)
• Control my weight (40%)
• Help animal welfare/rights (36%)
• Prevent disease in general (36%)

The five most important barriers to a vegetarian diet:

• I like eating meat (78%)
• I don’t want to change my eating habit or routine (56%)
• I think humans are meant to eat meat (44%)
• My family eats meat (43%)
• I need more information about vegetarian diets (42%)

The five strongest beliefs about meat for non-vegetarians:

• I love to eat red meat such as beef, veal or lamb (82%)
• Meat is necessary in the adult human diet (68%)
• Meat is necessary in children’s diets (67%)
• Meat is important for building strength (62%)
• Meat is more of a food that men like to eat (52%)

The five strongest beliefs about meat for vegetarians:

• Meat production is cruel to animals (93%)
• I think meat is disgusting (71%)
• Humans have no right to kill animals for food (69%)
• Meat such as beef or lamb is unhealthy to eat (64%)
• Meat causes heart disease (55%).