Moving From Meat: Vegetarianism, Beliefs, And Information Sources

Provides an in-depth look at the attitudes and beliefs surrounding vegetarianism and meat consumption, with emphasis on the different factors associated with meat consumption, impact on health, and sources of information.

This study of non-vegetarian and vegetarians from South Australia examines the dietary attitudes and behaviors of three meat consumer groups, including vegetarian, semi-vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

In general, this study found that vegetarians are more likely than non-vegetarians “to use and trust unorthodox information sources, and to hold universal values.”

The beliefs examined in this study include:

• Meat is necessary
• Vegetarianism health concerns and appreciates meat
• Meat is unhealthy
• Benefits of vegetarianism

About 15% of non-vegetarians were found to hold the same beliefs as vegetarians, and they were less likely to eat read meat or to be Anglo-Australian than other non-vegetarians.

In sum, this research suggests that there is significant interest in the conversion from a non-vegetarian diet to a vegetarian one, although there are barriers which must be overcome prior to this fundamental change. In particular, the notions that vegetarian diets are nutritionally adequate and that meat is necessary for health are prevalent and must be changed.

Some methods of introducing these changes are through properly directed communications educating non-vegetarians about the preparation and existence of healthy, tasty vegetarian meals, and the efforts of health professionals in linking ethical (environmental and animal) issues with health and proper diet.