In September, the government opened a consultation on the National Food Strategy. This covers everything from farming to retail, and was the first opportunity in 75 years to have your say on the way food is provided in the UK. We asked for your views on how vegetarian and vegan food can revolutionise the food system for future generations.

Over 2,500 people took part in the survey and shaped our statement to the government. Many of you submitted your own statement to the government, amplifying the voice of vegetarians and vegans. Thank you everyone who took part.

Here are the key points in our statement to the government:

• The government should ensure vegetarian cooking and nutrition is taught in schools, alongside the environmental impact of meat, fish and dairy.
• A shift should be made in moving farming subsidies away from meat and fish and in favour of plant-based foods.
• The government should consider switching all food provided in the public sector to be vegetarian and vegan, unless someone requests a meat or fish option.
• The government should change advertising regulations for meat and fish to reflect the impact of these foods, as they have for smoking.
• The National Food Strategy should ensure improved labelling and more retail space for vegetarian and vegan food.
• The government should incentivise companies to promote vegetarian and vegan food, including investing in new companies and technologies.

National Food Strategy: Statement from the Vegetarian Society

Overview

There is a clear need to address climate change through the National Food Strategy. In October 2018, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) advised that eating a plant-based diet is one of the best things an individual can do for the environment. This statement sets out how vegetarian and vegan food can revolutionise the food system for future generations.

The Vegetarian Society surveyed 2,538 people on how they want the government to tackle climate change through an improved food system. Of those surveyed, 38.2% identified as vegan, 35.5% as vegetarian, 13.5% as meat-eater, 7.3% flexitarian/meat-reducer and 5.4% pescatarian.

The Vegetarian Society believes this to be a representative sample of people we engage with as a charity and we have incorporated these views into the statement. Vegetarians and vegans are well placed to understand what needs to happen to get more people eating more plant-based food, and less meat and fish.

Food education at schools and colleges

The government should ensure vegetarian cooking and nutrition is taught in all schools, alongside the environmental impact of meat, fish and dairy.

82.4% of respondents to the survey agreed that vegetarian cooking and nutrition should be taught in all schools. 90.2% of respondents believe that the environmental impact of meat and fish should be taught and 89.2% of respondents believe the environmental impact of dairy should be taught.

Many people also commented that training on vegetarian and vegan nutrition for doctors and health care professional needs to be improved, in order for more people to eat a healthy and balanced vegetarian and/or vegan diet.

We urge the government to consider the strength of these views and how broadly they are represented.

Government subsidies for farming

A shift should be made in moving subsidies away from meat and fish and in favour of plant-based food.

70.9% of the people we asked thought that subsidies should be increased for farmers who do not produce meat and fish. Furthermore, 59.3% of respondents thought that subsidies should be reduced for farmers who do produce meat and fish, and 44.7% support a total removal of subsidies for farmers who do produce meat and fish.

Many members and supporters said they found the price of vegetarian and vegan food expensive compared to meat and fish. They would like to see the government make it cheaper through subsidies to encourage more people to adopt a vegetarian or vegan diet.

A review of farming subsidies should be undertaken.

Food provided in the public sector

The public sector should be leading the way in promoting and providing vegetarian and vegan food.

40.4% of vegetarians and vegans believe that food provided in the public sector should be vegetarian and vegan, unless someone requests a meat or fish option. In addition, 37.6% of vegetarians and vegans believe that only vegetarian and vegan food should be served in the public sector.

Respondents from all diet groups commented that poor choice of vegetarian and vegan food in schools and hospitals create a barrier to people eating more vegetarian and vegan food.

The government should consider switching all food provided in the public sector to be vegetarian and vegan, unless someone requests a meat or fish option.

Advertising of meat and fish products

Meat and fish has been linked to diet-related disease and harm to the environment. The government should change advertising regulations to reflect the impact of these foods, as they have for smoking.

71.4% of all respondents supported a change in advertising of meat and fish. 39.8% thought it should be restricted and a further 31.6% supported a total ban on advertising meat and fish.

Many members and supporters commented that they would like to see advertising restricted in the same was as other products like cigarettes and alcohol.

There is a clear demand for change in advertising regulation for meat and fish and the government should acknowledge these views.

Retail

The government should consider taking action to ensure retailers provide more shelf space to vegetarian and vegan food.

72.4% of all respondents believe that retailers should be incentivised for offering more space to vegetarian products. 51.6% believe that retailers should be penalised for not offering equal shelf space to vegetarian products.

Respondents commented that it can be difficult to find vegetarian and vegan food, as it is often hidden away in ‘free-from’ areas. Many felt that labelling of vegetarian and vegan food is inadequate and needs to be improved by the government.

The National Food Strategy should ensure improved labelling and more retail space for vegetarian and vegan food.

What else could the government do?

Many respondents commented that they would like to see the government incentivise companies to promote vegetarian and vegan food, including investing in new companies and technologies.