About every second person (51 percent) in Austria ate less meat last year than before. This is evident from a study into plant-based nutrition. Those surveyed cited health reasons as the main motive.
In total, the universities of Copenhagen and Ghent and the market research institute Innova Market Insights surveyed 7,500 people in ten countries about their diet. Austria is exactly in line with the European average. Nearly four in ten people (37 percent) describe themselves as flexitarians, that is, people who eat meat but try to reduce their consumption and often switch to plant-based alternatives. People cited health reasons as the main motive.
Plant-based alternatives in demand
When it came to plant-based alternatives, several questions were asked. In Austria, about one in three people (32 percent) said they consume plant-based milk substitutes every week. Slightly fewer (28 percent) choose plant-based alternatives to yogurt every week and at least 23 percent use plant-based cheese substitutes. Nearly one in five respondents (18 percent) eat plant-based beef substitutes at least once a week, followed by poultry substitutes.
Costs as an obstacle
According to the research, about one in three people has set a goal to buy more plant-based meat substitutes in the next six months. At the same time, 38 percent said plant-based options were too expensive. “However, the biggest obstacle to sustainable consumption decisions remains the generally higher price. To fully realize the potential of plant-based food, further initiatives like Billa’s are needed to always make plant-based alternatives cheaper in product group campaigns,” said Ivo Rzegott of the Good Food Institute Europe (GFI).
In addition, politicians are responsible for creating fair competitive conditions and the necessary infrastructure, and for investing in research. According to the survey, five percent of respondents eat a completely vegan diet. This makes Austria a leader in Europe.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.