There are many myths and prejudices that surround vegetarianism, but what exactly is the truth? What is a vegetarian, why do people give up flesh foods and what exactly is at stake?
What is a vegetarian?
Someone who eats no meat, poultry, game or fish, and who also avoids slaughterhouse by-products such as gelatine, rennet (an enzyme from a calf's stomach sometimes found in cheese) and animal fats.

Most vegetarians in the UK eat dairy produce and free-range eggs -- they are referred to as lacto-ovo vegetarians. The Vegetarian Society only approves free-range eggs which are produced to standards above and beyond EU criteria for free-range egg farming. The Society believes that hens are more likely to behave naturally and remain healthy under such conditions. Vegans avoid all animal products, including dairy produce, eggs and even honey.

Who are vegetarians?

Vegetarians are a diverse group of people of all ages, who come from all over the UK -- from every walk of life imaginable. That includes people like YOU. Far from being old-fashioned, faddy or eccentric, a vegetarian diet is the choice of many millions of people in search of healthy, delicious, cruelty-free food.
It is fair to say that the vast majority of people in the UK, most of the time, eat foods which either are, or could easily be, vegetarian. If you consider a traditional Sunday roast for instance, most of the food on the plate consists of vegetables anyway.

More people than ever are turning away from traditional meat and fish-based meals in search of something more satisfying.
But why go vegetarian?

Modern vegetarian food is far more accessible and diverse than it has ever been. Mouthwatering, satisfying veggie food is now available almost everywhere -- and this is just one of the reasons why it has never been easier to go vegetarian.
It is also true to say that many people have become bored with the limitations offered by traditional flesh-based foods, craving something that is fresh, exciting and very often different.Vegetarian food offers this and so much more.
Although vegetarian food tastes fantastic and offers a wide scope of choice and flavour, in many cases it is also cheaper than meat and fish-based meals. It is neither hard to find nor difficult to prepare, but the fact remains that most people in the UK adopting a vegetarian diet do so out of concern for animal welfare, the environment and their own health.

Better for animals

In the UK alone, almost 800 million animals are slaughtered for food each year. That means about fifteen live animals, per person, per year.
These animals are as intelligent and feeling as any household pet. Yet mostly they are intensively reared, forced to live tortured, short and miserable lives; denied access to their young and deprived of any real quality of life; fed unnatural diets, in some cases pumped full of chemicals to improve yield and lessen disease; kept in cramped conditions where they frequently develop physical and psychological abnormalities.