Some highlights:
- 27% are actively choosing more sustainable food options to tackle global warming
- 15% are following a more eco-conscious diet to address animal welfare
- 13% are eating more sustainably to tackle eco issues due to agriculture expansion
- 41% have changed their diet to help fight against pandemics
- 30% are urging retailers to provide more help with choosing plant-based foods
- 45% are urging the government to collaborate with retailers to promote a dietary shift from meat to plant-heavy diets
The survey found that, in terms of issues that people are trying to address through dietary changes, the top problem was “global pandemics,” followed by “food waste” and “global warming.” “Increase in draughts, floods, or fires across the globe and the effect it has on agriculture” came in at number four, followed by “increase in GMO products” and “increase in chemicals and pesticides used in agriculture.”
Adrian Hodgson, Chief Health Officer at Spoon Guru, commented: “This study reinforces the fact that a healthy planet and healthy people are intertwined. We’ve seen a significant rise in calls for dietary shifts from meat to more plant-heavy diets to combat the impact that farming animals has on the environment, with 1 in 10 Americans now following a vegetarian or plant based diet. A focus on eating less meat and adopting plant based options as part of a well-rounded, balanced diet that includes moderate amounts of all the food groups, not only benefits people’s health but also helps to combat many urgent environmental issues—not least the threat to wildlife and the risk of pandemics.
“Our findings show that consumers are taking heed and adapting their diets to include more sustainable food options,” Hodgson continued. “However, the challenge remains—how can we all select better foods, not only to support our health and immune systems but to also address pressing environmental concerns? Today we are spoilt for choice and it really is a minefield out there—consumers need more help than ever when it comes to navigating healthy food items and educating themselves about more sustainable food choices.”
Spoon Guru’s five tips for eating more sustainably:
- Eat seasonally, to reduce the need for out-of-season produce to be shipped or transported from other countries
- Shop locally, to not only reduce food miles but also get fresher and more nutritious food
- Reduce meat intake, to reduce threat to wildlife and limit risk of pandemics
- Plan ahead, to prevent impulse purchases and wasted food
- Look for the logo, to find foods that have been sourced and produced sustainably
