Three Percent of Americans are Vegetarian

The results of an online poll conducted by The Vegetarian Resource Group indicate that three percent of U.S. adults never eat meat, poultry and fish/seafood. About one-third to one-fourth of those vegetarians (one percent of the U.S. adult population) also never eat dairy, eggs and honey, and are classified as vegan. Additionally, eight percent of the respondents say they never eat red meat.

Those numbers are up from a similar poll conducted in 2006, which identified 2.3 percent of Americans as vegetarian, and 6.7 percent who never eat red meat.

The poll also indicated that five percent of females ages 18 – 34 classify themselves as vegetarian, and 12 percent of females 18 – 34 say they do not eat red meat. The poll also identified nine percent of U.S. males ages 18 – 34 as vegetarians, and 15 percent of respondents identifying themselves as students.

Although this number seems low, three percent of the U.S. population being vegetarian translates into an estimated six to eight million adult vegetarians, which is a very high number. Great news for animals and the environment. People are waking up and becoming more health conscious. Make your new year’s resolution this year to get more healthy, and come join the bandwagon! What do you have to lose?