World Vegan Day, which is observed on November 1, is a celebration of vegetarians and vegans. Eggs, cheese, mayonnaise, honey, even whey, gelatin, or anything made of or derived from an animal. Aside from that, they don’t wear or use anything made of an animal. No wool, pearls, or leather. In 1994, the vegan holiday was introduced to mark the Vegan Society’s 50th anniversary.
When Did Veganism Start? A Brief History
Although it is becoming more and more fashionable, veganism is by no means a new idea! In England in 1847, the first vegetarian group was founded. The American Vegetarian Society was co-founded by the Rev. Sylvester Graham, who created Graham crackers, three years later. Donald Watson, a British carpenter, declared in November 1944 that he would coin the term “vegan” to refer to those who do not consume dairy or eggs because vegetarians do so.
Although the name “veganism” was first used in 1944, the idea of avoiding flesh dates back to ancient Indian and eastern Mediterranean communities. Veganism is an extreme type of vegetarianism. Around 500 BCE, the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras of Samos made the first reference to vegetarianism. In addition to his right triangle theorem, Pythagoras encouraged kindness in all living things, including humans. Vegetarianism was also promoted by adherents of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism who believed that humans shouldn’t cause suffering to other creatures.
How is Veganism different from Vegetarianism?
Vegetarianism and veganism are distinct in terms of diets, ideologies, and lifestyle decisions. Additionally, while most individuals choose veganism as a philosophy, there are many good reasons to become vegetarian, including health issues and budget constraints. Moreover, some individuals who identify as vegetarians later begin consuming animal products. Even if they claim to be devout vegetarians, some people include eggs freely in their diet.
The term “vegetarian” does not adhere to the idea of eliminating foods made with animal products as an ingredient. They might make use of materials like silk, leather, or wool.
Contrarily, vegans abstain from using animal-based products and are strongly opposed to the practice of testing consumer goods on animals to see how they would affect humans. A vegan diet is only one aspect of veganism. Vegans abstain from using products made with animal products or those that have undergone animal testing. It entails avoiding items like makeup, shampoo, paint, and even floor polish that has been tested on animals or contains anything made from an animal, including leather, sheep wool, marine products, silk from a silkworm, or leather from an animal.
Challenges of Being Vegan
The demand for animal products is the biggest obstacle for vegans. Millions of people in the modern industrialized world have grown accustomed to the flavor, texture, and accessibility of meals derived from animals.
Even eating out is difficult. The majority of non-vegan restaurants serve meat, eggs, dairy, and other goods derived from animals, making a fully wholesome vegetarian diet challenging. Many vegan diets are challenging to follow, especially when traveling.
Veganism has moral implications, such as avoiding putting animals through needless pain, but it also has practical implications that can be challenging and even terrifying. For instance, the average person still consumes animal products in their diet even though it is practically unheard of for vegans to consume bread, milk, or ice cream.
Veganism in India
In India, vegetarianism has roots that date back thousands of years. Nearly 1 in 10 people in India are vegetarian. Indians are the second-largest nation that eats more vegetarian food and consumes less non-vegetarian food. A third of Indians are vegetarians or vegans, according to the Ministry of Health.
In India, veganism is becoming more and more popular. People of all ages are becoming more and more intrigued by this trend. It’s also fascinating to note Hyderabad, the most meat-consuming city in Asia, was named the Most Vegan-Friendly City in India by PETA India in 2019.
The market for plant-based foods was estimated at US$ 12.1 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to increase by more than six times to US$ 74.2 billion by 2022. According to a different UBS and Jefferies estimate, the worldwide market for plant-based meats might grow from US$ 100 to US$ 370 billion over the next 15 years. India, which has a significant vegetarian population, will benefit greatly from this expansion.
COVID-19 and Veganism
There are many good reasons to become a vegan, including worries about antibiotic use, the environment, human health, and animal welfare. But its adoption was greatly aided by the recent pandemic.
Experts concur that while a vegan or plant-based diet cannot stop someone from contracting COVID-19, it may encourage a healthy immune system. This could help prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce the likelihood of developing serious symptoms.
The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of the meat and dairy industries, emphasizing the connection between food and health, and prompted consumers to reevaluate their diets. As a result, the popularity of plant-based diets has increased nationwide. The vegan trend is booming in India, with vegan cooking classes, festivals, conferences, and e-tailers all sprouting up all across the country.
Last Year’s Buffet: Top 2021 Vegan Food Trends
Looking back, a few of the top trends the publication foresaw for 2021 were-
- Vegan egg replacements – the liquid egg replacement introduced in 2020, was one of the 2021 food trends forecasted. Similar to the real thing in every way.
- Vegan sweets – At the end of 2020, Vegan Food and Living expected that more and more well-known confectionery companies would introduce vegan sweets in 2021.
- Vegan chicken replacement – Many plant-based meat alternatives were developed as substitutes for red meat.
- Vegan butchers – Without carcasses and animal meat, the store resembles a regular butcher shop. Instead, it has a lot of plant-based meat equivalents in its refrigerator and on its countertops. Asda began a vegan butcher’s counter in January 2021, Veganuary—at its Watford location.
Top Vegan Food Trends Anticipated for 2022
According to Vegan Food and Living’s food forecast, 2022 won’t be any different. People who are committed to eating just plants will become even more enthusiastic.
- Jackfruit – Although many people have never heard of jackfruit, it is expected to quickly gain popularity as a meat substitute. Jackfruit-based goods have already been launched by certain firms, and in 2022, their use is likely to increase even further.
- Potato milk – Potato milk, however, is a relative newcomer to the market. Products are free of gluten and soy.
- Vegan eggs – Plant-based egg substitutes will once again be included in the vegan “buffet” this year. Numerous businesses are introducing a variety of vegan egg substitute products around the world.
- Vegan chocolate – This year is a good one for vegans with a sweet taste because many renowned companies are catching on to the desire for plant-based alternatives. For instance, Nestlé just introduced their first vegan-friendly KitKat, which replaces rice-based milk with dairy. Following closely behind are Cadbury, Lindt, and Hershey’s.
- Plant-based ice creams – Despite the growing popularity of vegan diets, consumers continue to indulge in their sweet taste. Ice cream made from plants has become a popular option for satisfying consumer needs.
- Vegan baked goods – Recent years have shown a rise in the popularity of plant-based cakes and pastries. Cooking and baking have become simpler as a result of the development of new and improved vegan egg substitutes, plant-based milk, and butter.
- Vegan pork – Many people claimed that bacon was the one thing preventing people from adopting a plant-based diet. But in 2022, this justification won’t be accepted anymore. UK citizens have at least one pork-replacement product to look forward to this year, the brand OmniPork from Asia.
Plant-Based: A Revolution in the Making
As society opens up to a plant-based diet, manufacturers are being compelled to create newer, tastier vegan products. In earlier years, there has been a focus on flavor and texture replication of meats like chicken and beef. Many vegan diners have been delighted by the dozens of goods that have already been released, but there is undoubtedly room for improvement.
A vegan alternative to fish and seafood is one untapped market niche. However, that appears to be about to change as vegans will soon be able to enjoy a plant-based alternative to fish and chips (as well as calamari, tuna, and salmon).
The Modern-Day Vegan Trends
Veganism in Fashion
Vegan fashion is any piece of clothing, including shoes, bags, and accessories, that has been produced without causing suffering to animals and has an eco-friendly manufacturing process with a sustainable supply chain. There are many materials available today that can be used to create eco-friendly products with a minimal carbon footprint, including organic linen, recycled and organic cotton, fabrics made from wood pulp, hemp, bamboo, and even recycled rubber.
- Vegan leather also referred to as ‘Pleather’ – a leather-like material produced entirely of plant and plastic materials and has no animal skin at all
- Vegan Shoes – created with recycled rubber and recovered textiles from industrial leftovers including pet bottles & cotton scraps
- Vegan bags & accessories – are made of PU leather (polyurethane leather)
Vegan Makeup
What began as a trend in the world of food has since spread to the beauty world. The newest trend in the fashion business is conscious and environmentally responsible shopping. Many vegan beauty firms use only natural, organic, and animal-friendly components to create their skincare and makeup ranges.
More Plant-Based in Future
Upcoming prospects for plant-based food are promising. What categories are likely to thrive in this market in the future? Along with plant-based milk and meat alternatives, it is anticipated that a wide range of manufacturers and ingredient firms will concentrate on narrower categories.
Vegetarian baked foods and confections are some additional potential markets (cakes and pastries). Due to the lack of vegan options in these categories, additional producers are anticipated to enter these markets in the years to come. The geographic breadth will be essential for success; whereas vegan chocolate candy is more widely available in Finland and Spain, vegan cakes are more prevalent in France.
The packaged food industry’s future has been completely transformed by the plant-based movement, and business strategies going forward should put this trend at the forefront.
References
- Desai V., (2021). Vegan products: A sunrise segment for India’s F&B industry – India Business & Trade, an initiative of the Trade Promotion Council of India. [online] Available at: https://www.tpci.in/indiabusinesstrade/blogs/vegan-food-products-a-sunrise-segment-for-indias-fb-industry/#:~:text=Veganism%20on%20the%20rise%20in%20India%20The%20global
- The Week. (2022). Veganuary 2022: A look at the history of veganism in India. [online] Available at: https://www.theweek.in/leisure/lifestyle/2022/01/05/this-veganuary-2022-a-look-at-the-history-of-veganism-in-india.html
- Jeannette, (2021). A Brief History Of Veganism – Know Your Roots In 2022. [online] Available at: https://livingtheveganlifestyle.org/a-brief-history-of-veganism/
- Bernardi, A. (2022). Vegan Fashion: Here’s Everything You Need To Know. [online] The Pretty Planeteer. Available at: https://theprettyplaneteer.com/what-is-vegan-fashion/
Veganism on the Rise in 2022