30% Of Scots Want Government To Promote Environmental And Health Benefits Of Vegan Diet

Around 30 percent of Scots want the government to promote the environmental and health benefits of a vegan diet. 

The data comes from a 2,000-person survey conducted by The Vegan Society. It found a third of Brits believe the government should promote plant-based foods to tackle the climate crisis.

Health benefits of vegan diet

The survey also found that 65 percent of Scots believe there should be at least one plant-based, healthy meal on every public sector menu.

Moreover, 61 percent felt there should be financial incentives for more locally-grown, high-protein crops, such as beans.

‘The impact of dietary choices’

Louisianna Waring is the Insight and Commercial Policy Officer at The Vegan Society. In a statement sent to PBN, she said: “We believe this data is hugely positive for the vegan movement. 

“It is fantastic to see that so many people in Scotland are listening to the science on the impact of dietary choices.

“Many of the climate solutions on offer can only be achieved if implemented together and promoting plant-based diets is one solution that unlocks several others including reduced deforestation and less water and land use.”

Plant-based milk

The poll also found that 59 percent want to see plant-milk offered in public health initiatives for children.

Last month, the Scottish government agreed to include plant-based alternatives in a government-funded nursery milk scheme.

The move follows years of campaigning from The Vegan Society. It launched the Play Fair with Plant Milk initiative back in 2019 in response to ‘the inequality surrounding the favoring of animal milk’.

The Nursery Milk Scheme reimburses eligible childcare providers the cost of providing milk to children under five.

*This article was updated on March 16 to amend the headline from 65 percent to 30 percent