Vegan should also be organic

81% of respondents believe that vegan foods should be biocertified at the same time, according to a recent nutrition research survey conducted by the organic industry. Half of the respondents use organic produce every day. Around 41 percent consciously use vegan foods in their everyday lives. As a reason for their diet, the majority of the participants gave the aspect 'health'. Also important motivations are the animal and environmental protection. "People who eat purely plant-based foods often deal more intensively with the effects of their lifestyle on the environment and the planet. Most of them attach great importance to their health, to sustainability issues as well as to environmental and animal welfare, "explains Sebastian Joy, Managing Director of VEBU.

The vegan market continues to grow
A total of 74 percent of respondents said they buy their vegan food in the organic supermarket. The drugstore was named by 63 percent and the supermarket by 60 percent of survey respondents. The supply of herbal foods is only 36 percent as sufficient. Compared to the previous year, however, this assessment has improved significantly. In 2015, only 19 percent of respondents were satisfied with the vegan offer.

Image: seventysix - fotolia

"The number of vegan-vegetarian people in Germany has risen sharply in recent years. Nearly eight million people are vegetarian and nearly one million are vegan, with a rising trend. The veggie market is very young and far from saturated. There is already a good supply of vegetable products in retail. Over the next few years, the product range will become even larger and more diverse, "said Joy. However, herbal products not only appeal to vegan consumers. According to the survey, 80 percent of those who buy vegan products are not consistently vegan. "Overall, vegan products have good potential for the market as they seem to be interested in them," adds Joy.

58 percent of respondents know the V label
A total of 58 percent of respondents know the V label and said they have already seen it in the supermarket before. The V label now carries around 5,000 products from a total of 400 license partners. The V-Label is an internationally protected quality seal for the labeling of vegetarian and vegan foods. It is used as a guide on packaging. Consumers can see at first glance when purchasing, whether a product is suitable for them. The V label is awarded in Germany in the categories 'vegan' and 'vegetarian' by the VEBU. If the product is licensed under the V label, consumers can be sure that it is a vegetarian or vegan product.

The World Food Day
The World Food Day has been held annually since 1979 on 16 October. The day draws attention to the hunger problem in the world. A herbal diet can make a contribution to solving the problem of global hunger and food safety. For the production of one kilogram of meat, up to 16 kilograms of grain or soybeans are needed as feed. On the area needed to produce one kilogram of meat, one could harvest 200 kilograms of tomatoes or 160 kilos of potatoes during the same period. "About 50 percent of the annual global grain harvest and 90 percent of the annual global soybean harvest are fed to so-called 'farm animals'. If less animal feed were grown for animal production, fewer people around the world would have to starve, "explains Joy.

Background of the study: The survey took place in January 2016. A total of 1,266 people participated. 80 percent of the participants were women and 19 percent men. Each 35 percent were between 18 and 29 years and between 30 and 39 years old. A total of 26 percent were 40 years and older.