70% of English people feel guilty when eating meat
Over 70% of English people who consume animal products feel guilty. A survey reveals growing awareness of animal suffering.
Around 71% of the British population have a guilty conscience when consuming animal products, as a new study shows.
The study by the Vegan Society found that younger people are more likely to feel guilty when eating meat.
The Vegan Society surveyed 2’000 non-vegans to find out what connection they make between animals and their food. These included meat eaters, those actively reducing their consumption of animal products, vegetarians and pescatarians.
The study found that 49% of respondents feel guilty because they «sometimes» eat meat. A further 22% felt «always» guilty.
The results also revealed a generational difference in attitudes towards meat. The survey found that 80% of respondents between the ages of 18 and 30 had a guilty conscience. By comparison, the figure among 50- to 65-year-olds was 59%.
Conversely, the study found that older people were more likely to describe themselves as «very» fond of animals, with 68% describing themselves as such. In the younger group, only 61% responded in this way.
Nobody wants to contribute to the suffering of animals, but unfortunately most of us have been raised to view certain animals as ‘something’ rather than ‘someone’.
Elena Orde, Head of Campaigns at The Vegan Society
Feelings of shame around meat consumption
The study also found that people experience varying degrees of guilt depending on the animal – or «product» – consumed.
Overall, people felt least guilty when eating eggs. Only 8% of respondents felt «always» guilty, while 31% had the same feeling «sometimes».
Dairy consumption was also associated with a lower degree of guilt. Of all respondents, 10% stated that they felt «always» guilty, while 29% felt this «sometimes» information.
The Reality of Animal Farming
Feelings of guilt related to the consumption of animal products are likely attributable to the cruelties that occur in livestock farming.
Every year, more than 70 billion land animals and approximately two trillion fish are killed for food.
Approximately 85% of land animals are raised in factory farms, where they may be kept in extremely confined spaces, locked in cages, and mutilated.
Animal farming is also catastrophic for the environment: it is responsible for at least 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Livestock farming is also one of the leading causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss.
