Market research company Ipsos, together with the international organization Vegetarianos Hoy, has launched the report “Estudio de Opinión Pública: Alimentación y Productos de Origen Animal“, which regards the opinion and practices of the Chilean population regarding their dietary choices.
This year there was a significant increase in those who reported having tried to reduce their consumption of animal-based foods, from 36% in 2021 to 46% in 2023. Among those who have tried to reduce their intake of animal foods, 75% (-7%) have reduced their consumption of red meat, 66% (-8%) pork, and 25% (-6%) chicken or turkey. While in derived foods, 27% (-5%) tried to reduce their intake of cheese, 24% (+4%) of milk, and 14% (-4%) of eggs.
6% of the population identify as meat-free
The findings reveal 80% of Chileans describe their diet as omnivorous; 10% say they are flexitarians, 6% say they are vegetarians or vegans, while 3% identify themselves as pescetarians. When asked why they have tried to reduce their intake of food of animal origin, 31% say it is for health reasons, 14% say it is for reasons of price and 13% say it is for animal welfare.
In June of this year, a study also carried out by Ipsos and Vegetarianos Hoy found that 73% of Chileans were likely or very likely to consume a plant-based product of equal or better nutritional quality than the animal-based alternative, an increase of 12 points compared to the previous survey. 72% would buy plant-based products at similar or lower prices than animal-based products.
Awareness of veganism and its surrounding issues is imperative in Chile as its government recently passed a bill to redefine the concept of meat and prohibit meat-related terms for non-animal origin products, proposing that words such as hamburger, chorizo, sausage, or jerky, should not be used to describe, promote, or market foods that contain a higher proportion of vegetable matter than meat.
“The paradigm is really changing”
Regarding the study, Ignacia Uribe, general director of Vegetarianos Hoy, said, “The fact that the percentage of people who are trying to reduce their consumption of meat and animal derivatives has increased means that the food paradigm is really changing, and that the population is becoming aware of the negative impacts that the livestock industry has on health, the planet and animals. In that sense, the work of our foundation has been the main driver of the change we are seeing, and we will continue to provide tools and support to people who want to change their diets, as well as advice to companies that want to join the plant-based trend through vegan certification.
Read the full report here (in Spanish).
