For: Immediate Release November 20, 1999
Contacts: Davida Breier (410) 366-VEGE
Drew Nelson (410) 366-8343
WHEN EATING OUT, 57% OF AMERICANS
ORDER A VEGETARIAN MEAL
SOMETIMES, OFTEN, OR ALWAYS
To gauge the demand for meatless meals in restaurants, The Vegetarian Resource Group conducted a poll to find out how often customers were ordering a vegetarian meal. Though previous polls indicate about one percent of the country is vegetarian (that is, they eat no meat, fish, or fowl), about five times as many people say that when eating out, they always order a dish without meat, fish or fowl (5.5%).
And over half of the population (57%), sometimes, often, or always order a vegetarian item!!! These statistics certainly give restaurant owners and food service managers something to think about. There's an exploding demand for meatless meals.
However, to make life complicated, 39% say they never order a dish without meat, fish, or fowl. Almost the same amount of Americans have sometimes ordered a vegetarian meal.
So this means there are many tastes to which food service staff must cater. It's not as easy as offering one item for everybody. But if a vegetarian dish tastes good, about half the population will eat it. Thus food companies and restaurants should keep working on those veggie entrees.
The poll of 1,181 adults nationwide was conducted by Zogby International. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.12%. Error margins are higher for subgroups.
The Vegetarian Resource Group is a non-profit organization which educates the public about vegetarianism. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who also do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs. For more information, visit <www.vrg.org>.
The Vegetarian Resource Group also publishes Vegetarian Journal's Foodservice Update quarterly newsletter, which features quantity recipes and cooking hints for restaurants, colleges, hospitals, and other places where customers are looking for meatless meals. To obtain a sample copy of Foodservice Update, send 5 first class stamps to FSU, The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. A year subscription is $20.
Also available from The Vegetarian Resource Group is Vegan in Volume by Chef Nancy Berkoff, R.D. This 272-page book contains 150 vegetarian recipes. Chef Berkoff, with over 20 years of catering experience, gives ideas and recipes for anyone planning a wedding, holiday party, bar mitzvah, birthday party, or other group gathering.
Vegan in Volume is an indispensable guide for those serving children, college students, or hospital patients. The book also includes sections on vegan nutrition, food safety, soy recipes, vegan baking, garnishes, and lessons on vegan ingredients for the non-vegetarian food service provider. To order, send $20 to Vegan in Volume, The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Or call (410) 366-8343; 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday to Friday.
| When you eat out, do you… | TOTAL | MALE | FEMALE |
| 1. Sometimes order a dish without meat, fish, or fowl | 40.8% | 37% | 45% |
| 2. Often order a dish without meat, fish, or fowl | 11.7% | 10% | 14% |
| 3. Always order a dish without meat, fish, or fowl | 5.5% | 5% | 6% |
| 4. Never order a dish without meat, fish or fowl | 38.9% | 45% | 33% |
| When you eat out, do you Always order a dish without meat, fish or fowl? | 5.5% | Total |
| 4.6% | Full time student |
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| Last Updated December 23, 1999 |
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