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Don't call me vegan: People more likely to go meatless if food labelled 'sustainable' instead (news.sky.com)

submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave to c/health

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Researchers said changing packaging on meat and dairy-free products, which often proudly tout their vegan status, could result in more people selecting them.

People are more likely to pick a meat-free option if it's not labelled vegan, a study suggests.

Foods described as "healthy", "sustainable" or "plant-based" are all more appealing, according to the University of Southern California.

Its research saw more than 7,000 people asked to choose between a vegan food basket and one with meat and dairy.

The former was randomly labelled "vegan", "plant-based", "healthy", "sustainable" or "healthy and sustainable".

The experiment found people were more likely to select it when the focus was on its benefits (such as "sustainable") rather than its content, though "plant-based" was still more popular than "vegan".

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[–] hydrospanner 4 points 11 months ago

Regarding dietary choices as a personality trait, I feel for you.

Personally, as long as it's not being forced on me, I really don't care what anybody chooses to eat or not eat...but I've definitely seen vegetarian and vegan folks get some harassment for their choices, and I've also certainly seen the reverse, with vegetarian and vegan eaters shaming others who don't do as they do (in many cases, exactly as they do). Hell I've been on the receiving end of it myself.

While two wrongs don't make a right, and I'm sure vegetarians/vegans are on the receiving end of that sort of flak far more often...on the other hand, I think that the percentage of people who give others a hard time about what they're eating is far higher among the vegetarian/vegan community than outside it. That is to say, it appears that the "preachy, holier-than-thou vegetarian/vegan" is a very well-earned/deserved stereotype...as those things go. Even extending, as you've unfortunately had to deal with, to turning their derision on members of their own community. They've also done themselves no favors by making it less a matter of "what you eat" and more a matter of "who you are".

The identity politics of vegetarianism and veganism certainly create a lot more potential for toxicity...and it's unfortunate: I'm sure there are plenty of people who might consider reducing or even eliminating meat from their diets, but the thought of being associated with these groups is enough to keep them content with the status quo.