More men eating non-veg in India than before, data shows (2024)

FAQs

More men eating non-veg in India than before, data shows? ›

An analysis by The Indian Express showed that a whopping 83.4 per cent of men and 70.6 per cent of women in this age group consume non-vegetarian food every day, weekly or occasionally, up from 78.4 per cent and 70 per cent respectively in NFHS-4.

The findings of the recently released All-India Household Consumption Expenditure (HCE) Survey, clubbed with the National Sample Surveys of previous years, show that the expenditure of Indians on animal-based diets has increased in comparison to cereal- and plant-based dietary options.

'Our study finds that only about 20% of Indians are vegetarians and the rest of the 80% are non-vegetarians or meat-eaters. ' 'Your eating habits have a lot to do with where you live.

The highest population of non-veg eaters is based in eastern, southern, and western India. More than 80 per cent of the male population in Goa, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh consume fish, chicken, or other meats at least once a week.

The consumption of meat is increasing in India and agriculture is considered as the backbone of a majority of people. Livestock plays a significant role, and poultry and dairy are the major sectors contributing to economic development.

For instance, China is one of the most difficult countries for vegetarians because even if a certain Chinese dish doesn't contain meat, it might have animal-based products like lard. Similarly, Argentina is renowned for its meat-based cuisine and is notoriously difficult for vegetarians.

India - 3 kg per capita

The world's second most populous, with an astonishing 1.3 billion people, India holds the distinction of consuming the least meat per capita. With its staggering population, this is even more striking, and indeed with only 3 kg of meat per capita per year consumed, no other country eats less.

India is ranked top in the world with 38% of the total population being vegetarian. Vegetarianism in the region became popular after the introduction of Buddhism and Jainism, which was around the 6th Century BC. In Israel, 13% of the population is vegetarian.

Diet in Hinduism signifies the diverse traditions found across the Indian subcontinent. Hindu scriptures promote a vegetarian dietary ideal based on the concept of ahimsa—non-violence and compassion towards all beings. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 44% of Hindus say they are vegetarian.

What does the Bhagavad Gita say about non-veg? ›

Non-vegetarian food falls in the category of Tamo Guna which are in turn hard to digest and makes us susceptible to many diseases too. Hence if we want to advance spiritually it is best to rely on vegetarian food only.

Note that while eggs are vegetarian, they are certainly, under no circ*mstances, considered vegan. However, in some parts of the world, particularly in India, eggs are indeed considered to be meat, and some vegetarians will not eat them. Usually, this is tied to religious practice, such as Hinduism.

In some parts of the world, eggs are customarily considered to be a form of meat, and some vegetarians will not eat them. Often, this is tied to religious practices, such as Hinduism.

Meat Consumption

Which countries eat the most meat? According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization data reported by website Our World in data, the United States and Australia are the top of the global meat-eating league with more than 120 kg consumed per capita in 2020.

Beef- eating among Muslims is over 50% in three states (West Bengal, Assam and Kerala), all of which have relatively high Muslim populations; and yet beef-eating among Muslims is only 7% in Rajasthan and 10% in Jharkhand, states with lower Muslim populations. ...

Punjab, Jammu, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat don't eat non-veg. These vegetarian states in don't even eat vegetables and fruits.

However, for emerging economies like China and India, the trend appears to be the reverse, with vegetarianism actually declining over the last three years. In India, for instance, nearly a third of all urban respondents in 2018/19 had said they followed vegetarian diets.

Vegan Population: According to a survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research in 2021, there were an estimated millions of vegans in India. This number has been steadily increasing year by year. Google Trends: Online search data reveals a significant uptick in interest in veganism over the past decade.

Vegetarianism is increasing slowly in several developed economies around the world, such as Europe and the United States. But it is declining in large emerging economies such as India, where traditional diets are becoming less popular. Vegetarian diets can have a profound influence on health and carbon footprints.