Vegetarian UK?
One of the rising trends in UK food culture is vegetarianism. How far this has been influenced by recent food safety scares is impossible to say. What is certain, however, is that more people are cutting out meat and animal products from their diet.

In 1989 a MORI poll indicated that 3 per cent of the UK’s population was vegetarian, while the results of a similar poll conducted in 2001 estimated that 5.7per cent of the population were vegetarian. In numbers this means that there are over 3 million vegetarians in the UK today and vegetarianism (where you don't eat meat or fish), and veganism (where you don't consume any animal products, such as milk and eggs) are becoming more and more mainstream in UK culture. This is partly because of food scares, but social changes, and the fact that the range of vegetarian food available is so wide, have also played a part.

Why we are healthier eaters
Many vegetarians and vegans choose not to eat meat or animal products for ethical reasons: the treatment and slaughter of animals for food, and the effects of meat and fish production on the environment. Recent food safety scares such as BSE (or 'mad cow disease', as it is commonly known) and salmonella have also led many to stop eating meat. Others choose to change their diet in this way for reasons of health. According to the UK’s leading body, the Vegetarian Society (founded 1847), a vegetarian diet could help reduce the risk of certain cancers and the possibility of heart disease, as well as various other health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure.

Organic farming
Another trend in the UK’s food culture is concern about how our food is produced.Because of intensive farming procedures which are used many people are turning to organically farmed foods as they can be more certain of the quality of the product.

As with vegetarianism, people choose organic foods is largely because of health or ethical considerations. One of the main features of organic farming is that the use of artificial chemical pesticides and fertilisers is restricted. Instead organic farmers rely on developing a healthy and fertile soil and growing a mixture of crops. Organic farming isn’t only concerned with plant crops: animals can also be reared organically, without the drugs and antibiotics commonly used in intensive livestock farming.

Organic food

According to the Soil Association, the UK's leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming, three out of every four households in the UK now buy organic food in some shape or form. Some people buy organic meat, fruit and vegetables from farmers' markets or schemes that deliver a box of mixed fruit and vegetables to their homes each week. Most people, though, probably buy organic produce in their local supermarket as a wide range is available, including fruit and veg but also items as diverse as rice pudding, chocolate, crisps and baked beans.

This picture shows just a small selection of a supermarket's typical organic range.