London, UK—A quarter of Americans are opting to follow sustainable diets to help tackle global warming and animal welfare issues, according to a new survey from Spoon Guru.

Some highlights:
  • 27% are actively choosing more sustainable food options to tackle global warming
  • 15% are following a more eco-conscious diet to address animal welfare
  • 13% are eating more sustainably to tackle eco issues due to agriculture expansion
  • 41% have changed their diet to help fight against pandemics
  • 30% are urging retailers to provide more help with choosing plant-based foods
  • 45% are urging the government to collaborate with retailers to promote a dietary shift from meat to plant-heavy diets
Start ID: Image is headed "A quarter of Americans are opting to follow sustainable diets to tackle global warming amidst urgent calls to curb wildlife extinction." There are four circular charts, each one depicting a different statistic, with a section of each circle in green indicating what percentage of the population is adhering to that statistic. The four statistics are: 15% Have adopted a more environmentally friendly diet to help with animal welfare. 13% Eat more sustainably to address eco issues due to agriculture expansion. 41% Have changed their diet to help fight against pandemics. 30% Are urging retailers for more help on how to choose plant based foods. End ID.
Image courtesy of Spoon Guru.


The survey found that, in terms of issues that people are trying to address through dietary changes, the top problem was “global pandemics,” followed by “food waste” and “global warming.” “Increase in draughts, floods, or fires across the globe and the effect it has on agriculture” came in at number four, followed by “increase in GMO products” and “increase in chemicals and pesticides used in agriculture.”

Adrian Hodgson, Chief Health Officer at Spoon Guru, commented: “This study reinforces the fact that a healthy planet and healthy people are intertwined. We’ve seen a significant rise in calls for dietary shifts from meat to more plant-heavy diets to combat the impact that farming animals has on the environment, with 1 in 10 Americans now following a vegetarian or plant based diet. A focus on eating less meat and adopting plant based options as part of a well-rounded, balanced diet that includes moderate amounts of all the food groups, not only benefits people’s health but also helps to combat many urgent environmental issues—not least the threat to wildlife and the risk of pandemics.

“Our findings show that consumers are taking heed and adapting their diets to include more sustainable food options,” Hodgson continued. “However, the challenge remains—how can we all select better foods, not only to support our health and immune systems but to also address pressing environmental concerns? Today we are spoilt for choice and it really is a minefield out there—consumers need more help than ever when it comes to navigating healthy food items and educating themselves about more sustainable food choices.”

Spoon Guru’s five tips for eating more sustainably:
  • Eat seasonally, to reduce the need for out-of-season produce to be shipped or transported from other countries
  • Shop locally, to not only reduce food miles but also get fresher and more nutritious food
  • Reduce meat intake, to reduce threat to wildlife and limit risk of pandemics
  • Plan ahead, to prevent impulse purchases and wasted food
  • Look for the logo, to find foods that have been sourced and produced sustainably
Markus Stripf, Founder and CPMO of Spoon Guru, says: “Retailers are currently looking at ways that they can guide the consumer to more sustainable eating, and technology is very much at the forefront of this. That’s where Spoon Guru can help - our technology can safely and speedily process and accurately classify all products to help shoppers in seconds, giving consumers up and down the country the information they need to help them make wiser food choices helping to both support a healthy mind and body but also tackle the globe’s urgent environmental issues. We are delighted to be in talks with major global supermarkets to help them with their ESG agenda and look forward to sharing news on developments in this area soon.”