According to the Eurispes Italy 2024 Report which we had already told you about, more and more Italians are following a vegan diet. This is 2.3% of our compatriots, an increase compared to previous years. Added to this is 7.2% who define themselves as vegetarian and a further 5% who have experimented with vegetarianism in the past.
Overall, 9.5% of the Italian population avoids meat and animal products, a significant increase compared to the 6.6% recorded in 2023. “Free” diets are becoming increasingly popular in the country.
For example, 30.9% of Italians consume lactose-free foods, 25% prefer sugar-free products, and 21% opt for gluten-free foods. Even those without specific intolerances tend to choose these options, highlighting a growing attention to health and well-being.
Donald Watson and the Vegan Society
Today, however, we focus on vegan diets. Many of these now participate in “Veganuary”, the month in which meat, fish and products of animal origin are avoided. But how was modern veganism born? Its history has roots in November 1944, when Donald Watson, a British carpenter and former member of the UK Vegetarian Society founded in 1847, decided to create a new term to describe those who avoided all animal products, including dairy products and eggs. Thus the word “vegan” was born.
Watson, along with six other people, founded the Vegan Society in 1945, starting a movement that today has millions of followers around the world. The following year there were around 70 vegans in total in Great Britain, but today veganism is embraced by millions of people, especially among the younger generations, driven by greater ethical and environmental awareness.
Veganism, once considered a radical idea, is becoming an increasingly common lifestyle choice, imagining a future in which it will be an integral part of everyday life. This growth reflects a cultural and social transformation that sees veganism not just as a diet, but as a global movement towards a more compassionate and sustainable world.
In this sense, Veganuary is a moment of celebration and reflection on these issues, inspiring an ever-increasing number of people to consider a plant-based lifestyle.
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