November 1st is World Vegan Day

Italy ranked first in the EU, together with Germany, for the percentage of people (59%) who say they eat less meat

ROME - November 1st is not just All Saints' Day.It is also World Vegan Day.Taking a flight of fancy, however, the two anniversaries do not seem so unrelated, since science now agrees in demonstrating how, by drastically or, in this case, completely reducing the consumption of animal proteins from our diets (both meat and derivatives), we can actually gain health.

The WWF, with its Our Future campaign, also underlines that human health cannot be separated from that of the Planet. A vegan diet can consume around half of the fresh water, produce a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution, exploit a quarter of the land and have an impact on biodiversity of a third compared to an omnivorous diet (with 100 grams of meat per day).

Today the vegan diet is the subject of great attention, as evidenced by the recent boom in plant-based products and alternatives present not only in restaurants, but in every commercial setting (from clothing to household cleaning products) going beyond just diet to becoming a lifestyle.A European study shows that, although the majority of European consumers still declare themselves omnivorous, an important change is underway:51% of meat consumers say they are actively reducing their consumption.In this research Italy was in first place in the EU, together with Germany, for the percentage of people (59%) who say they eat less meat.Italy is also at the top of the EU for consumption and acceptance of vegetable proteins.Again according to the study, the main motivation that drives people to this reduction is health (47%), but animal welfare (29%) and the environment (26%) also play an important role.
Today, almost 10% of the Italian population defines themselves as veg, with 7% vegetarians and 2% who have chosen a completely vegan diet.Numbers that are also reflected in the data of the Italian plant-based food market, which is constantly growing, despite the increase in prices:Retail sales of plant-based foods reached €641 million in 2023, an increase of 16% from 2021.

“From the WWF Living Planet Report 2024 we can see adramatic analysis of the effects of the global food system on the planet.The environmental impact of foods of animal origin is generally higher than that of foods of plant origin, due both to processes directly related to animal management, such as the production of methane by ruminants, but also ammonia and fine dust, and indirect processes, due to the use of well 2/3 of agricultural land for the sole production of animal feed, such as soya, one of the main causes of deforestation in the most precious areas of the world, and the abuse of resources such as fresh water, an increasingly scarce resource in many areas of the world - states Eva Alessi, Sustainability Manager of WWF Italy - For this reason, in a planet where the population is growing vertically, it is essential that the global food system is sustainable and to do this, high-income countries must drastically reduce the production (even outsourced) and consumption of foods of animal origin .This too is the right transition."

A balanced vegan diet can also offer several benefits for human health:among these a reduction in the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.These advantages appear to derive from a greater intake of fibre, antioxidants and phytonutrients, as well as a reduced presence of saturated fats, typically higher in omnivorous diets, and an improvement in the intestinal microbiota.
“To optimize these benefits, however, it is essential: follow the seasonality of foods (seasonal fruit and vegetables have a richer nutritional profile);choose sustainable cultivation methods, such as biological (to reduce chronic exposure to pesticide residues);have an adequate intake of critical nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron and omega-3 fatty acids (often less present in plant foods) - states Domenicantonio Galatà, nutritional biologist and president of Ainc (Italian Association of Nutritionists in the Kitchen) - Furthermore, even those who do not follow a vegan diet permanently can implement a program that encourages the use of plant foods for one week a month, practicing a sort of 'intermittent vegan diet'.A way of adhering to the vegan diet that is also accessible to those who, due to health, seasonality or religion, already find themselves alternating periods of abstention from certain foods".

Precisely with a view to an intermittent vegan diet, the WWF is keen to emphasize the importance of encouraging sustainable forms of livestock farming.These activities can in fact allow us to restore the fertility of the land and conserve biodiversity.For sustainable agriculture it is necessary to bring animal breeding back into a circular economy process within farms, where the animals are raised respecting their well-being and the surrounding environment.Practices such as organic livestock farming on a farm are fundamental because they allow the ecological cycle of the company to be 'closed'.

VEGAN PRODUCTS NOT JUST AT THE TABLE

Veganism is not just about nutrition, but also includes choices related toclothing and products for everyday use.The cosmetics industry, for example, makes extensive use of products of animal origin in its formulations:keratin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, stearic acid, placenta, animal fats are just some of the animal substances present in cosmetic solutions.The problem, in reality, is that many of these ingredients can also be of vegetal or synthetic origin, but the labels do not always clarify this point. Gelatin and isinglass, both obtained from the processing of animal connective tissues, are also used by the pharmaceutical industry for the production of medicines in capsules and more.There are many vegan certifications on the pack, issued by specialized organizations and agencies, which can help consumers identify and choose entirely plant-based products. Leather, wool, silk and feathers present in clothing, footwear and accessories, in addition to often involving the exploitation of animals, can have a high environmental impact.20% of the world's leather is purchased by the automotive industry to produce vehicle seats and interiors, representing the largest use of Brazilian leather in the world.Leather is a by-product of livestock farming, one of the main causes of deforestation and conversion of priority ecosystems.