Money blog: Why are so many major companies withdrawing vegan products? (2024)

Our in-depth look at why so many vegan products are being withdrawn (see previous post) has prompted hundreds of comments - and one theme has dominated our inbox.

Many vegan readers wrote in to suggest that rather than signifying a decline in interest in veganism, the withdrawals are instead a symptom of people becoming more aware of ultra-processed food - which, as the nutritionist in the article pointed out, are prevalent in meat alternatives.

As the article made clear, there's no simple narrative here - with the data contradicting itself: the number of vegans is seemingly up, but search interest in veganism has fallen off a cliff in the last couple of years.

Here are some of your comments...

Vegans don't want to eat the ultra processed 'lookalikes' that the mass producers think we want to eat. Supermarkets try to lead the trend with alternative copies, when actually eating a vegan diet is about embracing real food.

James

The reason why people no longer buy vegan food products is due to them being high in fat and salt. Everyone is more savvy now and cook their own healthier vegan dishes - that's much cheaper.

Riversong

To be vegan you really need to use whole foods and not packaged ultra processed food - which will often include sugars and chemicals that take away all the benefit. It's a myth that you cannot get all nutrients including proteins from veg and fruit.

CaptainFog

The article erroneously claims that a vegan diet is expensive, which may be true if you eat an exclusively unhealthy ultra processed diet of fake meats etc, but as the nutritionist points out, a diet of legumes, veg, fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains etc is very healthy, and cheaper.

Karlos (part one)

The focus on meat alternatives being withdrawn is flawed, since these processed products are only a stepping stone to a vegan diet, and most vegans like myself (9+years) rarely or never eat them after the transition finished. Companies overestimated the market initially.

Karlos (part two)

With the rise of awareness of ultra processed foods, the surprise discovery that most plant based vegan foods fall into that highly undesirable category is, I suggest, a major reason why there has been a decline in buying these products. It was mine.

Jancandy

Attributing a decline in vegan search down to price or reduction in veganism is too simplistic. We want to be healthier vegans. Many of us previously excited about the latest product have evolved and make our own without harmful preservatives. We are avoiding ultra processed food

S123

I went vegan 8 months ago and it's been a great success. I don't know anyone who goes vegan because it's cheaper. Primarily we do it for health and to object to the use and slaughter of animals. If you batch cook, buy in bulk and learn some new cooking techniques, you'll be fine.

Aidan

Vegans are growing in numbers and always will be. It's just that many of us are switching to more whole foods. I'm vegan 7 years and used vegan meat to help me transition to real foods like nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables. Veganism is humanity's last hope for sustainability.

Trevor

People not giving up on veganism. Just the fake meat is not great, and unhealthy. Why do you want to eat a packed with chemicals burger if there are so many good recipes with plants only.

Bea

By Katie Williams, Money team

The rise of the vegan diet seems to have been unstoppable in recent years, with more and more people making the lifestyle switch due to animal welfare, environmental and health concerns.

The "Veganuary" campaign – which started in 2014 and sees participants commit to being vegan for the entire month of January - has helped raise awareness of a plant-based diet and is credited with prompting many people to make a permanent switch.

Around 707,000people signed up to the challenge last year, while research by comparison site Finder suggests there were an estimated 2.5 million vegans in the UK in 2024 (4.7% of the population), with the number increasing by roughly 1.1 million since 2023.

Products withdrawn - and search interest in decline

Despite this apparent increase in people adopting a vegan diet, other data poses significant questions for the market.

Figures from consumer intelligence company NIQ show that in the year to June, sales of chilled and frozen meat alternatives dropped by around 21% compared with the same period two years earlier. There was a slight rebound in dairy-free milk sales, which increased by 0.8% on average compared with 2022.

Heinz disappointed some customers this year by revealing it had discontinued its vegan salad cream to meet "changing culinary trends and tastes". Greggs axed its vegan steak bake in May, Quorn removed its chilled bacon slices from shelves, while other brands such as Heck, Oatly and Nestle have all reduced their vegan product offerings in the past couple of years.

Innocent scrapped its dairy-free milk range in March 2023, joking that only five people had bought the products.

The evidence of a decline doesn't stop with product withdrawals. Google data shows searches for "veganism", "vegan diet" and "vegan recipes" appeared to peak in late 2019 and early 2020 before dropping away gradually in the years after.

'I couldn'tbelievehow much cheaper the non-vegan food was'

Two former vegans told us about their reasons for going exclusively vegan initially – and their reasons for stopping.

Megan d'Ardenne, 26, from London, said she was vegetarian on and off throughout her teenage and younger adult years, before deciding to try Veganuary in her final year of university.

After enjoying spending the month finding new recipes and testing out a new diet, Megan decided to carry on being vegan and started a food blog (@comedinewithmegs) showcasing her creations during the first lockdown.

But after restrictions were lifted, and restaurants opened up again, finding places with a good selection of vegan options became challenging, Megan said.

"At the time, a lot of places were offering limited menus post-COVID which made it more difficult. I rememberbeing at awine bar with my friends incentral London and they didn't have any vegan options available so I shared a cheese board with them," she said.

"It was delicious and reminded me of mylove for cheese. After that, I went back to a vegetarian diet which I followed for around six months before I started to reintroducemeat again."

Megan noticed she was able to save some money after she stopped being vegan.

"I couldn'tbelievehow much cheaper the non-vegan food was, especially dairy. My milk, yoghurts and cheese were under half whatI was spending before," she said.

Though she's returned to a diet that includes meat, Megan says she still chooses to eat vegetarian some of the time and points out that one of her favourite dishes is a Caesar salad using tofu – which she'll stock up on when it's on offer.

'I didn't want to spend my holiday hunting for vegan alternatives'

Sophie Jones, 30, from Bristol, went vegan in 2017 due to "health and ethical reasons" having already been on a vegetarian diet for three years.

But she decided to stop being exclusively vegan on a trip to Paris in 2022. She said she didn't want to spend her holiday hunting for vegan pastries and cheese "in a city that's already expensive".

Sophie said she'd also found meat substitutes were more expensive than the real thing for less product.

There was a lack of originality in the vegan options being offered by restaurants, she added: "Unless you're going somewhere where the entire menu was vegan, it was usually a burger or pasta dish."

Convenience was Sophie's main reason for introducing more fish and meat back into her diet.

Meat-free alternatives are more expensive - but it's not that simple

We looked at the price of meat/animal products versus their animal-free alternatives at the UK's biggest three supermarkets to see how much more shoppers could be paying at the tills for similar items.

We compared supermarket own-brand items with their own-brand meat-free alternatives. Offers and loyalty scheme discounts were excluded.

A quick look at three different products - sausages, burgers and milk - revealed that the equivalent vegan/vegetarian alternatives were around a third more expensive on average, when quantity was taken into account.

The above could explain why some brands have withdrawn meat-alternative options - the price point is putting people off, Megan being one.

But author and nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert says a vegan diet can be made affordable.

"Meat alternatives can be expensive," she said. "[But] canned vegetables, such as legumes and pulses, are an excellent example of cost-effective vegan choices. They are both full of fibre and a great source of protein."

She added: "When it comes to dairy milk alternatives, unsweetened soya milk is a cheaper choice and also has similar protein and fat content to semi-skimmed cow's milk."

Ultra-processed concerns

While cost and convenience are clearly putting some people off, the data is contradictory: products are being withdrawn and search interest has fallen off a cliff, but the number of vegans appears to still be rising.

Rhiannon's comments for this article hint at another reason meat-alternatives are being withdrawn.

"Meat alternatives can be processed and so are not always the best choice of protein for those following vegan diets," she said.

As awareness of UPFs has risen, perhaps it is that vegans are just being more concerned about the products they buy.

What are the benefits of a vegan diet v meat?

Rhiannon said research shows a vegan diet can bring "numerous health benefits" including a decreased risk of heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

"Vegan diets also have a lower environmental footprint compared with diets which are rich in animal products as they require fewer natural resources and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to sustainability and conservation," she said.

"This being said, it's easy for a vegan diet to lack essential nutrients resulting in vitamin deficiencies, and therefore it requires meticulous planning and it is often best to seek advice from a registered nutritionist or dietician on how best to follow this diet," Rhiannon added.

"Animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs are rich sources of essential nutrients like high-quality protein, vitamin B12, heme-iron, and calcium which are vital for overall health."

Those wanting to make more environmentally conscious choices can eat less red meat, plan meals ahead to avoid waste and shop locally and seasonally, she added.

By Jimmy Rice, Money blog editor

We're signing out for the week as far as live updates are concerned - though do check out our long read on whether the vegan bubble has burst tomorrow morning.

Until then, here are the four major takeaways from Money this week...

The good news for holidaymakers continued with the pound showing strength against both the euro and dollar.

Political stability here in the UK, as well as better than expected economic growth, have boosted the pound in recent weeks.

The dollar, meanwhile, has suffered due to forecasts of faster US interest rate cuts, with the Fed wanting to loosen monetary policy to stimulate a floundering jobs market.

In Europe, the currency has been spooked by fears Germany is also facing a recession.

All this means Britons can get more holiday money for a pound: around $1.34 and €1.20.

Notably, Goldman Sachs thinks the pound could reach $1.40 within a year.

The value of the pound also makes importing fuel cheaper - which, combined with lower oil prices, is being reflected at the pumps.

Earlier this week, petrol and diesel prices sank to a three-year low - with the RAC putting the average price of a litre of petrol at 135.7p, almost 60p cheaper than the record high hit two years ago.

Young people were urged this week to check whether they have unclaimed cash sitting in Child Trust Funds (CTFs).

HMRC says more than 670,000 18-22 year olds are yet to cash in on their stash from the government savings pots.

It says each account is worth £2,212 on average.

Child Trust Funds are long-term tax-free savings accounts set up under the previous Labour government for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.

Youngsters can take control of their account at 16 and withdraw funds when they turn 18 and the account matures.

Investment platform AJ Bell says more than a quarter of CTF accounts were set up by the government, rather than parents, meaning many people may be unaware they have one.

It's crucial people look into it if they think they may have a CTF - before fees eat up all their money.

Finally, rail workers voted to accept pay offers from train companies and Network Rail - putting an end to strikes that have impacted passengers for years.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) backed a one-year rise of 4.5% at Network Rail (NR) and increases at train operators of 4.75% for the last year and 4.5% for 2024-25.

Here are a few other Money posts you may wish to check out from the week...

We'll be back with live updates on Monday morning - and don't forget our Saturday long read from 8am tomorrow.

If Married At First Sight has taught us anything, it's that there is no such thing as a free wedding.

As eight more couples head down the aisle in the Channel 4 show, casino site Bonusetu looked at the venues where they tied the knot on their first meeting.

The Elvetham Hotel

The Elvetham Hotel in Hook, Hampshire, hosted the weddings of Kristina and Kieran, Eve and Charlie, Sacha and Ross, and Richelle and Orson.

Their wedding packages range from £3,000 to £8,000, the venue can accommodate up to 160 guests for receptions and 120 for dining. The stately home counts King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I as former guests.

The hotel has a 4.5 star rating on Google, from more than a thousand reviews.

Venue hire includes access to elegant rooms, a wedding breakfast, an evening reception, formal gardens, and a dramatic red-carpet arrival.

Farnham Castle

Farnham Castle, a historic Surrey venue, was the backdrop for Emma and Caspar, Lacey and Nathan, Polly and Adam, and Holly and Alex's wedding days.

With prices starting at £4,000, the price of packages at the castle can reach as much as £25,000.

This Grade I and Grade II-listed castle accommodates up to 350 guests for receptions and 238 for seated dinners. The venue offers a grand ballroom and the services of an in-house wedding coordinator. It also averages a 4.5 star rating on Google, from more than 600 reviews.

A spokesperson at Bonusetu.com said: "While we cringe, laugh, and hope for successful couples, those planning a wedding can find incredible inspiration for their own big day. You may be watching for love but end up falling for a venue instead."

Two pensioners are seeking to take the Scottish and UK governments to court over the cut to the winter fuel payment.

Peter and Florence Fanning, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, have raised proceedings with the help of the Govan Law Centre against the Scottish government and the UK work and pensions secretary over the policy.

It comes after the Scottish government announced its once universal benefit will now be means-tested, replicating a UK government decision.

The introduction of a replacement Scottish benefit was also delayed.

The judicial review - which has been raised at the Court of Session - now requires a judge's approval to move to a hearing on the merits, with Govan Law Centre seeking to expedite both the case and its application for legal aid to ensure a decision can be handed down before the winter.

The case asks the court to rule on whether the decision was unlawful, which would then allow the petitioners to ask the court to, in effect, set aside the policy and restore the winter fuel payment to all.

"We are hoping to be successful, given the manifest injustice involved, however, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome - I believe this is one such battle," said Mr Fanning.

Read the full report here:

The Co-op is now using artificial intelligence to detect shoplifters after theft costs rose by 19% (up to £39.5m) in the first half of the year.

The technology will also be able to detect assaults on staff.

The member-owned business, which returned to profit despite the growing toll of shoplifting, has spent £18m so far this year on measures to protect staff, including rolling out body-worn cameras and fortified kiosks.

While the supermarket said it did not use facial recognition, it is participating separately in Project Pegasus. This is where CCTV images are shared with retailers and the police and then run through databases to identify serial thieves and dangerous individuals.

The Association of Convenience Stores said its members were reporting "high volume" and "very brazen and direct" incidents of shoplifting - with meat, cheese and alcohol typically being targeted.

The most recent figures for the outcomes of recorded crimes show that, of 436,171 cases of shoplifting, 71,741 led to a criminal charge that year.

Retailers have warned that some smaller shops are buying stolen goods from professional shoplifters who steal to order for criminal gangs to feed their addiction problems.

On Tuesday 1 October, energy prices will rise for most households - so to avoid being charged more than you should, it's a good idea to do a meter reading this weekend.

If (like around 85% of households) you are on a standard variable tariff then your energy bill is set to rise by around 10% from next month, due to the latest price cap change.

But by giving a meter reading before then, it stops your supplier from estimating your usage and potentially assuming you may have used more than you did, and at a higher rate than you currently have.

This weekend is the perfect time to do it - if you wait until the deadline, you may find yourself in a rush that sees suppliers' websites and phone lines crash (this happened in March 2022 at the height of the energy crisis). By sorting it this weekend, any discrepancy will be minimal.

Some firms do let you backdate your reading, but you have to have taken the reading on the actual day and just be submitting it a few days later - by that point, you will have done most of the work so might as well just get it done.

If you want to check if suppliers will backdate your readings (and some will as late as 11 October), MoneySavingExpert have a handy guide here.

If you have a working smart meter, you don't need to do this - it is done automatically.

It's the day before your friend's birthday and you've completely forgotten to get them a gift.

Usually, at this point, your only choices are to leave the house and go to an actual shop, or put more money in the pocket of Jeff Bezos and hope an Amazon Prime delivery turns up on time.

But now, online marketplace Not On The High Street and Deliveroo have teamed up to give customers access to on-demand delivery of more than a thousand gifts and personalised products in as little as 25 minutes.

From this week, at least 15 small brands across London will be available to order via the delivery app, under the umbrella of Not On The High Street. More independent brands will be added to the platform as it expands.

It's not the first time a delivery brand has expanded beyond food - yesterday we told you that Just Eat has hooked up with Lovehoney to get vibrators and lingerie sent to their doorstep in minutes.

Just Eat said the products will be delivered inside sealed, unbranded paper bags, with receipts inside to ensure "discretion". The brand has already made deals with Lush cosmetics and Boots.

Deliveroo penned a similar deal with Ann Summers earlier this year.

Every Friday we take an overview of the mortgage market, hearing from industry voices and getting a round-up of the best rates courtesy of the independent experts at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

Mortgage rates have continued their trickle down this week - a process that's been under way since the summer as the path towards lower interest rates now seems set (even if the Bank of England appears keen to walk down the path very slowly).

This is how average rates are looking - though it's important to stress that many borrowers will now be able to get deals much nearer, or even below, the 4% mark...

First-time buyers

There was a significant boost for those looking to get on the housing ladder this week as Nationwide announced it would start lending up to six times someone's salary.

David Hollingworth, a director atL&C Mortgages, told Money that this could help combat two serious challenges facing these buyers - house prices remaining "extremely resilient" despite some falls over recent years, and building a deposit during a cost of living crisis.

"The need for the longer fix is to give stability of payment and remove the chance of interest rate fluctuation pushing payments up and also enables them to apply more flexible stress rates," he said.

Mr Hollingworth pointed out that Halifax has also extended its first-time buyer limit to 5.5 times a salary.

"Of course, lenders will still apply their affordability tests," he said.

There is often a minimum household income expected. For example, Nationwide expects a minimum income of £50,000 or £30,000 in the case of a single applicant.

Landlords

Moneyfacts finance expert Rachel Springall says those looking for buy-to-let mortgages can be "encouraged" by lenders such asSantander, NatWest and Leeds Building Society lowering rates this week.

This is offset, however, by "concern about a potential hike in capital gains tax in the budget next month".

She said: "Landlords have had to review their portfolios over the years due to changing taxation rules and some may plan to buy through a limited company, according to new research."

One benefit here is paying the lower corporation tax rather than income tax.

Landlords who utilise limited company structures have incorporated an increasing proportion of their portfolios over the past four years, a study has found.

And the research, carried out by Pegasus Insight, suggests 67% of landlords who intend to buy in the next 12 months plan to do so through a limited company.

Louisa Sedgwick, managing director for mortgages at Paragon Bank (which commissioned the study), said: "Landlords have increasingly used limited companies to mitigate the impact of tax changes phased in from 2016.

"While incorporation isn't necessarily the best option in every situation, and landlords should seek advice from a professional financial or tax adviser, this highlights the opportunity for those that place this type of business."

Moneyfacts has looked at the best rates on offer for landlords now...

Moneyfacts also rounds up what it calls "best buys", which look beyond the lowest rates and takes in incentives and fees...

Baked beans are a staple of British cuisine, with a reported two million tins eaten every day - but which should you reach for to get the best taste?

In what might come as a surprise to some, Aldi's own-label baked beans have come out top in a blind taste test by Which? experts - beating pricier brands such as Heinz and Branston.

The consumer champion asked 66 baked bean lovers to test and rate 10 different options from big-name UK supermarkets, as well as branded products.

Aldi's Bramwells Baked Beans (41p for a 410g can) was the highest rated with an overall score of 76% - also bagging a Which? Best Buy and Great Value endorsement.

The panel said the beans looked good and had an "appealing aroma", while three-quarters enjoyed the strength of the flavour.

Branston (£1 for a 410g can) came closely behind with a score of 75%, followed by Co-op's own-brand offering (49p for 400g can) which received a score of 74%.

And while Heinz Beanz reign supreme for many, the panel rated the product just fifth out of 10 with a score of 72%.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said the results show customers "don't have to pay a premium for the best taste".

"Choosing supermarket own-label groceries is not only a great way to save money, but our tests prove that you can end up with a better tasting product and can save over £100 a year by making the switch."