Beetroot burgers replacing beef on the barbecue: One in four shoppers cut down on meat consumption over the past six months

  • Research finds one in four shoppers have cut down on meat in the last half-year
  • The trend is being led by young people and driven by bloggers and vloggers 
  • Stores are now offering vegetable alternatives for meat-dominated BBQ season 

By SEAN POULTER, CONSUMER AFFAIRS EDITOR

Published: | Updated:

Hamburgers are giving way to ones made from beetroot on barbecues in a dramatic shift away from red meat.

Traditional carbs such as pasta and rice are also being pushed aside by butternut squash fusilli and cauliflower couscous.

Research by retail analysts Mintel found that one in four shoppers – led by young people – have cut down on meat consumption in the past six months. 

Links between eating red meat and cancer, coupled with concerns about animal welfare and the environment, are driving the trend.

Meanwhile, bloggers and vloggers such as Deliciously Ella and the Hemsley sisters are encouraging young women to switch to veg. 

Links between eating red meat and cancer, coupled with concerns about animal welfare and the environment, are driving the trend away from meats

Links between eating red meat and cancer, coupled with concerns about animal welfare and the environment, are driving the trend away from meats

Tesco’s new lines include beetroot burgers and mushroom burgers as demand for the crimson vegetable soars 

Tesco’s new lines include beetroot burgers and mushroom burgers as demand for the crimson vegetable soars 

The barbecue season is normally dominated by meat, but stores now offer vegetable alternatives. 

Tesco’s new lines include beetroot burgers and mushroom burgers. Beetroot sales have soared on the back of its new superfood status following studies linking it to improved athletic performance.

The supermarket said the trend also helped cut waste. For example, courgettes that were considered wonky are being spiralised and sold as an alternative to pasta. 

Bloggers and vloggers such as Deliciously Ella (pictured) and the Hemsley sisters are encouraging young women to switch to veg

Bloggers and vloggers such as Deliciously Ella (pictured) and the Hemsley sisters are encouraging young women to switch to veg

Courgettes that were considered wonky are being spiralised by supermarkets and sold as an alternative to pasta

Courgettes that were considered wonky are being spiralised by supermarkets and sold as an alternative to pasta

The barbecue season is normally dominated by meat, but stores now offer vegetable alternatives

The barbecue season is normally dominated by meat, but stores now offer vegetable alternatives

Tesco said sales of spiralised vegetables have soared by 40 per cent in the past two years. 

Sales of organic prepared salad were up by nearly 90 per cent and packs of healthy fruit snacks up 400 per cent.

Emma Clifford, senior food analyst at Mintel, said: ‘Despite the ingrained popularity of meat and poultry, a clear trend has emerged of people cutting back and limiting how much of these products they eat.’

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