Seven in 10 Brits would not go vegan - as they feel cheese is a key part of diet

17 August 2023 , 10:14

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Cheddar AFC is now sponsored by vegan cheese alternative, Cheddarton (Image: Violife)

Seven in ten meat- and dairy-eaters (69%) say they could never go vegan – as the same number feel cheese is a key part of their diet.

A poll of 2,000 non-vegans found that 61% feel they couldn't live without cheese – naming pizza, lasagne, and cheese on toast as some of their favourite cheesy dishes.

Other tasty treats they would struggle to go without include roast dinner, dairy milk, eggs, and bacon – although three in ten feel they would happily go without meat.

And over half of those polled (56%) reckon it is “hard” to be vegan – but former women's football professional, and ex-Lioness, Karen Carney, is out to prove them wrong.

It comes as Cheddar AFC, the local football team in Cheddar, Somerset, where the popular cheese is matured in famous caves, has agreed a new sponsorship deal – with a vegan cheese alternative.

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Cheddarton, a dairy-free cheddar alternative, which takes its name from the football team's hometown, is created by vegan cheese brand, Violife.

And the new sponsorship will see the team, known as The Cheesemen, don a cheesy new kit, and even be encouraged to embark on a new, plant-based journey. The players will even take part in a training session with Karen Carney, who has been vegan for five years.

Seven in 10 Brits would not go vegan - as they feel cheese is a key part of diet

Six in ten feel they could not live without cheese, as 69% say it is an essential part of their diet (Violife)

A spokesman for Violife, which commissioned the research to launch its dairy-free Cheddarton “cheese”, said: “The idea of switching to a vegan diet can seem like a big leap, and clearly many are worried about how they would feel without some of their favourite foods.

“But going plant-based doesn’t have to mean you no longer get to enjoy them.”

The study also found that 57% of those who would not switch to a vegan diet say they would miss their favourite non-vegan foods too much – with almost a quarter (23%) of all plant-based diets ending due to the irresistibility of cheese.

However, despite the reluctance of some to switch to a plant-based diet, 20% of those polled, via OnePoll, admitted it is better for the environment, while 19% said animal welfare was a convincing reason to go vegan.

Of those polled, 60% believe sportspeople need meat and dairy as part of their diet.

But Karen Carney said: “I turned vegan in 2018 and noticed the positive change immediately, both in my health and performance on the football pitch when playing for both club and country.

“The perception of the plant-based diet is that you will miss out on certain foods – but thankfully Violife means I never miss out on my cheesy favourites, like pizza and cheese on toast.”

Kieran Webster, Captain of Cheddar AFC, said: “Living and growing up in Cheddar, cheese is in the players’ blood. We know what’s key to making the cheesiest, gooiest dishes around – so if we can go plant-based, switching Cheddar for Cheddarton, anyone can!”