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Eating plant-based food is becoming increasingly popular, with vegetarians and vegans set to make up a quarter of the UK population by 2025... But is Jersey keeping up with the trend? And what about those with other dietary requirements?
Even those who don't follow a strict vegetarian diet are becoming more receptive to the idea of a meat-free lifestyle, with almost half of Brits aged 16-75 considering reducing their intake of animal products in the future.
However, it can be a lot harder to make this environmentally conscious decision in Jersey where fewer vegetarian and vegan options are easily available compared to in the UK.
Jersey's only fully vegan restaurant, The Sinful Vegan, recently announced that it will be closing down at the beginning of September if they can't find someone to "take up the mantle".
The posts on social media announcing the possible closure were met with many dismayed comments from vegans and non-vegans alike, as people expressed their love for the restaurant and the exciting range of food that it offered.
One commenter said: "Thank you for showing Jersey that vegan food can be delicious, diverse and for everyone."
Vegan, Abbigale Austin, said: I’m so gutted to hear it’s closing.
"I’m vegan due to being lactose intolerant and for religious reasons. The Sinful Vegan was one of the very few places I didn’t have to worry about cross-contamination."
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She continued: "I’ve been sick from other places ‘vegan’ options being contaminated or people not knowing what vegan is. It’s really frustrating as The Sinful Vegan is to go to place for myself and my vegan friends when they come over.
"There’s not many judgement-free vegan places here. It will be sorely missed and I was my only reason for coming into town if I’m honest!"
Although someone may still take over The Sinful Vegan and keep the restaurant plant-based, the possibility of its closure raises questions about the lack of options available for people with dietary requirements at standard restaurants across the island.
Nina Ln, a vegan who is recently moved to Jersey, said that while most restaurants offer something vegan to eat, the quality of these dishes is often "very poor".
She said: "It is usually only a curry dish, vegan burger or pizza - nothing innovative!"
Debbi Greenwood added: "Most of the vegan options in Jersey are directed at vegans who want their vegan options to taste of meat. I don’t want a vegan burger that tastes like meat. Most of this kind of food is devoid of nutrition. The only alternative to this is usually a chickpea curry."
She added: "Not only that but they expect you to pay £15+ for what is essentially a frozen burger!"
Pictured: In 2022, research found that 48% of British adults state that they use plant milk in their diet and 58% of adults now use at least one plant-based meat alternative in their diet.
Christian Mullane is a meat-eater himself, but has a partner who is vegetarian. The couple "rarely go out to eat as now as finding something vaguely interesting on a menu has become a chore" and they "often miss out on meals out with friends due to lack of vegetarian choices".
He said: "The choice of restaurants in Jersey offering vegetarian or vegan food is shocking.
"Even the supposedly well established restaurants with big name chefs and good reputations offer little more than a risotto or salad. Is this just laziness or simply a lack of creativity in producing a meal that’s not meat based. To be honest even the meat dishes lack imagination in a lot of places!
"As for pub food, mass processed veggie burgers, margherita pizzas or carb heavy food seem to be the only option. And when will people in the hospitality trade learn that fish and chicken are not vegetarian food.
Pictured: "Mass processed veggie burgers, margherita pizzas or carb heavy food seem to be the only option."
"Having travelled quite extensively I am always blown away by the amazing choices we get when we go away. I myself am a meat eater, but have had some of the best meals in vegan or vegetarian restaurants in so many places outside of Jersey.
"I really can’t understand why there aren’t more places in Jersey to eat that offer exciting, interesting and nutritious vegetarian or vegan food."
However, Jennifer Lay argues that the vegan options in Jersey are actually "decent" for the small population size.
Pictured: The global vegan food market size is expected to reach at $36.3 billion by 2030.
She said: "I come from the UK originally and if you compare Jersey to a big city there, then yes we have a lack of options but if you compare it to a town of about 100-150k population then we have loads of choice!
"The Randall group are really working on their choices now; most pizza places offer some vegan choices, a number of the cafes and restaurants are great too. Some of the hotels are also getting better and would match many in the UK or elsewhere on options for similar level of hotel."
Lizzie Eunice, who has been vegan for six years, explained that she noticed "steady improvements" in vegan options in both supermarkets and restaurants before the pandemic and felt "incredibly lucky".
However, she has noticed a significant decline since the pandemic.
Pictured: All of the top 10 supermarkets in the UK had introduced their own vegan range by 2020.
Lizza explained: "Since covid, restaurants have reduced their menus and the vegan options seemed to be the first thing cut. Most haven’t been reinstated and we’re back to square one. Even the usual places like Ransom’s have limited options now; they’re becoming increasingly basic and repetitive."
She added: "The UK on the other hand has fully embraced veganism and the ranges most supermarkets have are insane. They have more than one full-sized aisle for their vegan/free from products.
Pictured: "The UK has fully embraced veganism and the ranges most supermarkets have are insane."
"My parents now regularly send me care packages with vegan products and we do a ‘big shop’ at Asda before we return from Poole via the ferry to stock up. We particularly buy a lot of dairy free milks as they are literally going up in price 10p a week over here, if not more."
In addition to those who choose to be vegetarian or vegan as a lifestyle choice, the lack of varied food options is also a problem for those with allergies or intolerances.
Maryjane Millen explained: "My daughter is highly allergic to egg and milk so cross-contamination is a huge issue. This prevents us from eating out anywhere. The Sinful Vegan was the only place we could go to in order for her to eat out. She is six years old and is very sad it might be closing down.
Pictured: Finding food products in Jersey is also difficult for those with allergies, such as being gluten intolerant or coeliac.
"Although cafes and restaurants are offering more vegan options now, it is usually catered for people who choose it as a lifestyle, not for allergies. Jersey is incredibly far behind as far as allergies are concerned, including supermarkets. The choice for foods not containing dairy is poor here compared to the supermarkets in England."
Whist it is yet to be announced if The Sinful Vegan have found anyone to continue the restaurant in it's current plant-based and allergy-friendly form, the passionate response to the possibility of its closure suggests that other local restaurants need to modernise step up their options when it comes to catering for those with dietary requirements, or risk losing an increasing number of customers.
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