Many feel that eating vegan is the new kashrut (Jewish dietary law) for our age. It's no wonder, then, that Israel has more vegans per capita than any other nation. Kosher law says that animals shouldn't suffer unnecessarily during slaughter.
If you are wondering what the most vegan-friendly country in the word is then the answer is very simple: Israel! With a vegan population of over 5% and a huge amount of dishes that are naturally vegan this is a herbivore paradise!
The Rise of the Vegan Nation
Kosher food already separates dairy, meat, and parve items. When you remove the fact that honey and fish gelatin are permitted, it's very close to veganism already. There are numerous factors that have gone into Israel becoming the Vegan Capital of the World.
But today, the city of Tel Aviv proudly stands and says that they are not meat eaters but saviours. There are more than 400 vegan/vegan-friendly restaurants dotted across the city which serves more than 200,000 vegans living in the whole country. Where is Tel Aviv?
Jewish vegetarians often cite Jewish principles regarding animal welfare, environmental ethics, moral character, and health as reasons for adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Australia is home to as many as 2.5 million vegans and vegetarians. 6% of the population is vegan. In the last decade, those following plant-based diets have increased by about 50% The east of Australia has the most number of vegans.
China. This is one of those countries where you will find animal products in almost every dish. They commonly use lard in almost every dish and even chips are not safe for vegetarians. You have to be very alert if you are a pure vegetarian because waiters in most of the restaurants consider seafood as a vegetarian dish ...
Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine
The cuisine of Eritrea and Ethiopia is full of naturally plant-based dishes. This is largely due to the fasting tradition in the Orthodox Christian religion. Orthodox Christians abstain from all animal products for around 200 days each year, but plant-based foods are still permitted.
In a word, yes. If a Muslim decides to become a vegetarian for personal reasons, such as not liking the taste, or having compassion for animals, with the understanding that only Allah (SWT) can prohibit or permit it, then vegetarianism and veganism sit comfortably within Islam.
Prohibition in Jewish law
The Torah (Pentateuch) contains passages in Leviticus that list the animals people are permitted to eat. According to Leviticus 11:3, animals like cows, sheep, and deer that have divided hooves and chew their cud may be consumed. Pigs should not be eaten because they don't chew their cud.
With the rise of veganism around the globe, many Muslims are adopting this diet and way of life. Veganism preaches to reduce the suffering that we cause, and reminds us that animals are sentient creatures. In this regard, it is compatible with Islamic teachings of mercy towards animals.
Veganism is an extreme form of vegetarianism, and though the term was coined in 1944, the concept of flesh-avoidance can be traced back to ancient Indian and eastern Mediterranean societies.
Tel Aviv is a haven for vegan travelers, with chickpeas and tahini forming the basis of lots of popular local dishes. Plenty of vegan staples originate from the Middle East, and the falafel and hummus in Israel are some of the best you'll ever eat.
Norway. According to Vegan Norway there are over 200,000 people in Norway that do not eat meat, that's almost 4% of the total population. This is quite an achievement in a climate and terrain that makes it difficult to grow vegetables.
Based on early data from the National Nutrition Survey and other studies we estimate that about 2% of Australians are vegan. This is approximately 500,000 people.
India is thought to have the most vegetarians globally, with up to 42% of the population avoiding meat products.
The global vegan food market will grow from $16.05 billion in 2022 to $18.27 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%.
Black Americans are almost three times as likely to be vegan and vegetarian than other Americans. Why is giving up meat so popular?
Level 5 vegans are those who are seen as incredibly committed to the vegan lifestyle, and are often hailed as “extreme vegans”. Level 5 vegans go to an extensive effort to follow a vegan lifestyle that is free of any type of animal product or animal exploitation.
Vegetarianism and veganism are growing trends in China. Public Radio International estimated in 2013 that 4-5% of China's population was vegetarian, representing over 50 million people.
The Sunshine Coast is one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities in the world. It has some of the best vegetarian restaurants in the world and is also home to Australia's first vegan grocery store. Vegetarianism is rising, and the Sunshine Coast is one of the best places to be a vegetarian or vegan.
HappyCow reports that Melbourne is Australia's culinary capital, with 130 fully vegan establishments listed on HappyCow out of a total of 1000 listings, including non-vegan restaurants that cater to vegans.
In 2019 a nationally representative survey of Australians found that 35 percent of respondents were vegetarian or vegan for animal welfare reasons. The second most popular response was for health reasons.