A Comprehensive Review of the Benefits of and the Barriers to the Switch to a Plant-Based Diet

András Fehér, Michał Gazdecki, Miklós Véha, Márk Szakály and Zoltán Szakály
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András Fehér: Institute of Marketing and Commerce, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Michał Gazdecki: Department of Economics and Economy Policy in Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Collegium Maximum, 60-645 Poznań, Poland
Miklós Véha: Naturtrade Hungary Ltd., 6725 Szeged, Hungary
Márk Szakály: Institute of Marketing and Commerce, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Zoltán Szakály: Institute of Marketing and Commerce, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: In recent decades, the food industry has been faced with new challenges, and it has had to develop new types of diets and produce new types of foods that can slow down the spread of chronic diseases. The aim of our research was to identify the characteristics of plant-based nutrition, based on international and Hungarian literature. The comprehensive analysis was performed based on the theoretical model called Theory of Planned Behavior, in the course of which the perceived and objective benefits of and barriers to the conversion to a plant-based diet were examined. According to our results, the main benefits of plant-based nutrition are its many factors associated with a reduction in risk of developing numerous chronic diseases. This is followed by benefits of well-being and satisfaction, followed by ethical and environmental benefits. The most commonly reported inhibitory factor of a vegetarian diet is the enjoyment of eating meat and the difficulty in giving up meat consumption. This is followed by health considerations, e.g., lack of various ingredients in foods. Convenience and taste factors are also important disincentives, as well as the irrelevant nature of some plant-based nutrition information sources. Besides, social barriers, negative discrimination, and negative effect on mental health associated with them can also be a hindrance, as can financial barriers. The classification developed during our analysis can serve as a relevant guideline for decision-makers, and also as a basis for further primary qualitative and quantitative research.

Keywords: plant-based diet; benefits and barriers; vegan; vegetarian; consumer attitudes; theory of planned behavior; perceived; objective; comprehensive review; international and Hungarian (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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