Nutritionist says balanced meat-free diets need not cause deficiencies

A balanced meat-free diet can support good health and does not automatically cause nutrient deficiencies, nutrition scientist Angelika Stöckler told ORF on World Vegetarian Day.

People who eat enough fruit, vegetables, pulses and nuts can live healthily without meat, Stöckler said. Vegetarians and vegans often have better blood lipid levels, lower body weight and a lower risk of high blood pressure, she added.

Stöckler recommends that people who eat meat and those who do not limit ready-made foods and sugary drinks, and choose fresh food they can prepare themselves. She said vitamin supplements are generally of limited value, but people on meat-free diets should have their vitamin B12 levels checked regularly. B12 is found only in animal-based foods, and a severe deficiency can cause neurological symptoms, including tingling and nerve damage.

People in Vorarlberg eat an average of 1.2 kilograms of meat a week. Stöckler said just over 300 grams a week would be better for health. Annual meat consumption in the region was about 57.5 kilograms per person in 2023 and has since risen to 58 kilograms, she said. That remains below the 68 kilograms recorded 20 years ago. Across Austria, average annual consumption is also about 58 kilograms per person.

Twice as many people aged 15 to 29 eat meat-free as in the population overall, according to the report.