The 2024 Food Frontier consumer survey highlights changing perspectives on food, meat consumption, climate change, and environmental concerns among Australians, shedding light on dietary shifts and motivations.

It gathers insights from 2,000 respondents across Australia, examining their eating habits, meat intake, changes in diets for themselves and their pets, and the factors driving these decisions. This year’s findings also offer comparative analysis with data from a similar survey conducted in 2021.

Areas of focus include trends in meat consumption, diet choices and influences, the adoption of protein alternatives, attitudes toward climate change, and pet nutrition.

Key findings include: 

• Meat reducer is the most popular diet in 2024 (21%), followed by intermittent fasting (15%) and organic (14%)  
• 7% of Australians are following a flexitarian diet while 15% are on a vegetarian or vegan diet 
• Friends and family are the most common sources of information for those interested in the top three most popular diets: meat reducer, intermittent fasting, and organic. Flexitarian, macrobiotic, and paleo diet followers are more likely to hear about them from health professionals such as doctors and dieticians
• 25% of Australians have reduced their meat intake
• 79% of Australians are going meat-free at least one day a week, with some abstaining from meat entirely
• Reasons for reducing meat: health reasons 61%, budget constraints 54%, environmental concerns 37%
• 41% of Australians have tried plant-based milks 
• 35% have tried plant-based meats, up from 24% in 2021 
• Plant-based meats are eaten regularly by 16% of Australians 
• Barriers to buying plant-based meats again: 46% poor taste, 37% high price, 31% too processed  
• 28% of people buy plant-based meats as well as other plant proteins like tofu and lentils 
• 22% are cutting back on or eliminating animal meat, and 16% are doing the same with animal dairy due to climate change concerns
  
• 44% of Australians think animal agriculture contributes to climate change
• Of those who own a cat or a dog, almost half would consider changing their dog or cat’s diet to address health, ethical or environmental issues
• 38% would opt for wet pet food with no animal products, provided it was nutritionally adequate.

Download the Food Frontier consumer survey 2024.