Vegetarianism by country

Vegetarian and vegan dietary practices vary, as does the percentage of vegetarians, among countries. Differences include food standards, laws, and general cultural attitudes toward vegetarian diets. Some countries, such as India, have strong cultural or religious traditions that promote vegetarianism, while other countries have secular ethical concerns, including animal rights, environmental protection, and health concerns. In general, vegetarians are a minority, except in a small number of exclusively vegetarian cities and towns, such as Rishikesh, which banned the sale of meat, fish, and eggs in 1956, and Palitana, which banned meat sales in 2014, where most or all residents are vegetarians. Some communities are majority vegetarian but meat is sold and consumed in the municipality. Other communities are vegetarian-friendly with a higher than average number of vegetarians but the majority of residents are meat-eaters. In some areas with few or no vegetarians, it may be difficult to find vegetarian food. In Europe and the United States, vegetarians eat milk and eggs. However, in India many vegetarians consider eggs to be non-vegetarian and falling in the same category as meat. Some vegetarians that choose to abstain from dairy may be labeled as vegan. However, veganism typically refers to abstaining from any act that may directly or indirectly injure any sentient being, thus typically requiring the exclusion of eggs and honey, along with dairy, as well as further non-dietary exclusions such as the purchase of wool, silk and leather and places where animals are being kept like zoos and circuses. In many countries, food labeling laws make it easier for vegetarians to identify foods compatible with their diets. The concept of vegetarianism to indicate 'vegetarian diet' is first mentioned by the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras of Samos around 500 BCE. Followers of several religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism have also advocated vegetarianism, believing that humans should not inflict pain on other animals. In January 2022, Google stated that searches for "vegan food near me" had dramatically increased in 2021. The term achieved "breakthrough status", meaning it increased by 5,000 percent or more indicating the rising popularity of vegan diets.