Unfortunately, due to the highly restrictive nature of the diet, vegans are at risk of being deficient in certain nutrients such as calcium and vitamin B12 usually found in dairy and meat respectively.

Their reasons for eating this way vary. Some vegans do it to improve their health, as research shows that a plant-based diet could lower the risk of certain diseases. Others stay away from meat because they don't want to harm animals or because they want to protect the environment.

Evidence shows that vegan diets tend to have far lower carbon, water and ecological footprints than those of meat- or fish-eaters. One Italian study found two vegan participants with extremely high eco-impacts, but this turned out to be because they only ate fruit.

While a 2022 report shows interest in vegan-focused lifestyles are on the decline, new vegan products continue to hit the market, according to Mintel trends expert Lynn Dornblaser. A 2022 report by Chef's Pencil analyzing Google Trends data shows interest in veganism may be dwindling.