How Many Animals Does One Vegan Meal Save? The Numbers Might Surprise You

We don't think you need to be vegan to eat at Love Shack. In fact, some of our most passionate regulars aren't vegan at all — they just love extraordinary food and have discovered, somewhat to their own surprise, that the best meal they've had in London recently didn't involve any animal products. But behind everything we do is a deep, genuine belief that the way we produce and consume food has to change.

How Many Animals Does a Vegan Save?

Research published by Animal Charity Evaluators, drawing on data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, found that a person eating a fully plant-based diet spares approximately 105 animals per year compared to an average omnivorous diet. That breaks down to roughly 12 farmed land animals and 93 fish — lives that are simply not taken because the demand for them disappears.

The Environmental Numbers

Research published in the journal Science found that producing beef requires 20 times more land and emits 20 times more greenhouse gases per gram of protein than plant-based alternatives like pulses and legumes. A 2023 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research found that vegan diets have 44% less total environmental impact than diets containing animal products.

Mushrooms — which sit at the heart of Love Shack's menu — are among the most efficient foods on earth. They can be grown on agricultural waste products like coffee grounds, straw, and sawdust. They require no sunlight, minimal water, and produce essentially no greenhouse gas.

Why Love Shack Isn't Preachy About Any of This

At Love Shack, we don't lead with statistics. We lead with the food. We lead with the atmosphere — the fairy lights and the exposed brick and the mismatched furniture and the cocktails. We lead with hospitality. Because we believe the most effective argument for plant-based eating isn't an argument at all. It's a meal so good that the person eating it doesn't notice — or care — that it contained no animal products.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many animals does a vegan save per year?

Research by Animal Charity Evaluators estimates that a person eating a fully plant-based diet spares approximately 105 animals per year compared to an average omnivorous diet — including roughly 12 farmed land animals and 93 fish.

Is vegan food better for the environment?

Yes. A 2023 study found that vegan diets have 44% less total environmental impact than diets containing animal products. Plant-based foods — particularly mushrooms, legumes, and grains — require significantly less land, water, and energy to produce than meat, and generate far lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Is Love Shack a fully vegan restaurant?

Yes, Love Shack in Cambridge Heath, East London, is a fully plant-based, 100% vegan restaurant and cocktail bar. Every item on the food and drinks menu — including cocktails and desserts — contains no animal products. We are located at Arch 298-299, Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9HA, open Tuesday–Sunday from 6pm.