
“South Africans are slowly taking the leap from vegetarianism into veganism.”
South Africa is among the top five countries for the most ordered vegan dishes globally, Uber Eats’ annual global report reveals.
According to the food delivery service, it witnessed a 71% increase in healthy foods in South Africa during its hard lockdown and the trend has continued since.
The UK, Poland, France and Portugal were the other countries in Uber Eats’ top five list.
Veganism has been steadily rising across the African continent. Last year, data released by Chef’s Pencil, a culinary website featuring recipes and news from the food and restaurant industries, showed that South Africa topped in Africa and ranked 23rd worldwide for veganism popularity based on Google Trends data.

Uptake of vegan orders
Uber eats report shows that the most popular vegan dishes ordered on the food platform in South Africa include a traditional vegan burger patty followed by a wheat-based margarita pizza and roasted butternut curry.
Soya butter chicken was the most ordered meal for those interested in trying plant-based options but are not yet ready to make the switch.
Shane Austin, head of operations at Uber Eats South Africa said: “Locally, we’re excited by the continued uptake of vegan orders on the app.
“What we’ve seen is that South Africans are slowly taking the leap from vegetarianism into veganism, as restaurants are now offering vegan-friendly substitutes for some of their most iconic dishes.”

More vegan choices on the app
In order to facilitate the growing demand for healthier meat-free options, Uber Eats has increased the number of vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants offering more options to its consumers. As a result, orders from January to October this year have doubled in comparison to the same period last year and tripled since 2018.
Misconceptions
Despite the rising interest in plant-based eating, a study into the vegan diet by University of KwaZulu-Natal graduate Sansha Kohidh showed that local vegans still struggled to find suitable options in restaurants, The Times South Africa reported.
Kohidh findings showed that while animal welfare and sustainability were the main reasons compelling people to adopt the diet, misconceptions, including that the food is bland and tasteless, expensive and lacking nutrition were widespread among the general public.
Share this story to let others know about the growing trend of veganism globally.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th January 2023
Do you know which ingredients make your shampoo non-vegan? The cosmetic industry has gone through a radical shift in the last few years as more consumers become aware of the impact their purchases make. As a result, the demand for vegan hair care products has soared. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the ingredients in …
Continue reading “What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try”
Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 18th January 2023
The NHS Start for Life website has added information about vegan and vegetarian babies. Nutritionists and dietitians have raised concerns about the health implications of vegan diets for babies following the publication of the NHS’s vegan infant nutrition guide. The NHS Start for Life website, which provides guidance for new parents, has added a new …
Continue reading “Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …