Media contact: Ben Williamson, 631-948-5987, ben.williamson@ciwf.org

New York City, NY (January 31, 2022) — With Super Bowl LVII fast approaching, Compassion in World Farming is releasing its second annual estimate of the number of plant-based chicken wings to be eaten during the big game. For the second year in a row, more than ten million Americans are expected to consume approximately 160 million plant-based chicken wings, as the pace of pace of growth in the sector relents.

“After years of remarkable growth in the plant-based foods sector, recent data suggest that the number of vegan chicken wings eaten during the Super Bowl will be virtually unchanged this year,” said Ben Williamson, U.S. Executive Director, Compassion in World Farming. “While growth may have slowed to a crawl this year, the underlying trend is impressive, with the vegan food industry expected to double in size by 2027.”^[1]

Compassion USA’s calculations are based on survey findings that roughly 6% of the U.S. population consider themselves vegetarian or vegan, and roughly one-third (33.5%) of Americans have adopted a flexitarian or reduced-meat diet. Data suggest that around 100 million Americans watch the Superbowl every year.

“Super Bowl fans represent a cross-section of society and it may surprise some to know how many will be opting for delicious and compassionate alternatives to animal-sourced foods next Sunday,” continues Williamson. “Plant-based alternatives to classic American foods are now available at grocery stores across the country, meaning that there’s never been a better time to substitute meat made from factory-farmed animals with meat made from plants—for a healthier, safer, and more equitable food system.”

Around 9 billion chickens are raised for meat every year in the U.S., with the vast majority packed tightly into dark and filthy factory farms, being fed an unsustainable diet of soy and corn. Such intensive farming practices provide the optimum conditions for the spread of zoonotic diseases, leading to greater risk of antibiotic resistance and increased dangers for America’s farm workers.

“Reducing our reliance on animal-sourced foods will help improve the quality of life for farmed animals and farm workers, moving us closer to a world where all animals, people and our planet are treated with compassion,” continues Williamson.

Compassion USA helps drive change in the animal farming industry by working closely with food companies to foster a transition to a more compassionate, fair, and sustainable food and farming system. Compassion advises companies at every stage of their journey and focuses on solutions—providing scientific and technical guidance, market expertise, and collaborative problem-solving as companies set policies and implement change across their supply chains.

Read more information behind the numbers.

About Compassion in World Farming:

Compassion in World Farming was founded in 1967 by a British dairy farmer who became horrified at the development of intensive factory farming. Today Compassion is a global movement dedicated to ending factory farming and achieving humane and sustainable food. With headquarters in the U.K., we have offices across Europe, the U.S., China and South Africa. To find out more about Compassion in World Farming or join the movement, visit: ciwf.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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^[1] “Vegan Food: Global Markets” November 2022, BCC Research, available at https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5695483/vegan-food-global-markets#product--summary