In that five-year period, pork consumption plummetted by 9.5 kg per person. In 1995, people here were still wolfing down an average of 26.3 kg of pork each. For fruits, it fell from 89.7 kg to 84.4 kg. For fish, it went from 30.9 kg to 23.9 kg per person. But with vegetables, the attraction is more than just a concern over meat.
People become vegetarians for ethical and religious reasons too.
One indicator may be the emergence of a year-old group called Vegepals, which has recruited 5,000 members. It offers lifestyle services such as vegetarian tours to Bangkok and China, vegetarian childcare, discounts at vegetarian restaurants, and even advice on raising vegetarian pets. Being a vegetarian is an inconvenience in Singapore. The Singapore Vegetarian Society, formed two years ago, has about 120 members, recruited mostly through the Internet and by word of mouth. Most, said society member Harry Sakhrani, became vegetarians because they believe in animal rights and health.