An increasing number of Dutch households are renouncing meat several days a week, according to research by the government’s food advisory centre Voedingscentrum.

It says 55% of households eat a meatless meal at least three times a week, turning instead to fish, eggs, mushrooms and pulses, broadcaster Nos reports.

Five years ago around four in 10 households regularly ate meatless meals. ‘This is a considerable rise,’ said the centre’s director Gerda Feunekes.

The researchers did not ask why people were rejecting meat. ‘It is more sustainable to eat less meat and perhaps people are worried about the food scandals,’ Feunekes said. ‘It could also be due to the economic crisis. But we do know that people are watching what they eat, and are trying to eat more sustainably so that is certainly contributing.

A spokesman for the Dutch meat industry confirmed meat consumption has gone down slightly in recent years but said this is due to the crisis.

On a national level, some 3% of people are completely vegetarian but in Gelderland 11% live a meat-free existence, broadcaster Nos reports.