ONS tosses canned beans, meat-free sausages in basket of goods

In 2022 the typical English consumer is more likely to be a vegetarian who works from home than in years past, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Canned beans, chickpeas, and lentils along with meat-free sausages have entered the ONS’ basket of goods- a collection of about 700 commonly purchased items ranging from donuts to dish soap that it uses to track inflation. The additions reflect the rise of vegetarian and vegan diets, driven by both greater health and environmental concerns, according to the ONS.

Since the items that are added or subtracted are “based on long term trends,” a spokesperson from the ONS said, changes in ONS’ Basket of Goods are a snapshot of the tastes and habits of consumers. 

“Meat-free sausages have been added to expand the range of “free from” products in the basket, reflecting the growth in vegetarianism and veganism,” ONS said.

Antibacterial surface wipes have also been added to the list of cleaning products.

Addition of canned beans and pulses may also be a reflection of  budget-minded shoppers looking to trim food bills as Britons battle 30-year-high inflation.

Due to the rise in people working from home, single donuts have been tossed out of the basket due to declining sales as stopping to pick up a donut and coffee at a coffee shop before heading into the office is a scenario more likely during pre-pandemic times. However, multipack donuts are still part of the basket of goods.