2026年4月托福机经套卷(第6套) - Read an Academic Passage Q2

Veganism in the United States Veganism, a dietary approach that excludes all animal-based foods, has experienced notable shifts in popularity in the United States. A study conducted in 2020 showed a dramatic increase in the number of Americans adopting a plant-based diet between 2004 and 2019. This growth was fueled by expanding awareness of animal welfare, environmental concerns linked to industrial agriculture, and increased emphasis on healthy eating. During the 2010s, companies began to market plant-based meat alternatives that became highly popular with both restaurants and home cooks. By the mid-2020s, however, momentum began to level off. Surveys in 2025 indicated that only about three to four percent of Americans identified as vegan. Several factors contributed to this plateau. Preparing vegan meals can be more involved than preparing meat-based meals. For example, a vegan cheese substitute can be made with nuts, but the process is time-consuming. And while home cooks can buy commercially manufactured vegan foods, those foods are highly processed, raising concerns about their healthfulness. Additionally, some social media influencers have begun to promote increased protein consumption, sparking increased consumer demand for meat. American food trends come and go, but while some consumers adopt extreme diets, Americans overall seem to be favoring more flexibility in their eating habits.