Pescetarianism

Pescetarianism /ˌpɛskəˈtɛəriənɪzəm/ (sometimes spelled pescatarianism)[1] is the practice of using seafood as the only source of meat in a diet that is otherwise vegetarian or vegan.[2][3]

Pescetarianism


Japanese sushi; shrimp cocktail with lettuce; pizza topped with sardines
Description
A diet in which seafood is the only meat
Related Dietary Choices
Associated and similar diets
Diet(Nutrition)#Diet classification table

Etymology

"Pescetarian" is a neologism formed as a portmanteau of the Italian word "pesce" ("fish") and the English word "vegetarian".[2] The term was coined in the United States c. 1990.[4][5] The English-language pronunciation of both "pescetarian" and its variant "pescatarian" is /ˌpɛskəˈtɛəriən/ with the same /sk/ sequence present in pescato (Italian: [peˈskaːto]),[6] although pesce is originally pronounced [ˈpeʃʃe] with a /ʃ/ sound.

History
See also: History of vegetarianism

The first vegetarians in written western history were the Pythagoreans, a title derived from the Greek philosopher Pythagoras, creator of the Pythagorean theorem. Though Pythagoras loaned his name to the meatless diet, some suspect he may have eaten fish as well, which would have made him a not a vegetarian, but a pescatarian by today's standards.[7]

Marcion of Sinope and his followers ate fish but no fowl or red meat.[8] Fish was seen by the Marcionites as a holier kind of food.[9] They consumed bread, fish, honey, milk, and vegetables.[8][10]

The "Hearers" of the ecclesiastical hierarchy of Manichæism lived on a diet of fish, grain, and vegetables.[11] Consumption of land animals was forbidden, based on the Manichaean belief that "fish, being born in and of the waters, and without any sexual connexion on the part of other fishes, are free from the taint which pollutes all animals".[12]

The Christian dualist Cathars sect did not eat cheese, eggs, meat, or milk because these are byproducts of sexual intercourse.[13] They believed that animals were carriers of reincarnated souls, and forbade the killing of all animal life apart from fish,[13][14] which they believed were produced by spontaneous generation.[14]

The Rule of Saint Benedict insisted upon total abstinence of meat from four-footed animals, except in cases of the sick.[15] Benedictine monks thus followed a diet based on vegetables, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and fish.[16] Paul the Deacon specified that cheese, eggs, and fish were part of a monk's ordinary diet.[16] Benedictine monk Walafrid Strabo commented, "Some salt, bread, leeks, fish and wine; that is our menu."[17]

The Carthusians followed a strict diet that consisted of fish, cheese, eggs, and vegetables, with only bread and water on Fridays.[15]

In the 13th century, Cistercian monks consumed fish and eggs.[18] Ponds were created for fish farming.[18] From the early 14th century, Benedictine and Cistercian monks no longer abstained from consuming meat of four-footed animals.[18][19] In 1336, Pope Benedict XII permitted monks to eat meat four days a week outside of the fast season if it was not served in the refectory.[19]

Jerome recommended an ascetic diet of fish, legumes, and vegetables.[20] Peter the Hermit, a key figure during the First Crusade, was described by an eyewitness as having lived on diet of fish and wine.[21]

The anchorites of England ate a pescetarian diet of fish seasoned with apples and herbs, bean or pea soup and milk, butter and oil.[22][23]

Pescetarians, alongside vegans and vegetarians, were described as people practicing similar dietary principles as those of the Vegetarian Society in 1884.[24][25] Francis William Newman, who was President of the Vegetarian Society from 1873 to 1883, made an associate membership possible for people who were not completely vegetarian like pescetarians.[26]

Plant foods, such as fresh produce, make up most of a pescetarian diet.
Seafoods are part of a pescetarian diet.

In 2018, Ipsos MORI reported 73% of people followed a conventional pattern diet where both meat and non-animal products were regularly consumed, with 14% considered as flexitarians, 5% vegetarians, 3% vegans, and 3% pescetarians.[27] These are similar to the results collected by GlobalData just a year earlier; where 23% of the sample had below average meat consumption, 5% had vegetarian diets, 2% had vegan diets and 3% had pescetarian diets.[28]

A 2018 poll of 2,000 United Kingdom adults found that 12% of adults adhered to a meat-free diet; with 2% vegan, 6–7% ovo-lacto-vegetarian, and 4% pescetarian.[29][30] In Great Britain as of January 2019, women between 18 and 24 years of age were the most likely demographic group to follow a pescetarian diet. In general, men were less interested in pescetarianism, and men 35 years and above were the least likely to adhere to a pescetarian diet pattern.[31]

In 2020 YouGov published the results of 2019 research surveying 1,491 Americans. The results showed 9.75% of respondents followed some type of “meatless” diet; 2.26% reported being vegan, 4.91% reported being vegetarian and 2.58% reported being pescetarian.[32] Further analyzing revealed that in this sample being a pescetarian was positively associated with female sex, leftwing political support, diet longevity and higher education.[33]

As of 2020, pescetarianism has been described as a plant-based diet.[34][35] Regular fish consumption and decreased red meat consumption are recognized as dietary practices that may promote health.[3]

Motivations and rationale

Sustainability and environmental concerns
See also: Sustainable diet

Ecological sustainability and food security are concerns during the 21st century. Livestock is the world’s largest user of land, representing some 80% of total agricultural land. Beef consumption is 24% of the world's total intake of meat, but accounts for less than 2% of calories consumed worldwide.[36] The environmental impact and amount of energy needed to feed livestock greatly exceeds its nutritional value.[37][38] People may adopt a pescetarian diet out of desire to lower their dietary carbon footprint.[39][40] In a 2014 lifecycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions, researchers analyzed the effects of a conventional ("omnivorous") diet compared to a Mediterranean-like diet, a pescetarian diet, and a vegetarian diet. All three alternative diets would reduce emissions from food production below those of the projected level of an omnivorous diet for 2050, with per capita reductions of 30%, 45% and 55% for the Mediterranean, pescetarian and vegetarian diets, respectively.[41][42] Similarly, a Japanese study found that various diet changes could successfully reduce the Japanese food-nitrogen footprint, particularly by adopting a pescetarian diet which had a significant impact on reducing the impact on nitrogen.[43]

Some pescetarians may regard their diet as a transition to vegetarianism, while others may consider it an ethical compromise,[44] often as a practical necessity to obtain nutrients absent or not easily found in plants.[45]

Health consciousness

A common reason for adoption of pescetarianism is perceived health, such as fish consumption increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids which are associated with reduced risk of cerebrovascular disease.[46] Fish and plant food consumption are parts of the Mediterranean diet which is associated with lowered risk of cardiovascular diseases.[47] In one review, pescetarians had relatively low all-cause mortality among dietary groups.[48]

Animal welfare concerns

Pescetarianism may be perceived as a more ethical choice because fish and other seafood may not associate pain and fear as more complex animals like mammals do.[49][50] American surveys have found that health consciousness along with weight management remains the primary motive (39% prevalence) among non-meat eaters. The second most popular reason (29%) cited is concerns regarding agricultural animal welfare. That’s a reason especially popular with younger vegetarians, vegans, and pescatarians.[33]

Other considerations
Further information: Mercury in fish

Concerns have been raised about consuming some fish varieties containing toxins such as mercury and PCBs,[51] although it is possible to select fish that contain little or no mercury and moderate the consumption of mercury-containing fish.[52]

Abstinence in religion
Further information: Vegetarianism and religion

Christianity

In both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition, pescetarianism is referred to as a form of abstinence. During fast periods, Eastern Orthodox and Catholics often abstain from meat, dairy, and fish, but on holidays that occur on fast days (for example, 15 August on a Wednesday or Friday), fish is allowed, while meat and dairy remain forbidden.[53] Anthonian fasting has been considered a pescetarian-like variant of Orthodox fasting as poultry and red meat are restricted throughout the year but fish, olive oil and dairy are allowed most days.[54][55]

Judaism

Pescetarianism (provided the fish is ruled kosher) conforms to Jewish dietary laws, as kosher fish is "pareve"—neither "milk" nor "meat". In essence, aquatic animals such as mammals like dolphins and whales are not kosher, nor are cartilaginous fish such as sharks and rays, since they all have dermal denticles and not bony-fish scales. In 2015, members of the Liberal Judaism synagogue in Manchester founded The Pescetarian Society, citing pescetarianism as originally a Jewish diet, and pescetarianism as a form of vegetarianism.[56]

Hinduism

By tradition, most Hindu Brahmin communities follow a strict lacto-vegetarian diet. However, there are Brahmin sub-groups allowing the consumption of fish, such as the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community of coastal south-western India.[57] This community regards seafood in general as "vegetables from the sea", and refrains from eating land-based animals. Other Hindu Brahmin communities who consume seafood are the Maithili Brahmin, Viswa Brahmin, and the Bengali Brahmin.[58] The Bengali Brahmins consume fish and are known to cook it daily.[59]

See also

References
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