The Downfall of Veganism

How have societal perspectives on Veganism changed in recent years?

If you were to walk through downtown Peterborough, Ontario, in 2021, you could hit three completely vegan restaurants in a 1.5km stretch. Now, in 2026, there is just one left, and it is no longer completely vegan. Communities around the world saw a surge in plant-based consumerism in the late 2010s, and a decade later, we are witnessing what appears to be the downfall of veganism.

In Peterborough, Ontario, three establishments dominated the vegan food scene; Food Forest, Nateure's Plate, and Revelstoke Café. Each one had their own unique menu with something for everyone, and with Peterborough's high population of college and university students, there were many young vegans to cater towards. However, the demand fizzled out in the early 2020s, resulting in both Food Forest and Nateure's Plate closing their doors at the end of 2023. Shortly after, in 2024, Revelstoke Café started including animal products like eggs and cheese into their menu, switching from a strictly vegan restaurant to a vegan and vegetarian friendly establishment. This phenomenon is not exclusive to Peterborough though; Many restaurants in larger cities including Toronto and London are also experiencing this drought.

In May 2026, both locations of Planta in Toronto closed unexpectedly. Not long before, Toronto saw all of it's locations of Odd Burger close as well. For vegans in Toronto, the options are becoming few and far between. Why are we seeing the same pattern in big cities and small towns? Vegan restaurants are experiencing challenges everywhere due to inflation and rising living costs, as well as the financial challenges of running a business. Another unfortunate reality is that the rise of social media is constantly influencing our thoughts, opinions, and actions, and veganism is no exception. On TikTok, users saw the rise of the "Carnivore Diet" which promoted eating high concentrations of raw meat and dairy. Social media also consistently changes and what is considering "cool" or "healthy" one day is considering taboo the next. Celebrities like Lizzo, Miley Cyrus, Jenna Ortega, and Anne Hathaway all stopped eating plant-based. The world is seeing this downfall of veganism, but what does that mean?

Many vegans will know that you cannot quit being vegan. Veganism is a lifestyle, a moral code, an ethical dilemma. If people decided to change their diet, they did not quit veganism, as they were never truly vegan in the first place. Although we are seeing many plant-based restaurants closing, and many celebrities changing their diets, veganism is still alive and thriving. The vegans who are truly a part of the cause and lifestyle are still here, and will continue to be until society changes.

Check out additional resources below to explore this topic further

Why celebrities like Lizzo are ditching the vegan diet

The plant-based problem: why vegan restaurants are closing – or adding meat to the menu