vegan protest toronto
© Jenny HenryAnimal rights activists protest the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's new president, in Toronto on January 1, 2019.
Vegans have twice as many sick days as their meat-eating colleagues in the UK, according to a new report.

The study found that vegans had almost five days off a year for the likes of flu, cold and minor ailments - well above the national average.

They were also three times more likely to visit the GP.

Vegans reportedly book 2.6 appointments to see the doctor during the cold and flu season in the UK, compared to the national average of 0.7.

Two-thirds of vegans also admitted to taking more time off work due to illness in 2018 than in previous years.

Meanwhile half of meat-eaters said they took the same amount of time off, and a third actually said they took less time off in 2018.

The study of 1000 office workers was part of the Fisherman's Friend annual cold and flu survey.

The research also revealed millennial workers take three times more time off work than those aged 55 and over.

Veganism is becoming increasingly mainstream around the world. Australia is the third-fastest growing vegan market, worth around $136 million - a figure predicted to rise to $215 million by 2020.

And the Aussie vegan food labelling market is currently only behind the US, Germany and the UK.