Bob Isaacson,Lion's Roar
whether you stopped people on the streets of Chicago or London and ask them whether Buddhists are vegetarian, the most likely response you'd get is "yes." The public insight, or at least in the West,is that since Buddhism is based on reverence for life, followers of the path don't eat animals. And while it is true that Mahayana schools often recommend a vegetarian diet, and the fact is that the majority of Buddhists do eat meat.
The Buddha,however, did not turn a blind eye to the suffering of animals, or as many would enjoy us believe. The first principle he taught was "Abstain from taking life." Within this,...
Source: realclearreligion.org