Science-backed claims that plant-based meats are healthier for both humans and the environment have sparked a global wave of veganism that shows no signs of slowing down. Consumers have become increasingly conscious about doing better by their bodies and the environment, and fast food joints like McDonald’s
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, Burger King and KFC are catering to the growing demand. These trends, coupled with recent COVID-19 meat shortages, have contributed to 17% projected growth in the global market for meat alternatives, from 3.6 billion in 2020 to 4.2 billion in 2021, according to a report by MarketsandMarkets.
The upsurge in consumer demand for meatless meats has been timely, given the Food and Agriculture Organization’s recent estimate that animal agriculture accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse emissions, with 65% of those emissions coming from beef and dairy cattle— but plant-based advocates have questioned whether processed “fake meats” are the best alternative.
Sarah Galletti, the founder of plant-based frozen food brand, Tattooed Chef, suggests that many vegetarian “meat” products aren’t as clean as consumers would like.
Some brands make great efforts to mimic meat, using scientifically engineered textures, smells and flavors, with ingredients such as soy leghemoglobin, made from genetically modified yeast, which is used to give the appearance of blood. Products such as these are not necessarily very healthy.
The Impossible Burger 2.0, the new and improved version of the company’s plant-based vegan burger … [+] that tastes like real beef is introduced at a press event during CES 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 7, 2019. – The updated version can be cooked on a grill and has a better flavor and lowered cholesterol, fat and calories than the original. “Unlike the cow, we get better at making meat every single day,” CEO of Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
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