A new report by The Food Foundation has analysed the environmental and health benefits of a variety of plant-based meat alternatives. The products are divided into three categories — new-generation meat alternatives such as Beyond Meat and Quorn, traditional meat alternatives like tofu and tempeh, and whole plant foods such as beans and grains.
The results indicate that all three categories generate significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than meat and have a much lower water footprint. On average, they also contain fewer calories, lower levels of saturated fat, and more fibre.
Overall, the whole food category was found to be the healthiest and most sustainable, with the highest fibre content and the lowest amounts of saturated fat, calories, and salt. These products are also more affordable than meat and processed plant-based alternatives.
Addressing consumer concerns
While consumers often worry about getting enough protein on a plant-based diet, the difference in protein content between meat and traditional or new-generation alternatives was found to be minimal. However, new-generation meat alternatives contain 18% more salt than meat on average, the highest of any category. The report recommends that manufacturers reformulate meat alternatives to lower the salt content, and fortify their products with iron and B12 to ensure adequate intake of these nutrients.
All the new-generation products were classified as ultra-processed, though recent research indicates that not all highly processed foods have negative health impacts. A 2023 study concluded that new-generation meat alternatives were not associated with any health disadvantages; on the other hand, processed animal meat products were found to be harmful. For consumers who are still worried, the new report recommends traditional meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh, and seitan, which are much less processed.
“Despite increasing public concern about the healthiness of many plant-based meat alternatives, we found a huge variety of options for consumers looking to eat less meat,” said Rebecca Tobi, Senior Business and Investor Engagement Manager at the Food Foundation. “While plant-based alternatives that mimic the taste of meat can play a really useful role in helping people to shift towards more plant-rich diets, alternative sources of protein such as beans perform strongly compared to both meat and other plant-based meat alternatives.”
