DuPont Nutrition & Health shared insights today showing consumer attitudes toward plant-based meat alternatives, whichs reveal significant interest and market opportunity in the meat-free, meal solution segment.
The shift toward plant-based eating in the United States is fueling the growing meat alternatives category. More than half (52 percent) of Americans report increasing their plant-based food and beverage intake, according to a 2017 Health Focus International study.
“People are motivated to alter their diets to include more plant-based foods because they believe it will enhance their overall wellness, provide specific health benefits and help the environment,” said Mark Cornthwaite, Marketing Manager, DuPont Nutrition & Health.
“With consumers embracing more plant-based foods, the meat alternatives category is really gaining momentum, and there’s lots of opportunity for growth,” said Cornthwaite. “But gaps still exist in the marketplace. Our research shows people see taste, texture and lack of variety in meat alternatives as barriers to eating more plant-based foods.”
In a 2019 MotiveQuest analysis of 3 million internet conversations focused on plant-based eating, taste and texture surfaced as key factors in enjoyment of meat alternative products, although they often did not meet expectations.
