Meat Substitute Market: Toward a ‘Meat-Less’ Reality?

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Meat Substitute Market Toward a Meat- Less
Reality?
Characterized by a taste, appearance, as
well as texture similar to meat-based
foods, meat substitutes are low in fat
and calories, rich in vegetable protein,
and thus, recommended due to their health
advantages. Traditionally, the main ingredient in
meat alternatives has been tofu, with its
earliest known reference dating back to 965
CE in China, in addition to yuba, wheat gluten,
nuts, and tempeh. As per Inkwood Researchs
analysis, the global meat substitute market
is estimated to progress with a CAGR of
14.00 during the forecast period of 2023 to
2032. A Meat-Less Reality How
Advantageous Are Meat Substitutes for Human
Health? The health benefits of reducing meat
consumption and including meat substitutes in the
diet are significant. From higher fiber
and lower saturated fat content to
positive
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• environmental outcomes and dietary diversity,
  the advantages of meat substitutes for
  human health have played a pivotal role in
  increasing their adoption and consumption
• globally.
• For starters, meat substitutes serve the
  following important purposes
• Minimized Meat Consumption Meat alternatives
  help meat eaters to minimize or completely
  eliminate meat from their diet on account
  of various reasons for instance, upon the
  recommendation of a cardiologist before or after
  heart surgery.
• Social Inclusion Meat alternatives serve as an
  occasional comfort food for long-
• time vegetarians, such as tofu or miso
  soup instead of chicken soup during flu
  season. Meatless turkey, also known as
  Tofurky, also makes it easier for vegans as
  well as vegetarians to blend in during festivals
  like Thanksgiving. Additionally, as per a One
  Poll Study, 68 of participants said that
  they would be willing to swap meat for
  plant-based alternatives if they tasted the same
  as meat.
• Health Environmental Benefits The
  majority of individuals who become
• vegetarians cite reasons associated with health,
  concern for the environment, and the protection
  of animals. Moreover, meat consumption also
  doubles greenhouse emissions compared with
  vegetarian diets. Meat alternatives or
  substitutes, in this regard, make it easier
  to transition to veganism or vegetarianism,
  while aiding the maintenance of a plant-based
  lifestyle.
• And on that note, lets take a closer
  look at the advantages of meat substitutes
  with
• regard to human health
• Reduced Risk of Animal-Related Diseases

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• As evidenced in a study published in The
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
  participants who swapped two or more
  servings per day of animal meat for plant-
  based meat for eight weeks had reduced
  levels of TMAO (a risk factor for
  cardiovascular disease) and lower LDL
  cholesterol.
• Moreover, according to World Animal Protection,
  eating less meat has been found to decrease the
  chances of developing certain cancers,
  heart disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney
  disease, liver disease, and lung disease.
• The World Health Organization has classified
  processed meats, such as sausage,
• bacon, and ham, as carcinogenic to humans.
  As per this International Agency for Research
  on Cancer (IARC) study, experts concluded that
  every 50 grams portion of processed meat
  consumed every day surges the risk of
  colorectal cancer by approximately 18.
• The Global Burden of Disease Project
  estimated that about 34,000 cancer deaths
  per year worldwide are attributable to diets high
  in processed meat. Although eating red meat has
  not yet been established as a cause of cancer,
  the Global Burden of Disease Project has
  evaluated that diets high in red meat could be
  responsible for 50,000 cancer deaths annually
  worldwide.
• Meat substitutes possess the remarkable advantage
  of being low in calories as well as
• fat, subsequently decreasing the likelihood of
  obesity as well as other serious conditions. This
  is mainly accredited to the fact that they are
  made from plant-derived ingredients, inherently
  low in fat. As a result, the reduced
  consumption of meat, coupled with the
  adoption of meat substitutes to make up for the
  nutrient loss, can play an essential role in
  lowering the likelihood of chronic diseases in
  humans.
• Latest Developments in the Meat
  Substitute Market Exploring the Ambient
  Format
• Although plant-based food products have
  continued to witness undisputable adoption
  over recent years, the majority of the
  growth has been focused on frozen
  meat substitutes.
• Inkwood Research anticipates that the frozen
  category is set to observe significant growth
  during the forecast years of 2023 to 2032.
• A far less-explored sector in this regard
  has been in the dry form, ambient space.
  Leading players such as Thoughtful Food
  (Singapore) believe that this format could be the
  answer to resolving various challenges
  associated with convenience and versatility
  that the frozen segment is struggling to
  overcome. As per Food Navigator Asia, plant-

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based meat in a dry, ambient format could
provide the meat substitute industry with
cleaner as well as more convenient options that
can, in turn, also provide longer shelf- life
and stability. While there are certain
disadvantages, such as high prices, it is
conceivable that meat substitutes will
likely become less expensive as research
and development initiatives progress when
scalability is no longer an issue. Furthermore, wh
ile plant-based meat is primarily sold in Western
nations, studies suggest that Asian countries are
set to become a potential market over the
upcoming years on account of the rising
interest in meat substitutes. The currently
lower acceptance rate of alternative meat
foods in Asia can be accredited to food
neophobia however, as per A Survey of
Consumer Perceptions of Plant-Based and Clean
Meat in the USA, India, and China, the
acceptance of new foods are likely to
increase over time, as consumers become
more familiar with alternative proteins.
Hence, these factors are set to provide the
global meat substitute market with lucrative
growth prospects during the forecast period. By
Shruti Vanjare FAQs Are meat substitutes
healthier than meat? Meat substitutes can be a
healthier alternative to meat since they
typically comprise less saturated fat and
cholesterol, in addition to a higher content of
fiber and nutrients compared to meat. However,
meat substitutes may contain lower levels of
several nutrients, such as vitamin B12 and zinc,
commonly found in regular animal-derived
meat. What are some common meat
substitutes? Common meat substitutes include
tofu, tempeh, seitan, plant-based burgers,
sausages, textured vegetable protein (TVP), and
others. As per Inkwood Research, the textured
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vegetable protein (TVP)-based segment is set to
dominate the product type category in the global
meat substitute market by 2032.