Research suggests plant-based meat is healthier and more sustainable

Plant-based dietary alternatives to animal products are healthier for the environment and for humans than the animal products they replace, according to the authors of a new study. According to a recent paper published in Future Foods, these foods are a more effective way of reducing the need for meat and dairy products than simply recommending that individuals cook full vegetarian meals because they are "specially used to replicate the taste, texture and overall eating experience of animal products".

According to research by psychologists at the University of Bath, plant-based meat and dairy alternatives "offer a healthier and more environmentally friendly solution that takes into account consumer preferences and behaviour".

Forty-three studies on the impact of plant-based foods on human health, the environment, and consumer attitudes were analyzed. In one study, it was found that almost 90% of consumers who ate plant-based meat and dairy were actually meat eaters or leaned towards flexible choices. In another study, it was found that plant-based foods that were comparable to processed meat in taste, texture, and cost were most likely to replace processed meat.

The study also found that these plant-based commodities produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the animal products they replace. According to a study, if pea protein replaced 5% of the beef consumed in Germany, up to 8 million tons of CO2 emissions could be avoided every year. Another study found that plant-based burgers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 98% compared to beef burgers.

According to the report authors, plant-based products generally require far less agricultural land, require less water and cause less pollution than animal products.

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