Healthy living & lifestyle
As with any lifestyle, a balanced diet is key in ensuring these health benefits. “Diets [that are] rich in plant foods such as whole grains, vegetables and pulses have been related to positive health effects and most of us would benefit from increasing the intake of such foods,” explains Cecilia Mayer Labba, project manager at AFRY and the lead author of ‘Nutritional Composition and Estimated Iron and Zinc Bioavailability of Meat Substitutes Available on the Swedish Market’. But, as Labba points out, a plant-based diet is not automatically a healthy lifestyle, with many of the meat alternatives containing excessive amounts of salt, saturated fats and refined carbohydrates. “A strict plant-based diet, regardless of quality, has been associated to an increase of certain nutritional deficiency risks. These risks are connected to a low intake and/or a low uptake of a range of specific nutrients.” According to the findings in her study, they found a large nutritional difference of quality between products, with the poorer options containing high contents of salt and saturated fatty acids. This can be easily adjusted, Labba adds, but the low bioavailability of iron is one problem that more plant-based alternatives need to be concerned with. This is due to the content of phytate (phytic acid) frequently found in plant- based products that inhibits the absorption of iron and zinc in the body. “We believe that our findings highlight the importance of including bioavailability in the development of products based on plant protein. The nutritional content of a product becomes irrelevant if we cannot absorb the nutrients.” A healthy diet depends heavily on the balance and variety to offer the right nutrients.
Replicating taste and textures As more consumers are curious to sample plant- based meat alternatives, the primary focus of manufacturers has been, as Labba points out, on the “sensory qualities and less on nutritional quality” to encourage the switch away from meat. It’s a strategy that has seen success, with an estimated 4.5% of the UK now adhering to a vegan or vegetarian diet, according to the Vegetarian Society. Even among meat eaters, a report by Waitrose found a third have reduced their meat consumption. Much of the promotion of a plant-based diet focuses on the health benefits to following the lifestyle – something that is not always guaranteed with some of the alterative meats. “Not all plant- based alternatives are made equally, and quality can vary,” says Morten Toft Bech, CEO and founder of Meatless Farm. According to findings published in the peer-reviewed journal FOODS, Toft Bech explains, positive changes in gut health were found in
Ingredients Insight /
www.ingredients-insight.com
flexitarians who ate Meatless Farm products in over 10% of their weekly meals, finding an increase in the fatty acid butyrate that promotes digestive health. At THIS, its USP is “hyper-realism” to create the best taste, texture and appearance that mimic real meat. But unlike other brands whose main concern is solely the taste, THIS is focused on also addressing the health risks that high saturated fats can pose to consumers. “The patented olive-oil based fat has the ability to hold its succulence and bite when faced with high heat, just like animal fat but without the down sides,” explains Ray Zhang, senior research and development manager. “The result are products with ultra-low saturated fat. For example, our THIS Isn’t Pork Sausages contain about 80% less saturated fat than their meat equivalents [and] recreate the sensation of eating animal fat.”
Tastes good and does good? A study found Meatless Farm products improved gut health.
“Not all plant-based alternatives are made equally, and quality can vary.”
Morten Toft Bech
THIS is equally aware of the importance of including key nutrients in its products, says Zhang. Having a high protein content is a “must-have”, claims Zhang. The company’s THIS Isn’t Streaky Bacon contains 16g of protein per 100g – equivalent to traditional pork back bacon – and its THIS Isn’t Chicken Pieces contains the highest level of protein (23g) against the five most popular plant-based chicken on the market. “Also, most of our products are fortified with high level of iron and B12 to boost the nutritional profile and meet people’s daily demand,” Zhang adds.
4.5% The Vegetarian Society 55
The estimated percentage of the UK population who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet
Meatless Farm
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