image of alternative proteins

The below passage is an excerpt of an article authored by Stable Micro Systems (SMS). To request the complete article, visit SMS’ website.

Consumers worldwide are increasingly looking for non-meat options when buying protein as part of their diet. Meat has been the main source of protein in developed markets for years.

However, a change in consumer behavior has led to a growth in the alternative proteins market due to health concerns, environmental reasons and animal welfare awareness. Consequently, producers of animal protein face large risks to their sustainability if they do not join the innovative and fast growing alternative proteins market. Meat alternatives are attracting considerable financial investment.

Humane

For many, choosing alternative proteins at mealtimes is a simple decision based solely on animal welfare reasons. With the exception of cultured meat, which requires a biopsy from a confined but sedated and anaesthetized animal, no animal involvement is necessary.

“Cellular agriculture” will allow the consumption of real, authentic animal products without ever having to kill an animal. The increasing quality availability of humane meat and meat analogues over time will lead many to forgo slaughtered meat simply for much improved animal welfare.

Health

Many consumers are increasingly choosing alternative proteins purely for health reasons. Alternative proteins may provide health benefits over conventional meat, with lower cholesterol and fat levels, higher fibre contents and added nutrients.

Additionally, these alternative sources do not have the antibiotics or added hormones often incorporated in traditional meat, and some have the ability to have a tailored nutritional profile. A recent report in the medical journal The Lancet stated that adopting a diet with more plant-based foods and fewer animal-source foods and improving food production will “improve health and avoid potentially catastrophic damage to the planet.”

Sustainability

Aside from welfare and health reasons for choosing alternative proteins, the main decisive factor in conversation today is sustainability, with alternative proteins reducing waste, land usage, water usage and emissions compared with traditional meat production. With a third of all food production lost via leaky supply chains or spoilage, food loss is a key contributor to global food insecurity.

With Texture Analysis such a large part of this area of research, there are countless examples in the literature of alternative protein Texture Analysis. Request this article for examples of this research, or contact your TTC rep to learn more!

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