Plant-Based Meat Alternatives are Higher in Protein Than Beef Patty and Has Zero Cholesterol

- There needs to be relevant standards for plant-based meat alternatives -

As consumers are becoming more conscious about their health and the environment, plant-based meat* products are actively being introduced to the market. Korea Consumer Agency(President Jang Duck-Jin, KCA) tested quality and safety of 15 meat substitute products and investigated labeling status.

* Global market share of meat substitute was USD 13.6 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 15 billion in 2022. The number of related products increased steadily from 35,000 in 2017 to 46,600 in 2021(The Food and Beverage News, 3 January 2022)

According to the research, plant-based meat products have no cholesterol and are higher in protein than beef burger patty, but some products need to reduce saturated fat and sodium content. Also, the research highlights the need to establish domestic regulation on category and labeling for plant-based meat alternatives.