Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Consumer Group: "Plant-Based" Meats Don't Grow on Vines"

Full-Page Ads: Fake Meats Have Eyebrow-Raising Ingredients.

This week the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is placing ads in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post highlighting many of the ingredients in fake bacon and fake sausage. With market research finding that almost 40% of plant-based protein consumers want to avoid processed foods, CCF is educating consumers about the catalogue of processed ingredients that are used in fake meats. 

 

CCF has launched CleanFoodFacts.com to provide a side-by-side analysis of fake meat products and real meat. The ads and website are part of a larger campaign to show the truth behind fake meat and its supposed health benefits. CCF managing director Will Coggin commented: "Despite what the name leads people to believe, 'plant-based' meats are made in industrial facilities, not gardens. Fake meat companies are trying to promote a 'health halo' over their products, but consumers should know that imitation meat is highly processed and in some cases has more calories and sodium than the real thing."

Plant-based? Vegan? Fake?

Whatever you want to call them, there's no doubt that alternative meats are skyrocketing in popularity. But take a look at what these foods are made from. Plant-based meat isn't as healthy as you'd think.

Marketing leads us to believe that "plant-based" burgers consist solely of that—plants. However, the products specifically designed to mimic the texture and flavor of meat contain an extensive ingredient list that's at odds with the better-for-you image these foods are trying to create.

We're being duped into eating heavily processed food that contains numerous preservatives, additives, fillers, texturizers, and chemicals linked to cancer. They're high in sodium, and low in nutritional quality. Consumers should NOT be told that highly processed fake foods are any better for you than the meat products they're replacing.

The Plant-Based Meat Ingredient Guide exposes the most concerning ingredients in these heavily processed foods, and lets you see exactly which products you'll find them in.

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