Are We Entering A ‘New Era’ Of Meat Alternatives?

Plant-based meat has gone through many iterations over the years. First came the the bland sausages and the bean burgers that fell apart with the slightest pressure. These gave way to meatier products made with soy or other plant protein bases, intended to mimic their animal-based counterparts as much as possible.

Read more: Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Healthier And Better For The Planet, Report Finds Now, the sector seems to be undergoing another evolution. According to Spanish plant-based food company Heura Foods, the alternative protein industry is entering a “new era” as it harnesses new technology to produce nutrient-dense products. Meanwhile, other brands have lately launched reformulated or new products using so-called “clean label” ingredients, and they’re not all trying to resemble meat.

Vivera has launched whole foods Protein Bites . Beyond Meat has come out with the Beyond Sun Sausage , containing brown rice, lentils, and fava beans. It’s also working on a mycelium-based steak aimed at health-conscious consumers.

“We’re seeing a growing trend of European companies focusing on delivering next-generation products, often including clean-label ingredients, to deliver on key nutritional metrics, as well as flavour and texture,” Amy Williams, nutrition lead at non profit and think tank the Good Food Institute Europe, tells Plant Based News . “The nutritional opportunities offered by plant-based meat and dairy are also increasingly being recognized b.