Plant-based meat nutrition facts - The Good Food Institute (2024)

Making meat in safer, more efficient ways

Plant-based meat is a market-based solution that can feed a growing global population while building a more stable food system, stemming antibiotic resistance, and meeting climate goals.

Plant-based meat often joins conventional animal meat in consumers’ baskets, and consumers perceive plant-based alternatives to processed meat favorably.1, 2 Therefore, it’s important to ask: How does the nutrition of plant-based meat compare to the meat it replaces?3

Plant-based meat generally has fewer calories and less saturated fat than animal-based meat. It has zero cholesterol and almost always contains fiber. Although different plant-based products have different formulations, comparing some of the most popular products on the market with conventional options gives us a good sense of how the category generally stacks up.

Plant-based nutrition facts

ProductCaloriesTotal fat (percent of calories)Saturated fatFiberProtein
(percent of calories)
Sodium*Cholesterol
BEEF: SERVING SIZE 113G (QUARTER POUND)
Conventional 80/20 ground beefUSDA29023g(70%)9g0g19g(27%)75mg80mg
Beyond Burger Beyond Meat23014g(55%)5g2g20g(35%)390mg0mg
Impossible Burger
Impossible Foods
24014g(53%)8g3g19g(32%)370mg0mg
Vegan Meat Lovers Burger
MorningStar Farms
27016g(53%)2.5g4g27g(40%)330mg0mg
CHICKEN: SERVING SIZE 95G
Conventional Chicken Nuggets
Tyson**
29018g(57%)4g0g15g (21%)500 mg40mg
Beyond Chicken Tenders
Beyond Meat**
25014g(51%)2.5g2g15g (25%)530mg0mg
Impossible Chicken Nuggets Impossible Foods24012g(45%)1.5g2g13g (22%)480mg0mg
Veggie Chick’n Nuggets
MorningStar Farms**
2109g(38%)1g4g14g (27%)330mg0mg

Is plant-based meat ultra-processed?

Food processing is not inherently bad. The golden rule of effectively processing food is “nothing bad added, nothing good taken away.” Processing cacao beans, for example, removes the cocoa butter, which is high in saturated fat, and leaves behind cocoa powder, which contains anti-inflammatory flavanols. In that case, processing the raw food enhances its health.

“Ultra-processed” foods take food processing techniques to the next level to make foods like chips, sodas, and candy bars hyperpalatable. Many nutritionists would recommend choosing fruits, vegetables, or nuts as snacks. Compared with minimally processed foods, ultra-processed foods generally have less (or zero) fiber and a lot more sugar, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and calories.4,5

Plant-based meat is not here to replace apples or kale. Consumers are often choosing plant-based meat to reduce their animal meat consumption. Thus, plant-based meats can be a better choice because they have more fiber, less fat, and fewer calories than what people may otherwise eat.

While data from randomized controlled trials are still limited, initial studies have demonstrated that swapping conventional animal meat for plant-based meat can, in fact, lower cardiovascular disease risk factors, improve gut health, be more conducive to a healthy weight, and support muscle growth.

References

1. NPD. (2019). The Future of Plant-Based Snapshot. The NPD Group.

2. Michel, F.; Hartmann, C.; Siegrist, M. Consumers’ associations, perceptions and acceptance of meat and plant-based meat alternatives. Food Qual. Prefer. 2021, 87, 104063.

3. Cultivated meat, while not yet available outside of Singapore, will match the nutrient composition of conventional meat with precision, though it will have fewer contaminants (e.g., foodborne pathogens and drug residues) than conventional meat. See gfi.org for more information.

4. Moubarac, J., Martins, A., Claro, R., Levy, R., Cannon, G., & Monteiro, C. (2013). Consumption of ultra-processed foods and likely impact on human health. Evidence from Canada. Public Health Nutrition, 16(12), 2240-2248.

5. Poti, J. M., Mendez, M. A., Ng, S. W., & Popkin, B. M. (2015). Is the degree of food processing and convenience linked with the nutritional quality of foods purchased by US households?. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(6), 1251–1262.

6. Clifton, P. M., & Keogh, J. B. (2017). A systematic review of the effect of dietary saturated and polyunsaturated fat on heart disease. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 27(12), 1060-1080.

7. Kuklina, E. V., Yoon, P. W., & Keenan, N. L. (2010). Prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors and screening for high cholesterol levels among young adults, United States, 1999–2006. The Annals of Family Medicine, 8(4), 327-333.

8. Fielding, C. J., Havel, R. J., Todd, K. M., Yeo, K. E., Schloetter, M. C., Weinberg, V., & Frost, P. H. (1995). Effects of dietary cholesterol and fat saturation on plasma lipoproteins in an ethnically diverse population of healthy young men. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 95(2), 611–618.

9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, February 7). Heart disease facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 17, 2022.

10. Crimarco, A., Springfield, S., Petlura, C., Streaty, T., Cunanan, K., Lee, J., … & Gardner, C. D. (2020). A randomized crossover trial on the effect of plant-based compared with animal-based meat on trimethylamine-N-oxide and cardiovascular disease risk factors in generally healthy adults: Study With Appetizing Plantfood-Meat Eating Alternative Trial (SWAP-MEAT). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 112(5), 1188-1199.

11. Nogal, A., Valdes, A. M., & Menni, C. (2021). The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between gut microbiota and diet in cardio-metabolic health. Gut Microbes, 13(1), 1–24.

12. Kaczmarczyk, M. M., Miller, M. J., & Freund, G. G. (2012). The health benefits of dietary fiber: beyond the usual suspects of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and colon cancer. Metabolism, 61(8), 1058-1066.

13. Anderson, J. W., Baird, P., Davis, R. H., Ferreri, S., Knudtson, M., Koraym, A., … & Williams, C. L. (2009). Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutrition Reviews, 67(4), 188-205.

14. Anderson, J. W., Baird, P., Davis, R. H., Ferreri, S., Knudtson, M., Koraym, A., … & Williams, C. L. (2009). Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutrition Reviews, 67(4), 188-205.

15. Toribio-Mateas, M. A., Bester, A., & Klimenko, N. (2021). Impact of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives on the Gut Microbiota of Consumers: A Real-World Study. Foods, 10(9), 2040.

16. Crimarco, A., Springfield, S., Petlura, C., Streaty, T., Cunanan, K., Lee, J., … & Gardner, C. D. (2020). A randomized crossover trial on the effect of plant-based compared with animal-based meat on trimethylamine-N-oxide and cardiovascular disease risk factors in generally healthy adults: Study With Appetizing Plantfood-Meat Eating Alternative Trial (SWAP-MEAT). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 112(5), 1188-1199.

17. Monteyne, A. J., Coelho, M. O. C., Porter, C., Abdelrahman, D. R., Jameson, T. S. O., Jackman, S. R., Blackwell, J. R., Finnigan, T. J. A., Stephens, F. B., Dirks, M. L., Wall B. T., Mycoprotein ingestion stimulates protein synthesis rates to a greater extent than milk protein in rested and exercised skeletal muscle of healthy young men: a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 112, Issue 2, August 2020, Pages 318–333.

18. Burger King. (2020, April). Nutrition April 2020 – burger king®. Retrieved February 16, 2022.

19. Burger King. (2020, April). Nutrition April 2020 – burger king®. Retrieved February 16, 2022.

20. Crimarco, A., Springfield, S., Petlura, C., Streaty, T., Cunanan, K., Lee, J., … & Gardner, C. D. (2020). A randomized crossover trial on the effect of plant-based compared with animal-based meat on trimethylamine-N-oxide and cardiovascular disease risk factors in generally healthy adults: Study With Appetizing Plantfood-Meat Eating Alternative Trial (SWAP-MEAT). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 112(5), 1188-1199.

21. Norat, T., Lukanova, A., Ferrari, P. and Riboli, E. (2002), Meat consumption and colorectal cancer risk: Dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Int. J. Cancer, 98: 241-256.

22. Kyriakopoulou, K., Keppler, J. K., & van der Goot, A. J. (2021). Functionality of Ingredients and Additives in Plant-Based Meat Analogues. Foods, 10, 600.

23. Alternative protein research grants (2021). The Good Food Institute. (2022, February 16). Retrieved February 16, 2022.

24. Antibiotics and animal agriculture: A Primer. The Pew Charitable Trusts. (2016, December 19). Retrieved February 16, 2022.

25. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 13). National estimates for antibiotic resistance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 16, 2022.

Plant-based meat nutrition facts - The Good Food Institute (2024)

FAQs

Plant-based meat nutrition facts - The Good Food Institute? ›

An analysis found that risk factors for heart disease, including LDL cholesterol and body weight, improved when various animal-based meats were replaced with a meat alternative. Plant-based meat alternatives, despite being ultraprocessed, may be healthier for the heart than meat, a new report suggests.

Is plant-based meat actually good for you? ›

An analysis found that risk factors for heart disease, including LDL cholesterol and body weight, improved when various animal-based meats were replaced with a meat alternative. Plant-based meat alternatives, despite being ultraprocessed, may be healthier for the heart than meat, a new report suggests.

Does plant-based meat have the same nutritional value? ›

On average, the charity found that plant-based products contained less saturated fat, fewer calories, and 'significantly' more dietary fibre – since meat does not contain any. The two product categories were found to have a similar percentage of calories from protein.

Is plant-based meat as nutritious as meat? ›

They found that using the Australian Government's Health Star Rating system, overall, plant-based meat analogues were found to have a healthier nutritional profile compared with equivalent meat products and their energy content was marginally lower.

Are plant-based meats overly processed? ›

Though the base of plant-based meats is a plant (usually soybeans, peas, and/or wheat), these ingredients have been highly processed.

What are the negatives of plant-based meat? ›

Con #1: Plant-based meat can be more heavily processed than animal meat. As some plant-based meat and mock meat products are created to replicate animal meat, they may undergo more processing. This leads to a high content of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.

Are plant-based meats inflammatory? ›

In it, the same 36 adults from the 2020 study showed very little difference in inflammation levels after eight weeks on alt meats and eight weeks on beef. The good news is: You have choices. If health is a concern, you have to look beyond the “plant-based” branding and read the label.

What is the healthiest fake meat? ›

Specifically, meat substitutes like tofu, tempeh, and seitan have equal amounts of protein but with less saturated fat and more vitamins and minerals, besides B12.

What plant protein has the best nutritional value to be a meat substitute? ›

What is a good source of protein that isn't meat? Some plant-based foods, such as soybean products, seitan, beans, and lentils contain high amounts of protein. You can also find protein in nuts, whole grains like quinoa and amaranth, and hemp seeds.

Is plant-based meat better than lab-grown meat? ›

Unlike plant-based meat that is made from soya or other non-meat ingredients, lab-grown meat contains the exact same nutrition and animal protein as conventionally produced beef, pork, or chicken. This allows diners the option of eating real meat without having to worry about ethical or environmental concerns.

What is the difference between plant-based meat and veggie meat? ›

The fundamental differences between mock meat and plant-based proteins centre on ingredients, nutritional value, and taste. Traditional mock meats are highly processed, offer lower nutritional value, and don't taste as close to real meat as the newer plant-based proteins.

What is the new study on plant-based meat? ›

Takeaway. A new study has found that plant-based meats can be healthier for your heart than regular meat. However, another recent study found that ultra-processed plant-based foods — including plant-based meats — can actually increase heart disease risk.

What is unhealthy vegan food? ›

A vegan diet is only as healthy as you make it. Products like "vegan" ice cream, cookies, and candy are tempting, but don't overdo them. If you eat high-fat and processed foods in large portions, you may end up with many of the same health problems you'd have on a meat-based diet.

Can plant-based food lead to heart disease? ›

Plant-based ultra-processed foods raise heart disease risk

Scientists discovered that for every 10% increase in calorie intake from plant-based ultra-processed foods, participants had a 5% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a 12% higher risk of death from cardiovascular diseases.

Is it better to eat meat or plant-based? ›

And people who don't eat meat, called vegetarians, generally eat fewer calories and less fat. They also tend to weigh less. And they have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do. Research shows that people who eat red meat are at a higher risk of death from heart disease, stroke or diabetes.

Are plant-based meats hard to digest? ›

A: The proteins in foods from animals, such as meat, milk and eggs, tend to be absorbed more easily than those from plant sources, such as nuts, beans and grains. This is partly because of the fibrous coatings that help protect plants from insects and diseases, and this shield can also reduce the rate of digestion.

Is plant-based meat really sustainable? ›

Plant-based meat can reduce water use by up to 99 percent and cultivated meat by 66 percent (compared to conventional beef). As water becomes a limited resource, alternative proteins offer a water scarcity solution.

Is plant-based protein healthier than meat? ›

Plant proteins are often, but not always, incomplete sources of protein, There are benefits and concerns with both types of protein. But diets that rely mostly on plants for protein have been linked to a lower risk of stroke, heart disease, and early death.

Is Beyond Meat healthy in 2024? ›

The Beyond 4.0 burger has received certifications from the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the Clean Label Project, underscoring its commitment to health. Good Housekeeping also awarded it a prestigious nutrition accolade.

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