Dietary changes are considered essential for feeding a growing global population within planetary boundaries. In high-income countries, shifts towards diets lower in meat and higher in plant-based proteins have been proposed as a win-win for both environmental and human health. While diets rich in whole plant foods such as legumes, nuts, and seeds are supported in the literature as key components of healthy and sustainable diets, less is known about the role of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) in such dietary patterns. PBMAs are manufactured products made from meat-free ingredients designed to replicate the taste, texture, and functionality of animal meat. Due to the ultra-processed nature of most PBMAs, little is known about their role in healthy and sustainable diets, as well as the adequacy of these foods as replacements for meat from a nutritional, health, environmental, and acceptability perspective.
This webinar will explore PBMA consumption trends within the UK and Irish context, as well as how the nutritional profiles of PBMAs compare with animal meat, and the implications of full or partial replacement of meat with PBMAs from a nutritional, health, and environmental perspective. The webinar will close with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities associated with PBMAs.
What will I gain from this webinar?
- You will be able to describe the trends in consumption of plant-based meat alternatives in the UK and Ireland
- You will understand how plant-based meat alternatives compare nutritionally with animal meat and their implications on health and sustainability
- You will explore the challenges and opportunities of incorporating plant-based meat alternatives into the human diet