The debate about the nutritional value of plant-based meat alternatives is heating up, with a recent report out of the Netherlands suggesting that these options may actually be healthier than their conventional meat counterparts. The report, conducted by ProVeg Netherlands, compared 130 vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes with 41 animal reference products based on criteria set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. On average, the study found that plant-based products contained less saturated fat, fewer calories, and ‘significantly’ more dietary fiber, making them a compelling choice for health-conscious consumers.
The report was conducted ProVeg Netherlands, the Dutch arm of ‘food awareness’ non-profit ProVeg International. The charity promotes the plant-based meat sector, since it aligns with its goal of halving global consumption of animals by 2040.
ProVeg compared 130 vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes with 41 animal reference products based on criteria set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. “With this study, we wanted to make a fair comparison by not only testing meat substitutes against the national criteria, but also contrasting them with the products they replace,” explained Martine van Haperen, nutrition and health expert at ProVeg.
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