Introduction
Starting from November 2021, McDonald’s started its new attempt of introducing plant-based meat by presenting the specific vegan burger ‘Mc Plant.’ According to current research related to plant based-meat products, the appearance of such products is in line with raising awareness of the natural environment and healthy diet (Onwezen, 2021). Flagged by environmental-friendly, high-protein, low-fat, and animal welfare labels, the conception of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) became popular to provide safer and healthier food. Moreover, eating less meat is increasingly seen as a healthier, more ethical option (Toribio, 2021). Under such background, the thesis will compare two of the advantages of PBMAs with their pairing disadvantages from nutrition perspectives.
The Advantages of Plant-Based Meat
Plant-based meat contains healthy nutrients and can save an individual from chronic illnesses. They contain several nutrients which are beneficial to human beings. For example, research shows that soy-based meat has 19 grams of protein, 9 grams of carbohydrates, 14 grams of fats, and many more (Van Vliet et al., 2021). Like animal meat, plant-based meat has the ability to serve humans with important nutrients. In addition, plant-based foods can assist an individual fight chronic illnesses like diabetes. Increasing the content of fiber and vitamins in the body makes an individual less prone to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and others (Van Vliet et al., 2021). Therefore, plant-based meat has a lot of health benefits to people.
Apart from the health benefits, plant-based meat helps to conserve the environment. Plants require less environmental resources such as water and space compared to animals. According to Zhang et al. (2021), plant-based meat uses 72-99% less water compared to traditional meat. Animal agriculture uses about a third of the water used in overall global agriculture (Zhang et al., 2021). This shows that the consumption of plant-based meat promotes sustainability and protects the environment. Additionally, plant-based meat contributes between 51-91% less aquatic nutrient pollution in comparison to traditional meat (Zhang et al., 2021). For example, the chemicals used to treat the animals usually find their way into lakes, rivers, or even oceans leading to aquatic pollution. In addition, animal manures are normally sprayed over open fields creating health risks for local communities. As a result, plant-based meat is friendly to the environment because it does not require a lot of water and space.
The Disadvantages of Plant-Based Meat
Despite the advantages, plant-based meat has several disadvantages that make it unhealthy. First, plant-based meat has high salt levels, detrimental to an individual’s health. The consumption of plant-based meat increases susceptibility to health issues caused by excessive salt in the body (Toribio, 2021). For example, the plant-based burger has been criticized for their sodium content. The high content of sodium in the diet can contribute to health risks such as blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and many more. Excess sodium in the body causes the blood pressure to rise and puts more stress on the heart and vessels (Toribio, 2021). Therefore, the high salt content that some plant-based meat contains can be harmful to an individual.
Plant-based meat is more expensive compared to conventional meat and its products. According to Axworthy (2022), although plant-based meat sales increased by 45% in 2020, Neilson’s data shows that plant-based meat is nearly twice as expensive per pound as traditional beef. For instance, the price of a Beyond-meat patty is between $3-$5, whereas that of a regular beef patty ranges between $1 to $2 (Nayak, 2021). This indicates that an individual is likely to spend more money to acquire plant-based meat than traditional meat. Most individuals would prefer to have normal meat rather than plant-based meat due to its cost. As a result, people avoid purchasing plant-based meat because it is very expensive.
Conclusion
Despite the disadvantages, plant-based meat is more beneficial than animal-based meat. Plant-based meat is the best alternative to conventional meat and its products. It refers to foodstuffs that look and taste like traditional meat but are created entirely from plants. Ground meat, burgers, sausages, and various other vegetarian-friendly choices are available. When compared to animal-based meat, plant-based meat has more health benefits to consumers. One of its advantages is its nutritional value, which provides users with health advantages. Plant-based meat is high in proteins, vitamins, fiber, carbs, and other nutrients.
References
Axworthy, N. (2022). Plant-based meat will be cheaper than animal meat sooner than you think. VegNews. Web.
Nayak, A. (2021). Why plant-based meats are healthier than regular meats, according to dietitians. Insider. Web.
Onwezen, Bouwman, E., Reinders, M., & Dagevos, H. (2021). A systematic review on consumer acceptance of alternative proteins: Pulses, algae, insects, plant-based meat alternatives, and cultured meat. Appetite, 159, Web.
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. Web.
van Vliet, S., Bain, J. R., Muehlbauer, M. J., Provenza, F. D., Kronberg, S. L., Pieper, C. F., & Huffman, K. M. (2021). A metabolomics comparison of plant-based meat and grass-fed meat indicates large nutritional differences despite comparable Nutrition Facts panels. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-13. Web.
Zhang, L., Hu, Y., Badar, I. H., Xia, X., Kong, B., & Chen, Q. (2021). Prospects of artificial meat: Opportunities and challenges around consumer acceptance. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 116, 434-444. Web.