Meat Substitutes

The history of plant-based alternatives and their protein content


Steve Fratini, PhD (Author), June 25, 2023 

A meat substitute is a food product made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients, eaten as a replacement for meat. Meat alternatives typically approximate qualities of specific types of meat, such as mouthfeel, flavor, appearance, or chemical characteristics.

Traditional meat substitutes are made from whole, unprocessed ingredients, such as beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, and seitan. These products are typically lower in fat and calories than animal meat, and they are a good source of protein, fiber, and other nutrients.

First-generation meat substitutes are made from processed plant proteins, such as textured vegetable protein (TVP) and soy protein isolate. These products are often designed to mimic the texture and flavor of animal meat, and they are a good source of protein. However, they can be higher in sodium and other additives than traditional meat substitutes.

Second-generation meat substitutes are made from plant-based ingredients that have been processed using high-tech methods, such as extrusion and fermentation. These products are often designed to mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of animal meat, and they can be a good source of protein, fiber, and other nutrients. However, they can be more expensive than traditional meat substitutes.

A more comprehensive list of meat substitutes can be found in the Wikpedia article “List of meat substitutes” [1].

Cultured meat [2], also known as cell-based meat, lab-grown meat, or clean meat, is real meat that is produced by culturing animal cells in a laboratory. It is a form of cellular agriculture, which is the production of food and materials by directly cultivating cells. To produce cultured meat, a small sample of cells is taken from an animal. These cells are then grown in a nutrient-rich environment, where they multiply and form muscle tissue. The muscle tissue can then be shaped into different cuts of meat, such as steaks, burgers, or chicken nuggets. While this is still technically meat, an animal does not need to be killed (addressing philosophical concerns for some) and it is said to make fewer demands on the environment (but this is debatable, see the journal article [3]).

Here are some examples of each type of meat substitute:

In terms of indispensable amino acids (IAAs), soy protein is particularly unique among plant-based proteins because it is one of the few that provides all the IAAs. Other plant-based proteins in the traditional category need to be combined to achieve a balanced profile of IAAs. First and second generation meat substitutes and cultured meat are designed to provide all of the IAAs.

Meat substitutes are a great way to add variety to your diet and reduce your intake of animal products. There are many different types of meat substitutes available, so you can find one that fits your taste and dietary needs.

See history for a brief chronology of imitation meat. 


References

[1] List of meat substitutes, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_meat_substitutes, accessed on 23 June 2023.

[2] Cultured meat, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultured_meat, accessed on 23 June 2023.

[3] Cor van der Weele, Peter Feindt, Atze Jan van der Goot, Barbara van Mierlo, Martinus van Boekel, Meat alternatives: an integrative comparison, Trends in Food Science & Technology, Volume 88, 2019, Pages 505-512, ISSN 0924-2244, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2019.04.018. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224418308409)

[4] Walsh, K., Why are beans such a good source of protein?, Eat This, Not That!, https://www.eatthis.com/high-protein-beans/, accessed on 23 June 2023.

[5] Nugent, C., The Best Inventions of 2020: Protein Via the Air, TIME, https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2020/5911453/solein-protein/, accessed on 23 June 2023.

[6] Holland, F., Solar Foods receives novel food approval for sale of Solein in Singapore, Food Matters live, https://foodmatterslive.com/article/solar-foods-receives-novel-food-approval-solein-singapore/, accessed on 23 June 2023.

[7] Douglas, L., 'A new era': US regulator allows first sales of lab-grown meat, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/upside-foods-good-meat-receive-final-usda-approval-sell-cultivated-meat-2023-06-21/, accessed on 21 June 2023.