The pandemic has created a shift in food preferences, says Christian Philippsen, managing director, Beneo, Asia Pacific, pivoting consumers towards more sustainable, plant-based options.
He says research shows that environmental concerns were heightened as a result of Covid-19, with 60% of consumers now more attentive to the impact their food and drink consumption has on the environment. As more mainstream consumers make changes to their diets to improve their long-term health and reduce their impact on the planet, there has been a corresponding upsurge in shoppers (2%) planning to include more plant-based foods in their diets, as a result of Covid-19.“In particular, meat alternatives are gaining traction in Asia Pacific. Investments in protein alternatives have almost doubled in the region, reaching US $312 million, 60% more than the amount globally,” Philippsen says in a bylined release.
For those who are incorporating more plant-based ingredients into their diet, meat alternatives have become a sought-after choice.
“Many consumers perceive plant proteins as natural, healthy ingredients that are more sustainable than meat in their production. These proteins also have specific benefits such as being low in cholesterol, saturated fats and sugars, making them a popular choice for a growing range of plant-based applications.
“With a wide variety of plant proteins available, manufacturers need to choose high-quality ingredients which can offer convincing technical benefits. The popularity of wheat protein is due to its wide variety of textures it can create. In addition, wheat protein is an excellent source of many amino acids (such as cystéine, méthionine, phénylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophane).
“Moreover, it has a neutral taste and can deliver a variety of textures in a wide range of meat-free applications, which is key as a pleasant taste and texture are important shopping motivators for consumers. As such, wheat-based protein is one of the most promising meat substitutes for meat-free burgers, nuggets, vegetarian sausages or even dim sum to name but a few. In addition, a recent consumer survey on behalf of Beneo shows that 66% of global flexitarians find wheat an appealing plant-based source in meat and fish alternatives.”
