The next time you’re looking through the meat section of your grocery store, you may see more plant-based products than ever before. Some of you may crinkle your nose at the idea of meatless meat, so Consumer Reports just did some testing for you: It tested 32 fake burgers, nuggets, steaks and hot dogs to see what they taste like and how healthy they might be.
“Our panel of tasters thought none were identical to real meat, but some came close. In fact, we found that at least one in each category was very good,” said Amy Keating, nutritionist for Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports panelists found the Impossible and Beyond brands to be the most meat-like among burgers. Impossible’s chicken nuggets came closest to the flavor of a typical chicken nugget.
As for the fake pork, Consumer Reports panelists say, “Beyond Meat’s breakfast and sweet Italian sausages and MorningStar’s breakfast links were reminiscent of real meat.”
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CONSUMER REPORTS: What you need to know about plant-based meat
Many people might consider switching to plant-based meats because they think they’re healthier, so Consumer Reports wanted to know if that’s true.
“While many of the products we tested had fewer calories and less artery-clogging saturated fat, most had more sodium than actual meat. And Americans already consume too much sodium,” Keating warned.
She says that a closer look at the ingredients will reveal that although these foods are plant-based, they are still ultra-processed.
“The evidence supporting ‘plant-based’ diets points to eating more whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, tofu and beans, and these mock meats are more processed and not whole foods,” Keating explained.
Many of these plant-based meats also claim to be better for the environment. While that may be true, Consumer Reports notes that eating grass-fed animals raised on sustainable farms can also be good for the environment.
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As for price, you may not be saving a lot of money buying plant-based meat, but Consumer Reports says that if meat prices continue to rise, certain plant-based items could be cheaper by comparison.
RECIPES: Meaty Meatless Meals from Consumer Reports
Bottom line: These plant-based meats are a mixed bag. While they’re not the healthiest foods, they can be good if you’re having trouble giving up red meat.
All Consumer Reports material Copyright 2022 Consumer Reports, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Consumer Reports is a nonprofit organization that does not accept advertising. It has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site. For more information, visit consumer.org.
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