Page 44 - FMT Magazine, September 2020

Analytical Marketing

Coronavirus

pushes the

case for plant-

based foods

By Mr. Dheeraj Talreja*

onsumer interest in plant-
based meat has been
Csteadily rising over the
past few years. This is because
people are increasingly health and
environment conscious. We hear the
terms veganism, vegetarianism, and
flexitarian much more today than

we did say ten years ago. However,
the rise of the plant-based foods that are pushing the plant-based moving towards plant-based foods.
industry has been very gradual and foods industry into the limelight. In the past decade, scores of studies
there aren’t too many takers for the have hinted at the increasing

product, but the current coronavirus CLIMATE CHANGE health benefits of plant-based diets.
pandemic has caused a clear shift in The climate crisis is signifi cant Studies have shown that people
consumer preferences. reason driving the market for plant- who consume more vegetables
based foods. Animal agriculture is and legumes are less likely to be
A report published by the World responsible for 13–18% of greenhouse overweight compared to those who
Economic Forum and Reuters last gas emissions globally and people consume meat regularly. Diets like
month said that suppliers are seeing are becoming increasingly aware of the Mediterranean-type diet that
a surge in demand for plant-based this fact. There is also a generally emphasize on plant-based foods
protein foods in Asia because the increased awareness of the impact of and protein sources are now gaining
Covid-19 has raised concerns over our food habits on the environment popularity in the west that has long
links between meat consumption and a growing number of people battled high rates of obesity and
and viral diseases. The trend of want to make the right choices diabetes.
plant- based meat is also catching for themselves and their families.
up in countries like Brazil and Hence, plant-based eating has Plant-based dairy alternatives are
Mexico. And in China, the trend was gradually become a popular trend also highly preferred by people
already receiving a push because of among a significant demographic in with digestive issues such as

newly imposed dietary guidelines wealthy western countries. lactose intolerance. Several plant-
that are aimed at reducing meat based dairy alternatives make for
consumption by half. HEALTH BENEFITS a better and healthier gut health.

The proven health benefits of plant- Plant-based milks also have longer
Apart from the pandemic, there are based eating are another reason shelf life in comparison to fresh
several other trends and reasons why more and more people are dairy products and can be useful

Food Marketing & Technology 44 September 2020