A cross-sectional study of the cost and nutritional content of plant-based meat-imitation products in supermarkets and plant-based products in restaurants in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Background: There is a global trend of increasing consumption of plant-based foods, yet little is known about the nutritional composition and price of plant-based meat alternatives and restaurant items in the United Kingdom, and how they compare to non-plant-based options. Aim: This study compared the nutritional content and cost of plant-based and non-plant-based foods/products sold in UK supermarkets and restaurants. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, meat-based products (n = 1228) and plant-based-imitation products (n = 147) were identified from five supermarkets. Plant-based (n = 54) and equivalent non-plant-based (n = 54) items were identified from ten restaurants. Nutritional information (energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugar, fibre, protein, and salt) and price of the products was compared for plant-based and non-plant-based products using the Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Results: For supermarkets, the plant-based meat-imitation products had lower median saturated fat and protein, and higher median sugar and fibre per 100 g compared with non-plant-based products (all results p < 0.001). Plant-based supermarket products were more expensive (median £1.02/100 g vs £0.85/100 g; p < 0.001). For restaurant products, plant-based items were significantly lower in energy (p < 0.001), saturated fat (p = 0.017), sugar (p = 0.007) and protein (p < 0.001), and higher in fibre (p = 0.009), per serving, compared with non-plant-based products. There was no difference between the cost of plant-based and non-plant-based restaurant products per serving (p = 0.39). Conclusion: Plant-based meat-imitation products available in UK supermarkets were lower in saturated fat, but higher in sugar compared with meat options, and were significantly more expensive. Plant-based products sold in restaurants may provide a healthier alternative, at no additional cost per serving.