Nearly One Fourth of Americans Are Now Eating Plant-Based Meats

Nearly one fourth of American consumers (23 percent) have consumed plant-based meat products, according to a new report published by market research firm Packaged Facts. The report, titled “Meat, Poultry & Seafood Alternatives: Outlook for Plant-Based & Cultured Cell-Based Consumer Products,” found that consumers are interested in meat alternatives due to environmental concerns, health issues, and news coverage of animal abuse in the meat industry. 

Jennifer Mapes-Christ, Packaged Facts food and beverage publisher, said there is a great opportunity for food brands to win over consumers with plant-based meat products as 37 percent of consumers who currently do not consume plant-based meats are interested in trying them. “There are opportunities to target this burgeoning minority of consumers, who may be persuaded to use larger volumes of plant-based meat in their diets,” Mapes-Christ said. “The 77 percent of consumers who do not eat plant-based meat products also suggests that marketers have a lot of room to increase penetration among the population.”

Packaged Facts’ report is consistent with other research that suggests a shift in the American diet towards plant-based foods. According to a survey released last month by OnePoll, conducted on behalf of Herbalife Nutrition, nearly half of Americans (47 percent) began eating more plant-based foods during the COVID-19 pandemic with 43 percent eating less meat, 25 percent either reducing or cutting out dairy from their diets, and 23 percent reducing or eliminating eggs.