Plant-based: an attempt to keep up

Information pours out about plant-based meat and dairy substitutes.  Here are some recent items, pro and con:

• Why plant-based business pioneers say the sector has just gotten started:  The animal-free meat, dairy and cheese businesses are booming, but Seth Goldman, Miyoko Schinner and Alan Hahn said at a virtual conference last week that price parity, tech developments and more shifts in consumer preferences will drive it further.
• Alternative proteins may capture 11% of total protein sales by 2035:  A new study estimates the segment will be valued at $290 billion in the next 14 years, as well as potentially reach price parity with conventional meat products as early as 2023.
• 7 in 10 US consumers would swap cell-based chicken for traditional meat:  The study done by an outside firm on behalf of Eat Just found overall attitudes toward cultured meat offerings are becoming more favorable.
• PepsiCo overhauls Evolve in bid to make plant-based brand a household name:  The food and beverage giant, which acquired the maker of bars, shakes and powders from Hormel in 2019, is hopeful new packaging, advertising and flavor profiles will raise brand awareness.
• Vegan language: Is ‘plant-based’ too limiting for this rapidly expanding sector?‘Plant-based’ is a broad term used by food marketers to describe animal-free products. But is it the most fitting?… Read more
• Plant-based dairy in focus: ‘Cheese is the most technically challenging space in dairy alternatives…’US retail sales of plant-based milk surged 21.9% to $2.542bn in measured channels in the year to Jan. 24, 2021, while sales of plant-based cheese and yogurt (far smaller categories) were up 43.6% to $233.9m and 16.4% to $346.2m respectively in the year to Feb 21, 2021, according to SPINS data…. Read more 
• The brittle truth about vegan Easter eggs:  Vegan alternatives pass the flavour test (up to a point) but are prone to shattering, according to market research…. Read more
• 1 in 4 meat substitutes ‘do not contain enough protein to be considered a source of protein’Over a quarter of processed, vegetarian meat-substitute products are not a source of protein, according to research by Safefood into the nutritional content of more than 350 products which claim to be meat replacements…. Read more