Depending on who you talk to or what you are reading about in the food
industry, you will get different points of view about what’s on trend. Take the
issue of meat consumption. In recent years, a lot of news have been shared
about the effects of meat consumption to climate change, a few of the recent
ones include an article in Nature which looks into the reasons why.
The United Nations has made a call to cut meat intake not only for the
obvious reason of health –
but for the health of the planet.
The concern was brought to light further following the deforestation –
for agriculture – in the Amazon where the loss of more rainforest will
eventually lead to the release of billions of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.
Yes, maybe not in our lifetime, but it will happen if further rainforests are
destroyed. The Amazon itself helps to cool global temperatures, so without those
forests, you can imagine a warmer climate altogether.
How is the meat industry responding to the issue? It has been an
on-going issue of how raising cows release methane. But they’re not the only
one releasing methane into the atmosphere, right? So do your cars.
There are many ways the meat industry is responding. If you’ve read the report
from New Nutrition, then you know the meat industry
is “fighting back”. Even as plant-based proteins are all the rage right now
even Asia, the report says meat brands, at least in the United States, are
attracting consumers with information about provenance, sustainability, and
animal welfare. Health and environmental claims such as “organic”, “grass-fed” seem
to make a difference, and are preferred by consumers.
I believe that consumers are responsible enough to heed the call of
environmentalists and the United Nations to reduce our meat intake for the
reasons they mention. At the end of the day, many of us are still a meat-eating
population, even with the rise in vegetarianism. We are flexitarian mostly. But
because vegetables are cheaper, there is a tendency to eat more of these especially
in Asia.
Clearly there is a growing interest in proteins being derived from
plants, experts say. We as consumers welcome F&B innovations that use more
of plants as alternatives to dairy or meat.
According to a market
research from Euromonitor, Southeast Asians are gradually opening up to meat
alternatives as packaged foods manufacturers introduce vegan-friendly products via
online and offline stores.
At food and beverage trade shows in Asia, most big companies have their
new products, and try to outdo one another in their plant-based product
innovations, touted to be better for health and for guilt-free indulgence.
Obviously, diets are changing because of all these industry developments
and innovations. The good thing for consumers is that they can enjoy both meat
and meatless alternatives. So, I think the key in eating – and the UN will probably
agree – is moderation. - Marijo Gonzalez
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