Plant-based meats 'more eco-friendly', report says

Plant-based alternatives to meat are better for the planet and mostly healthier than products such as burgers and sausages made from animals, new research has found.

- Denis Campbell

Environmentally the production of meat substitutes involves far fewer greenhouse gas emissions and much less water than that of meat dishes, according to the Food Foundation.

Nutritionally, fake meat products also perform well in comparison with the real thing. They contain fewer calories, less saturated fat and more fibre, the charity's study found.

It compared the environmental impact, nutritional profile and price of 68 plant-based products with 36 meat ones, including dishes such as -real and fake - bacon, chicken nuggets and meatballs.

However, some of the three main types of "alternative proteins" emerged as being in some ways worse, nutritionally-speaking, than meat products, the Food Foundation added.