SURVEY: Half of Americans Want Meat-Free Options After Animal Agriculture Industry’s Pandemic Crisis
Plant-based meat have spread into grocery stores across the U.S., and buying of meat alternatives has tripled from a year earlier as of April 25, according to Nielsen data.
JEN SKERRITT: A poll taken By Rethink Priorities in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States at the end of May found that 52% of respondents think the food industry should focus more on meat-free foods to help reduce shortages. The survey of 998 people also found that half of respondents don’t think the meat industry cares about the health of its workers, and 65% don’t think it cares about the treatment of animals.
“Covid is shining a light for consumers to start evaluating their own choices and whether or not they want to continue to buy meat,” said Josh Balk, vice president of farm animal protection for the Humane Society… The pandemic has highlighted longstanding issues in the country’s food-supply chain that many people are seeing for the first time, Balk said. That is prompting consumers to look for alternatives to industrialized meat, he said…
Plant-based proteins are already seeing a pandemic bump after coronavirus outbreaks forced closures at some of America’s largest packing plants. Soy-based burger maker Impossible Foods Inc. and pea-based meat imitator Beyond Meat Inc. have spread into grocery stores across the U.S., and buying of meat alternatives had tripled from a year earlier in the eight weeks ended April 25, according to Nielsen data.
Faux meat had already catapulted to the zeitgeist last year, captured in the blistering initial public offering for Beyond Meat. More Americans have dubbed themselves flexitarians — people who regularly substitute other foods for meat — and vegan products have shown up on menus of nationwide chains including TGI Fridays. Even traditional giants like Tyson Foods Inc. have move toward offering alternatives. SOURCE…
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