From fine dining to fast food: Where plant-based food is going in 2022
The truth about industrial animal agriculture and its connection to the environment, human health, and animal welfare may be inconvenient, but the future of food seems to be abundantly plant-based and delicious.
BRIAN KATEMAN: Plant-based food is becoming more and more widely available, serving a population that is increasingly concerned with the future of the planet as well as their own health. Suffice it to say, vegetarian and vegan eating aren’t the hippie-dippy niche they once were… Plant-based food made up $7 billion in sales last year. Plant-based meat sales grew 45% between 2019 and 2020, and plant-based milk sales are growing four times as fast in 2020 as they did in 2019, according to data released by The Good Food Institute and Plant Based Foods Association…
Looking forward to 2022, all different sectors of the global food industry are planning to serve a population that’s cutting back – though not entirely eliminating – animal products from their diet. In their trend reports looking ahead to next year, both the UK-based supermarket chain Waitrose and US-based Whole Foods independently identified a reduction of animal products as a trend we should expect to see more of. Veganism as a lifestyle is still intimidating and challenging for many people… But even so, consumers are looking to consume fewer animal products, and to choose more consciously when they do…
Fine dining sans animals. For generations, fine dining has meant white tablecloth restaurants serving expertly prepared food, made almost invariably with meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. Vegan and even vegetarian food, written off as fringe or novelty cuisine, haven’t really been considered among this ilk – until lately… Eleven Madison Park made a splash this summer when it reopened as an entirely vegan establishment… Expect to see more famous chefs dabbling in vegan cuisine, more high-end veggie-focused restaurants opening up, and maybe even some Michelin stars being awarded to vegetarian kitchens…
Meanwhile, at the other end of the dining spectrum, things are changing even more rapidly. In the last year alone, chains like Long John Silver’s, Panda Express, and Little Caesar’s have made their first steps into the vegan arena… They’re joining the ranks of other fast food chains, like Burger King and White Castle, who have been serving plant-based options for the last few years and continue to do so… don’t expect this trend to die down any time soon – if anything, it’s still building momentum…
Across industries, there is rapid movement toward “reducetarian” and vegan-minded eating thanks to a populace that’s becoming increasingly informed about animal agriculture and food systems in general… The truth about industrial animal agriculture and its connection to the environment, human health, and animal welfare may be inconvenient, but the future of food seems to be abundantly plant-based – and delicious. SOURCE…
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