Which Is Better For You, Real Meat Or Fake Meat?

Introduction to Meat Alternatives

In 2021, a survey of over 1,000 Americans found that nearly two-thirds had eaten plant-based meat alternatives in the past year. Many cited potential health and environmental benefits as their motivation. But are these alternative meats actually better for us and the planet?

The Contenders: Farmed Meat vs. Plant-Based Meat

Farmed meat, derived from butchered animals, is a complex structure of muscle fibers, connective tissues, and fat. It has been a staple in the human diet since our species’ very beginnings. On the other hand, plant-based meat alternatives, while resembling meat in look and taste, are constructed with proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and other molecules from plants. Transforming plant molecules into something that resembles meat takes effort. Companies use an extruder device to replicate meat’s fibrous texture and mix in fats and oils extracted from plants to mimic animal fat. Some brands even add beet juice pigment that changes the patty’s color as it cooks or an iron-containing molecule called heme for a meaty flavor.

The Future of Meat: Lab-Grown Meat

Our last entrant is lab-grown meat, also known as cell-based meat and cultured meat. These products begin as animal stem cells that researchers coax to multiply and form into muscle. It’s worth noting that lab-grown meats are largely still in development, so the exact process may change when they’re produced at a greater commercial scale.

Health Implications of Different Meats

Farmed meat is a vital source of protein and nutrients for many people. However, researchers have found links between diets high in red and processed meats and health concerns like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A 2012 study concluded that swapping red meat for other options like chicken, nuts, or legumes for one meal a day can potentially reduce mortality risk by 7 to 19%. There is not enough data to know whether replacing red meat with a plant-based patty would have the same effect. Plant-based meats, while containing just as much protein, calories, and iron as farmed meat, are highly processed and, therefore, high in sodium. Many contain coconut oil, which has a lot of saturated fat, and, like red meat, may elevate heart disease risk. Lab-grown meat has the potential to offer the same nutritional qualities and health risks as farmed meat, but we won’t know for sure until product development is further along.

Environmental Impact of Different Meats

Animal agriculture generates an estimated 14.5% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers estimate that producing plant-based meat substitutes results in, on average, around 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than an equivalent amount of beef, 63% less than pork, and 51% less than poultry. Plant-based meat alternatives also tend to require far less land and water than farmed meat. Their production results in much lower levels of pollutants running off farms and entering waterways, which threaten both the environment and public health. As for lab-grown meat, the industry largely takes its stem cells from the muscle tissue of livestock. But how many animals will be required for these biopsies once production scales up? It also isn’t clear to what degree alternative meats will reduce the environmental impact of the farmed meats industry.

Conclusion: The Verdict on Meat Alternatives

While the verdict is still out on which meat is nutritionally superior, if you care about your personal impact on animal welfare, public health, and the environment, plant-based meat tends to come out on top. And switching to meat alternatives doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision. In fact, a 2022 study estimated that forgoing red meat at just one meal a day can decrease your personal dietary carbon emissions by as much as 48%.