2026-04-14T08:38:25Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:20.500.14342/37072025-05-15T19:20:28Zcom_2072_482405com_2072_183628col_2072_482409

Nutritional assessment of plant-based meat alternatives: a comparison of nutritional information of plant-based meat alternatives in Spanish supermarkets Rizzolo-Brime, Lucía Puyol Martin, Yael Jakszyn, Paula Orta-Ramirez, Alicia Carn -- Substituts -- Avaluació Supermercats -- Espanya Since the classification of processed meat as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2015, an increase in consumption of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) has been observed worldwide. This occurs in a context characterized by concern for health, animal welfare, and sustainability; however, evidence of their nutritional quality is still limited. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the nutritional profile and processing degree of PBMAs available in Spain. In 2020, products from seven Spanish supermarkets were analyzed for their nutritional content and ingredients. Of the 148 products, the majority were low in sugars but moderate in carbohydrates, total and saturated fat, and high in salt. The main vegetable protein sources were soy (91/148) and wheat gluten (42/148). Comparatively, 43/148 contained animal protein, the most common being egg. Overall, PBMAs had a long list of ingredients and additives, and they were classified as ultra-processed foods (UPFs) according to the NOVA system. This study shows that the PBMAs available in Spanish supermarkets have a variable nutritional composition within and between categories. Further research is needed to determine if replacing meat with these UPFs could be a good alternative towards healthier and more sustainable dietary patterns. 2025-05-15T19:20:28Z 2025-05-15T19:20:28Z 2025-05-15T19:20:28Z 2023-03 info:eu-repo/semantics/article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14342/3707 https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15061325 eng Nutrients, 2023, vol. 15, núm. 6, 1325 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO/ISCIII/PFIS FI20/00006 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess © L'autor/a Attribution 4.0 International MDPI