January 27, 2022
Other Analysis:

Alt. Meat Leaders and Losers — January 2022

Sourcing topped conversations. Channels and advocacy increased; health and safety decreased.

Taking Stock of Sourcing Priorities

Over the past month, the leading voices in food production took time to reflect on the past year and establish priorities for the new one. For many, sourcing policies were top of mind as indicators of a food producer’s values. Whether the priority is cost, quality or sustainability, it pays to communicate those values to consumers.

  • The Jan. 1 implementation of labeling for bioengineered foods revived discussions about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food. Vishaal Bhuyan of Aanika Biosciences held up alternative protein products as a model for the use of GMOs for sustainable production.
  • Additionally, recaps of 2021 drove a substantial amount of conversations, such as Good Food Institute sharing a series of articles that address the overlap between sourcing and sustainability messaging.

In other trending conversations, attention to foodservice menus picked up when KFC partnered with Beyond Meat and Chipotle offered its own plant-based chorizo nationally. Additionally, activist groups recommended plant-based protein foods as part of Veganuary and formally supported cultured proteins.

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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Sourcing Concerns Hit on Two-thirds of ESG

In the past month, influential figures in alt. meat production devoted their attention to sourcing decisions — particularly the environmental impact of such choices. Climate policy negotiations (COP26) held in Glasgow, Scotland, served as a uniting factor for these topics.

  • The Good Food Institute asserted: “It’s impossible to meet the Paris Agreement without shifting away from conventional animal agriculture.”
  • However, investors and researchers raised concerns that alternative protein makers lack the governance to demonstrate claims of a lower carbon footprint. In The New York Times, UC Berkeley researcher Ricardo San Martin called the industry “a black box.”

Additionally, foodservice outlets garnered attention for product tests: Burger King piloted Impossible Nuggets mid-October, and McDonald’s tested its McPlant offering (from Beyond Meat) beginning on Nov. 3. Meanwhile, conversations around investment and food trends fell relative to the previous month.

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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Sourcing led rankings; gained four spots.
Health climbed one rank, while policy and innovation each lost two.

Ingredient Choices Impact the Bottom Line

Lofty brand ambitions don’t matter if your supply chain can’t back it up. The alternative protein industry has had to reckon with this reality as much as any during the pandemic. And, in the past month, sourcing emerged as the leading topic among influential discussions of alternative proteins.

  • Between rising demand and severe drought in Canada, pea protein prices have more than doubled in the past year.
  • Hormel and The Better Meat Co partnered on Oct. 5 to expand production and distribution of an alternative to peas: mycoprotein.
  • Motif Foodworks requested generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status for myoglobin, an ingredient that mimics the flavor and aroma of meat. Plant Based Foods Association Executive Director Michele Simon noted that using the ingredient would prevent processors from obtaining non-GMO verification.

The healthiness of alternative proteins also garnered more attention this month. On Oct. 13, the FDA published final guidance on reducing sodium in processed foods. Foods Ingredients First highlighted how this could pose a difficult challenge for the industry.

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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September rankings - Policy #1, Sourcing +4, Channels & Health -2

A Long Fuse is Lit: Labeling Looms Large

Influential conversations about cell-cultured products took a turn in September as labeling policies moved a step closer to reality. Previously, discussions had concerned regulation, with FDA and USDA splitting responsibility in 2019. Since then, manufacturing news about new products and facilities dominated.

  • On Sept. 2, the USDA requested input on labeling of cell-cultured meat and poultry products. The agency will accept comments for 60 days.
  • Consumer Federation of America hosted a webinar evaluating existing public policy frameworks.

In the past month, conversations around sourcing for both plant-based and cell-culture proteins grew in volume, while channel availability and food safety concerns dimmed slightly. Impossible Foods’ much-heralded plant-based nuggets lacked immediate partnerships.

  • Ingredient producers ramped up production ranging from pea protein (Alt Meat) to cell-culture mediums (The Spoon).
  • Additionally, “clean label” conversations gained steam, with leaders from Cargill and ADM weighing in on options for simpler ingredient lists (Food Business News).

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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Alt meat conversation topics

Labeling Changes Afoot

Policy is often slow to catch up to new products and technologies; for alternative protein, labeling is the biggest sticking point. Given the importance of labeling for brand management, companies should closely monitor developments in the state and federal rules.

  • On Aug. 11, a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of Miyoko’s Creamery against the California Department of Food and Agriculture, concluding that labeling plant-based products “vegan butter” is not misleading commercial speech. He explained, “Quite simply, language evolves.”
  • The judgment set a precedent for relying on clarity of labeling and away from strict reliance on FDA’s standards of identity.
  • However, the judgment failed to prevent the American Butter Institute from disputing the clarity of labeling on other plant-based product packages.

In the past month, analysis of Intel Distillery data showed that health and sourcing concerns took a back seat to channel availability.

  • Panda Express tested Beyond Orange Chicken at 10 New York City and Los Angeles locations.
  • Pizza Hut piloted Beyond Pepperoni pizza in five U.S. cities.
  • Baja Fresh Mexican Grill rolled out three Impossible Foods products.

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Meat vs. Alt Protein: What’s the Diff?

Analysis of Intel Distillery data shows that health concerns drove the most influential conversations around alternative proteins this month. Although the bulk of attention focused on nutritional differences between meat and plant-based proteins, health-related messaging may resonate better as part of a “plant-based diet” than as a “meat substitute.”

  • Duke University researcher Stephan van Vliet concluded, “These products should not be viewed as nutritionally interchangeable, but that’s not to say that one is better than the other.”
  • Meanwhile, influential voices discussed alt proteins as part of plant-based diets that may ward off disease, including COVID-19 (Johns Hopkins University, via BMJ) and multiple sclerosis (University of Iowa).

Additionally, several other topics moved up and down in our rankings of the marketplace’s top topics. Innovation in the sector piqued interest as companies developed new ingredients, while environment and sourcing claims fell from relatively high volumes of discussion last month.

  • Nestlé partnered with Future Meat Technologies for cultivated protein.
  • Nonprofit XPRIZE announced a $15 million competition for the development of chicken and fish analogues.

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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Where Money Flows, Regulation Follows

Analysis of Intel Distillery data shows that policy topics led recent influential conversations. Much of the attention stemmed from ongoing efforts to clarify marketing terms and production methods.

  • Texas legislators approved a law that restricts the use of terms such as “meat,” “beef,” “pork” or “chicken” to traditional meat from live animals.
  • Good Food Institute joined the World Health Organization’s Codex Alimentarius Commission, creating an opportunity to influence global safety and regulatory standards for alternative protein production.

Sourcing of protein ingredients returned to force after taking a back seat to investment and innovation in the previous month. The most-discussed examples both focused on mycoprotein fermentation:

  • As Unilever expanded its Vegetarian Butcher line, the food giant partnered with ENOUGH to produce “zero-waste” mycoprotein.
  • The Better Meat Co unveiled plans on June 6 to shift the focus of its production from extruded pea and algae proteins to mycoprotein fermentation.

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Alt Protein Conversations: Leaders and Losers

April conversation rankings at a glance

Intel Distillery data indicates that the health aspect of alternative proteins permeates industry leader conversations, in contrast to the mainstream focus on environmental benefits. The fact that the category is referred to as “alternative protein” positions products in a nutrition-forward light. Brands that overlook this miss out on a built-in marketing advantage. Recent events that drove health conversations include:

  • The New York Times publishing a buyer’s guide for plant-based milks based on nutrition profiles.
  • Reducetarian Foundation President Brian Kateman addressing trade-offs between nutrition and flavor.
  • Researcher Gregg Sparkman, PhD, explaining that perceived health benefits help to drive incremental shifts away from traditional meat products.

In the past month, discussions about investment in the category and channel availability gained steam:

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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Supply Chain Settles, Attention Shifts

Pie charts - consumer social media discussions of alternative protein

Believe it or not, consumer attention to alternative protein topics follows big policy talk in Washington. Mirroring the change of administrations, we found that mainstream social media attention to alternative proteins shifted substantially in the first quarter compared with last year. After President Biden put climate policy in the spotlight, discussions of the environmental impact of food followed. Articles covering Bill Gates’ recommendation of meatless burgers (Popular Mechanics) and McMaster University research on cultivated meat (CTV News) garnered more than 12,000 shares on social media.

Channel availability remained a vigorous topic of discussion, even if the topic lost momentum from being the primary focus in 2020, when meat supply chain failures directed extra attention to the availability of alternative proteins. However, a continued string of new partnerships — such as Beyond Meat inking deals with McDonald’s and Yum! Brands — drove consumer excitement.

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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Industry Leaders Prioritize Health, Environment in Alt-protein Discussions

Top ten topics in alternative protein, September 2020 through February 2021

Bill Gates’ book “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster” inspired heavy discussion about the environmental benefits of plant-based proteins. In the book, Gates paired environmental concerns with the importance of investment to enact change. On the investment front, Danone’s Feb. 18 acquisition of dairy-free cheese brand Earth Island overshadowed all other transactions in the space, positioning the company to “strengthen its plant-based business.” Other notable investments included capital rounds for startups Mosa Meat and Redefine Meat.

Thanks to a Good Morning America segment that shared an American Heart Association study touting the health benefits of a plant-based diet, the health conversation got an uptick for both consumers and industry leaders. Dean Ornish, MD, president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, commented: “The TYPE of protein you consume is important, not just fats vs. carbs.”

The topic of innovation fell from the top spot in January as discussion about new products gave way to raising funds. Attention to safety also fell in February compared with January’s headlines about pending lawsuits against FDA approval of Impossible Foods’ coloring ingredient.

This content was developed in partnership with Alt-Meat, a multimedia brand covering a myriad of topics in the meat alternatives market from a business point of view. For more information, visit Alt-Meat.net.

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