Characterizing Meat- and Milk/Dairy-like Vegetarian Foods and Their Counterparts Based on Nutrient Profiling and Food Labels

Abstract

Vegetarian foods are plant-based (PB) foods, often perceived as healthier foods than animal-based (AB) foods. The objective of this study was to analyze the nutritional quality of a set of PB foods (meat, milk and dairy products) marketed in Spain, and to compare their nutrient profiles with respect to some AB counterparts. Nutritional information per 100 g or mL, ingredients, and nutritional declarations, as well as the Nutri-Score, NOVA, and Eco-Score of each food were collected from Open Food Facts. Differences in the nutrient compositions between PB foods and their counterparts, and between the different groups of PB foods, were assessed at a 5% significance level. A total of 544 PB foods and 373 AB foods were identified. Overall, PB foods had a higher median content of fiber and carbohydrates, but a lower amount of proteins (except PB “meat” analogues: 14 g) and saturated fats (except PB “cheese alternatives”: 12.5 g), than the AB counterparts (p < 0.05). PB “milk alternatives”, particularly oat “milk”, showed a higher median content of total carbohydrates (8 g) and sugars (5.5 g) compared to cow milks (4.7 g carbohydrates/sugars, on average; p < 0.001). PB “meat alternatives” also had a significantly higher value of carbohydrates (9 g) than AB meats (2 g, on average; p < 0.001). PB foods were mostly classified as Nutri-Score A and B (86%). However, more than half of them were of NOVA groups 3 and 4. Thus, there is a great diversity of PB meat and milk/dairy product alternatives on the Spanish market. Despite being products of good nutritional quality compared to AB foods, they also carry drawbacks that could have an impact on nutritional health.

Nutri-Score of Meat, Fish, and Dairy Alternatives: A Comparison between the Old and New Algorithm

“…The distribution of Nutri-Score labels, based on the old algorithm, for plant-based meat and dairy alternatives is comparable to the results found in other studies [ 18 , 30 , 31 ]. This indicates that a representative selection of plant-based products was made for the inventory in this study.…”

Ultra-processing markers are more prevalent in plant-based meat products as compared to their meat-based counterparts in a German food market analysis

“…In an analysis comprising 148 PBMP sold by seven of the most common supermarket chains in Spain, the proportion of PBMP in NOVA group 4 is 94 % (37) which is similar to the 88 % found in the current analysis. In another study from Spain combining 198 PBMP and 33 plant-based dairy products within one analysis and using data from Open Food Facts, a lower proportion, that is 59 % of the plant-based foods with a NOVA classification label, is NOVA group 4 (38) . However, for 63 % of the plant-based foods in this study, no information concerning NOVA classification is available (38) .…”

“…In another study from Spain combining 198 PBMP and 33 plant-based dairy products within one analysis and using data from Open Food Facts, a lower proportion, that is 59 % of the plantbased foods with a NOVA classification label, is NOVA group 4 (38) . However, for 63 % of the plant-based foods in this study, no information concerning NOVA classification is available (38) . Various reports have elucidated the intake of UPF in vegetarians and vegans as compared to meat eaters.…”

A systematic assessment of the revised Nutri‐Score algorithm: Potentials for the implementation of front‐of‐package nutrition labeling across Europe

“…Our literature review captured 30 papers: 24 original research (Angelino et al, 2023;Braesco et al, 2022;Bryngelsson et al, 2022;Cutroneo et al, 2022;de las Heras-Delgado et al, 2023;Dickie et al, 2022;Ebner et al, 2022;Fedde et al, 2022;Ferreiro et al, 2021;Fialon et al, 2022;Hafner & Pravst, 2021, 2023Huybers & Roodenburg, 2023;Katsouri et al, 2021;Kissock et al, 2022;Konings et al, 2022;Panczyk et al, 2023;Pitt et al, 2023;Pointke & Pawelzik, 2022;Rodriguez-Martin et al, 2023;Septia Irawan et al, 2022;Stiletto & Trestini, 2022;Borg et al, 2021;Valenzuela et al, 2022), 3 communication/correspondence (Carruba et al, 2022;Drewnowski et al, 2021;Hau & Lange, 2023), and 3 review papers (Peonides et al, 2022;van der Bend et al, 2022;Włodarek & Dobrowolski, 2022), originating from 19 countries (including 12 EU member states). The list of reported limitations (n = 20), their connections, and the numbers of mentions are presented in Figure 2.…”