Meat Alternatives

Nutrition Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi BBM

since I have more and more problems with seeing animal transportation and factory farming in general and the fact that you often state that most people should reconsider the frequency of eating meat
I was trying through some meat alternatives and found one that is almost indistinguishable from “real” sausages at least to me.
BUT now I ask myself if they are healthy or too processed.
On social media you get that they are the most poisonous food ever or the saviour of the world.

I looked up the ingredients list of the one I am talking about which are:
Water,
rapeseed oil,
pea protein,
starch (pea, potatos),
thickener (methyl cellulose, processed eucheuma seaweed, konjac gum),
spices, chili, garlic, paprika, citrus fiber, salt,
acidity regulator (tartaric acid),
dextrose,
aroma,
stabilizer(phosphate),
sugar

now would you think that it would be ok or even better to eat those sausages instead of meat sausages?
and should I, even if its not meat, still be aiming to eat this kind of food not too often?

thanks as always

2

Hey Josh,

I’m not aware that I’ve advised people to reduce the frequency of eating meat per se’, though I do think people should eat more plants. I also think a more plant-based dietary pattern is likely to be a beneficial change for most health-wise.

I have little concern about the degree of processing and it directly predicting health effects if I can actually look at the label. I do not think these sausages are particularly health promoting, though likely a better choice than some types of animal-based sausages. I think this is a fine food to have in moderation.

-Jordan