How is the nutritional quality of plant-based meat analogues sold in the Italian market?

Abstract

Introduction: A meat substitute (or meat analogue) is a plant-derived food product that mimics meat also in terms of flavor and texture. The global market for meat substitutes was worth 4.6 billion (USD) in 2020 and it is expected to reach over 6 billion (USD) within four years. These products are perceived by the consumer as nutritionally better than meat products, but their nutritional quality has not been explored yet.