According to Futurism, MarketWatch reports that there were more plant-based meat alternatives at Thanksgiving feasts this year than any other year. MarketWatch suggests this is a trend and cites a 2017 Nielsen report showing that sales of meat alternatives rose 6.1 percent from the previous year, reaching $555 million.
Futurism credits ethical concerns for animals, as well as health and environmental concerns, for the increasing demand for plant-based meat alternatives. Before Thanksgiving, Tofurky shared that it would sell its 5 millionth roast, as sales continued to rise.
Companies like Tofurky, Field Roast, and Gardein make it easy to leave turkeys off the menu for the holidays. Tofurky president and CEO Jaime Athos states that Tofurky sees its product sales increase by 25 percent each year, according to Plant Based News. He even shared that the company was struggling to keep up with the increase. With the steadily growing market for vegan products, companies like Tofurky are working harder to provide consumers with compassionate food options.
Interest in vegan food has grown so much that Kroger, America’s largest grocer, predicts that plant-based food will be one of the top five food trends in 2019. With the global meat substitute market expected to surpass $6.5 billion by 2026, more and more companies are stepping up to meet rising demand.
This is all great news for turkeys and other farmed animals, who suffer from the moment they’re born until they’re violently killed. More than 45 million turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving alone. These animals experience a life filled with unspeakable cruelty: mutilations without painkillers, extreme confinement, neglect, and violent deaths.
With increased awareness of the cruel treatment of animals, it’s no surprise that more consumers are moving toward plant-based eating. You can help protect animals, your health, and the environment by leaving animal products off your plate!
Order your FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide today. And check out our Pinterest page for thousands of plant-based recipes!
