- A new study suggests that many plant-based meat and dairy alternatives contain significantly more food additives than the animal-based products they’re designed to replace.
- On average, plant-based products contained about twice as many food additives, longer ingredient lists, and more E-numbers compared to their animal-based counterparts.
- Plant-based meat alternatives are designed to recreate familiar flavors and textures, often requiring protein isolates, oils, stabilizers, emulsifiers, flavorings, and other additives, making them more processed than whole plant foods.
Plant-based eating has earned a healthy reputation, and for good reason. Diets rich in beans, lentils, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds have consistently been linked to better heart health, lower rates of chronic disease, and a longer life
But not every food made from plants deserves the same health halo
A new study suggests that many plant-based meat and dairy alternatives contain significantly more food additives than the animal-based products they’re designed to replace. That doesn’t necessarily make them unhealthy, but it does challenge the idea that “plant-based” automatically means minimally processed
What the Research Found
Researchers from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London compared 71 pairs of similar supermarket products, matching plant-based alternatives with their animal-based counterparts
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On average, the plant-based products contained about twice as many food additives, along with longer ingredient lists and more E-numbers, the European Union’s labeling system for approved food additives
That doesn’t mean these products are unsafe. Every additive identified in the study was approved for use, and the researchers didn’t examine whether the additives affected people’s health. Instead, the study highlights just how processed many of these products have become as manufacturers work to recreate the taste, texture, and appearance of meat and dairy
Whole Plant Foods Are a Different Story
It’s important not to confuse plant-based meat alternatives with plant-based eating overall
Foods like beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, edamame, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains are naturally rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Most also have relatively short ingredient lists because they don’t need to mimic another food
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Plant-based burgers, sausages, nuggets, and cheeses serve a different purpose. They’re designed to recreate familiar flavors and textures, which often requires protein isolates, oils, stabilizers, emulsifiers, flavorings, and other additives
That doesn’t mean they can’t fit into a healthy diet. It simply means they’re best viewed as convenient alternatives rather than nutritional equivalents to whole plant foods
What to Look for at the Grocery Store
If you enjoy plant-based alternatives, there’s no reason to swear them off. Instead, think of them the same way you would any packaged convenience food
Compare ingredient lists, look for products with recognizable ingredients, and pay attention to protein, fiber, sodium, and saturated fat rather than relying on the front of the package. Some brands are made with relatively simple ingredients, while others are far more heavily processed
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Whenever possible, build most of your meals around whole or minimally processed plant foods and use meat alternatives when they fit your lifestyle, preferences, or schedule
The Bottom Line
Plant-based doesn’t automatically mean healthier, just as animal-based doesn’t automatically mean unhealthy
The biggest takeaway from this research isn’t to avoid plant-based meat alternatives. It’s to remember that processing matters. A veggie burger made with a long list of additives isn’t nutritionally the same as a bowl of lentils, even though both come from plants
Choosing more whole foods—whether they’re plant- or animal-based—is still one of the simplest ways to build a healthier diet
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