Are plant-based meat analogues fulfilling their potentials? An Australian perspective

The plant-based meat analogue (PBMA) market in Australia is growing, as it is globally, based on the potential of the products' healthiness and sustainability. The potential of current commercially available PBMAs in Australia is assessed based on healthiness and sustainability followed by a comparison of the plant proteins which have demonstrated desirable functionality with those used in commercially available PBMAs. Robust evidence supports the sustainability claims of PBMAs over meat products. Regarding healthiness, on a macro scale, there is nutritional equivalence; however, on a micro scale, most commercial PBMAs lack essential minerals and vitamins (such as iron and vitamin B12). There is a low diversity of plant proteins used in commercial PBMAs, which is a poor representation of the numerous plant proteins within the scientific literature. This review highlights the likely reasons limiting the diversity of plant proteins used in commercially available PBMAs in Australia and provides insights into how these products can fulfil their potential regarding their sustainability and healthiness.