Where’s the beef?

Canadians who’ve tried plant-based burgers like the taste, but a significant proportion question whether they can stomach the cost.

Survey results released this week by the Angus Reid Institute indicate 80% of consumers who’ve tried them enjoyed the taste of plant-based meats. However, 41% say the meat alternatives gave “poor” or “terrible” value for money.

BC residents were among the most enthusiastic consumers, however, with 88% enjoying the taste of meat alternatives and 63% saying they delivered good value.

“Vegetarians, vegans and semi-vegetarians are three times more likely than others to say meat substitutes are ‘absolutely worth the price,’” the institute’s summary of the results said. Non-vegetarians were “somewhat less convinced” of the value of the products, with just 9% saying it was “absolutely worth the price.”

BC respondents were the most likely to tell the survey that meat alternatives are here to stay, with 60% giving this opinion. Quebec was second at 59%, while the national average was 55%.

Alberta and Saskatchewan were the only provinces where a majority of respondents felt plant-based proteins were a fad that would fade with time.

Quebec and Manitoba were the provinces with the biggest proportion of respondents saying the trend towards plant-based proteins would be a net positive for Canada. Atlantic Canada and BC were the regions most unsure of the economic effects of the trend.

 

All content on this website is copyrighted, and cannot be republished or reproduced without permission.