Great News!

Leading Plant-Based Food Companies Form First-Ever Trade Association!

With increasing concerns about the environment, personal health, and animal abuse, savvy consumers are turning more and more to plant based diets. Prominent health institutions, including the World Health Organization, the American Heart Association, and the American Institute for Cancer Research all advocate eating more plant based foods. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health lists a range of health problems associated with meat consumption, including greater risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and certain cancers.

Meat based diets affect global food security by contributing to climate change, diminishing water resources, and tying up disproportionate amounts of land. Workers face human rights violations and exploitation in the flesh production industries.

The good news is that consumers are heeding these warnings. According to a report in Nutrition Business Journal, 26% of Americans surveyed stated that they were eating less animals over a twelve month period, and 36% of Americans preferred milk alternatives.

The plant based food industry is booming, reaching $3.5 billion as more Americans forego dairy milk and meat. Over the past two years, plant based milks like soy and almond have increased in total sales volume by 14.4%, and sales of plant based yoghurts have increased by 12.7%. Overall, the plant based food market has expanded by 8.7% in the past two years (PRWeb, 2016). Continued growth is expected, with the global plant based meat market predicted to reach $5 billion by 2020.

This trend prompted leading companies such as Daiya Foods, Follow Your Heart, Miyoko’s Kitchen, The Tofurky Company, and Upton’s Natural to found The Plant Based Foods Association. The association plans to promote policies encouraging plant based diets and provide education and resources for dietary change. Eighteen companies have already joined the founding members. The Plant Based Foods Association intends to take on food policy and regulatory issues and ensure that they have an equal voice in national discourse.

Read more about the Plant Based Foods Association here

Learn how you can transition to a plant based diet here