國際時事跟讀 Ep.K650: Rethinking Fake Meat: Examining Changing Tastes and Trends
As the popularity of fake meat takes a dip, one must question if our appetite for these plant-based protein alternatives has waned. Tom Crawford-Clarke, a London-based dentist, reflects on his journey with fake meat products, expressing his evolving relationship with them. In the past, he savored various options like Quorn, Linda McCartney, Beyond Burgers, and Moving Mountains, praising their relative tastiness. Yet, he's grown skeptical due to uncertainties about their composition. While these meat substitutes aim to emulate the texture and flavor of traditional meat, doubts about their ingredients linger.
隨著人造肉受歡迎的程度下降，不得不質疑我們對這些以植物為基底的蛋白替代品胃口是否已經減弱。倫敦牙科醫生湯姆·克勞福德-克拉克（Tom Crawford-Clarke）回顧了他與人造肉產品的旅程，表達了他們之間關係的演變。過去，他品嚐了類似Quorn、Linda McCartney、Beyond Burgers和Moving Mountains等各種選擇，稱讚它們相對來說的美味。然而，由於對它們成分的不確定性，他開始產生懷疑。雖然這些肉替代品目標是模仿傳統肉類的質地和風味，但對其成分的疑慮仍然存在。
Fake meat has long been presented as a healthier choice, with offerings like plant-based burgers and sausages promising to satisfy both our taste buds and our desire for more ethical eating. Tom's concerns about the authenticity of these products are shared by others. The red liquid that oozes from Beyond Burgers, meant to mimic blood, is in fact beetroot juice. However, despite endorsements from figures like Leonardo DiCaprio and partnerships with fast-food giants like McDonald's and KFC, Beyond Meat has faced a 30% decline in sales.
人造肉長期以來被視為更健康的選擇，像以植物為基底的漢堡和香腸這樣的產品既能滿足我們的味蕾，又能滿足我們對更加道德飲食的渴望。湯姆對這些產品明確性標註的擔憂被其他人所分享。舉例來說Beyond Burgers滲出的紅色液體，原意是模仿血液，實際上是甜菜汁。然而，儘管得到了李奧納多·狄卡皮歐等人的支持，並與麥當勞和肯德基等快餐巨頭建立了合作關係，Beyond Meat的銷售額仍下降了30％。
Recent survey results from Strong Roots, a vegan company, reveal an intriguing shift in consumer behavior. While 61% of participants reported increasing their plant-based consumption, 40% have started to cut down on fake meat. Taste emerged as the primary factor driving this shift, followed closely by concerns about artificial additives and the highly processed nature of these products. Economic pressures on households have also contributed to the decreased demand for meat alternatives. This decline arrives at a challenging juncture for the meat substitute industry, following the closure of companies like Meatless Farm and the shelving of vegan ranges by Heck.
來自素食公司Strong Roots的最新調查結果揭露了消費者行為的有趣轉變。雖然有61％的參與者表示增加了他們的植物肉替代品消費，但有40％的人已經開始減少人造肉的攝入量。口味成為推動這種變化的主要因素，其次是對人工添加劑的擔憂以及這些產品的高度加工性質。家庭經濟壓力也導致對肉類替代品的需求下降。這種下降正值肉類替代品行業面臨困境之際，肉類替代品公司Meatless Farm關閉，而Heck擱置了其大部分素食系列。
The trajectory of the fake meat market showcases both its rise and some growing pains. With the term "plant-based" gaining prominence in the 2010s, supermarket shelves began featuring an array of meat substitutes alongside established brands like Linda McCartney. The market boomed, and in 2019, a significant portion of new UK food products were labeled vegan. However, setbacks like Beyond Meat's sales slump have exposed challenges around taste, health perceptions, and pricing. This cooling trend is apparent in supermarket adjustments to meat-free selections and a 7% volume sales decrease over a year, as reported by research company Kantar.
人造肉市場的發展軌跡展示了其崛起和一些漸長的痛苦。隨著“植物基底”這個術語在2010年代嶄露頭角，超市貨架上開始出現一系列肉類替代品，與Linda McCartney等知名品牌並存。市場蓬勃發展，2019年，新的英國食品產品中近四分之一被標記為素食，但像Beyond Meat的銷售下滑等挫折暴露了在口味、健康觀念和定價方面所面臨的挑戰。這種退燒趨勢在超市對無肉選擇進行調整以及根據市場研究公司Kantar的報告，一年內銷售量降了7％，都有所體現。
In conclusion, the journey of fake meat in the market exemplifies its evolution from hype to a more nuanced reality. While Beyond Meat and similar brands face sales declines, others like THIS continue to flourish due to affordability and the prevailing concern for environmental and ethical impacts. Consumers are reevaluating their preferences, seeking healthier and cleaner options while considering nutritional content. The shift represents a kink in the graph rather than a market failure, paralleling the evolution seen in other industries. As individuals like Tom Crawford-Clarke emphasize, the motivation for adopting plant-based diets extends beyond mere imitation, reflecting a broader lifestyle shift toward sustainability and ethical considerations.
總之，市場上的人造肉之旅展示了從炒作到更加細緻的現實的演變。儘管Beyond Meat等品牌的銷售額下降，像THIS等其他品牌仍然因其價格親民和對環境和道德影響的關注而蓬勃發展。消費者正在重新評估他們的偏好，尋求更健康、更清潔的選擇，同時考慮營養含量。這種轉變與其他行業的演變相呼應，只代表了圖表中的一個轉變，而不是市場策略失敗。正如牙醫湯姆等人強調的，採用植物基底飲食的動機不該僅是模仿，而是表現了更廣泛的以永續性和道德考量生活方式的轉變。
Reference article: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66438807