Low-meat diets: flexitarianism is on trend

brands within the FMCG community must take it upon themselves to cater for lower levels and/or less frequent meat consumption. Image: Garry Knight.

Source: GlobalData’s 2017 Q1 global consumer survey

According to GlobalData, nearly one-quarter (23%) of the global population stated they follow a ‘low meat diet’ when asked to describe their daily diet. This suggests that the flexitarian diet is on trend, proving to be the most popular diet among consumers globally.

This is important as these results suggest consumers are reducing the amount of meat in their daily consumption. Instead, consumers explore niche areas of the human diet, including trying a different combination of culinary inputs.

Consumers get flexible with plant-powered diets

Shift noted, brands within the FMCG community must take it upon themselves to cater for lower levels and/or less frequent meat consumption, and promote the direct benefits associated with a flexitarian diet. More importantly, brands should accommodate these changes by re-formulating new product development to include more plant-based inputs, including fruit, vegetables and nuts.

Californian fast food chain Plant Power offers consumers traditional meaty meals, such as burger and fries, albeit made 100% from plants. The company highlights their strong health appeal; entirely cholesterol free, 100% GMO free and nothing artificial. Surely leading chains, such as McDonald’s and Burger King, can mirror similar tactics? Doing so will increase the availability of plant-based consumption, thus aligning to the growing trend.

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