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posted by chromas on Wednesday December 04 2019, @03:51PM   Printer-friendly
from the Meatslap! dept.

Plant-based burgers are "ultra-processed" like dog food, meat-backed ads say

A public-relations firm backed by meat producers has unleashed a savage marketing campaign that claims plant-based meat alternatives are unhealthy, "ultra-processed imitations" similar to dog food.

The campaign rolled out in recent weeks from the industry-funded firm Center for Consumer Freedom, according to The New York Times. So far, it has included full-page ads and opinion pieces in mainstream newspapers, including The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. All the marketing material raises health concerns about trendy meat alternatives, such as the Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger.

One ad posed the question "What's hiding in your plant-based meat?" Another directed readers to take the quiz "Veggie Burger or Dog Food?"

In an op-ed, the managing director of the Center for Consumer Freedom, Will Coggin, labeled meat alternatives as "ultra-processed" foods and noted that a recent study led by the researchers at the National Institutes of Health linked ultra-processed foods to weight gain.

The negative marketing campaign comes amid soaring popularity of meat alternatives, which threaten to slice into the meat market's sales and profits. In recent months, big players in the meat industry had tried a different—some might say hypocritical—tactic to compete with the new comers—that is, they released their own lines of meat alternatives. Now, the industry wants consumers to think such alternatives are unhealthy.

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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by Thexalon on Wednesday December 04 2019, @07:02PM (6 children)

    by Thexalon (636) on Wednesday December 04 2019, @07:02PM (#928220)

    I've had meat burgers. I've had burgers made of meat substitutes, including the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger. And I've had burgers that aren't trying to be meat, but are unabashedly something else, e.g. black bean burgers. Of the 3, the meat substitutes are the least appetizing.

    Like all diet trends, this latest push for vegetarianism will create a corporate bonanza trying to sell you stuff. It's the same instinct as advertising lettuce as "gluten-free". But the right way to do it usually involves stuff that was available before it became trendy.

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  • (Score: 2) by Acabatag on Thursday December 05 2019, @02:28AM (3 children)

    by Acabatag (2885) on Thursday December 05 2019, @02:28AM (#928323)

    It's the same instinct as advertising lettuce as "gluten-free".

    I was at Kroger for lunch awhile back and I bought a bottle of water to go with my food. It was store-brand 'Simply natural' water and it was labeled as organic.

    Organic water.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 05 2019, @02:46AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 05 2019, @02:46AM (#928328)

      I think Kroger is getting ready to sell CBD products aimed at dogs.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 14 2019, @04:51PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 14 2019, @04:51PM (#932070)

        It might have been Giant Eagle idk.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 05 2019, @03:49AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 05 2019, @03:49AM (#928340)

      I generally prefer inorganic water, as I find that the organic components often give me the runs.

  • (Score: 2) by deimtee on Thursday December 05 2019, @11:46AM

    by deimtee (3272) on Thursday December 05 2019, @11:46AM (#928424) Journal

    I think there is definitely a market for asbestos-free meat substitutes.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 05 2019, @04:50PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 05 2019, @04:50PM (#928503)

    Your name wouldn't happen to be Mahk [youtube.com], would it? :)