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. 2024 Jun 3;13(11):1752.
doi: 10.3390/foods13111752.

Industrially Produced Plant-Based Food Products: Nutritional Value and Degree of Processing

Marta Maganinho  1   2 , Carla Almeida  2   3   4 , Patrícia Padrão  2   3   4
Affiliations

Industrially Produced Plant-Based Food Products: Nutritional Value and Degree of Processing

Marta Maganinho et al. Foods. .

Abstract

The plant-based food market is rapidly growing, offering innovative options to meet consumer expectations. However, a comprehensive analysis of the nutritional quality of these foods is lacking. We aimed to characterize industrial plant-based food products' nutritional value and degree of processing. A cross-sectional study was conducted on two market-leading Portuguese food retail chains by assessing the nutritional composition of all the available pre-packaged plant-based food products (n = 407). These products were categorized into meal alternatives, dairy alternatives, and other products containing dairy/meat alternative ingredients including ready meals and desserts. The products' nutritional quality was assessed according to the cut-offs established by the Portuguese Directorate General of Health [DGS] on total fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt, and considering the degree of processing using NOVA classification. One-tenth of the products were classified as having a high total fat, saturated fat, sugars, or salt content. In some sub-categories, half of foods were classified as high in saturated fat, and over two-thirds were considered high salt products. Less than one-third exhibit a good nutritional profile based on the national cut-offs. A total of 84.3% of plant-based food products were ultra-processed. These findings emphasize the need to improve the nutritional profile of plant-based options.

Keywords: NOVA; nutritional quality; plant-based food products; ultra-processed foods.

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Conflict of interest statement

The data of the present study were provided by two national food retail companies, but the authors report that they have no financial or other conflict interests to declare. The findings and opinions expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not represent the position or views of the aforementioned retail companies. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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