Plant-Based Alternatives Have Reportedly Saved Nearly A Million Animals Annually

Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, the two leading players in the meat substitute industry, have collectively saved close to one million animal lives last year. 

Data collated by nonprofit World Animal Protection (WAP) showed that in the US alone, plant-based options spared 630,000 animals from slaughter, with the global figure expected to be significantly higher. 

According to Plant Based News, the charity looked into how many plant-based options restaurant chains, including Burger King and Carl’s Jr, were selling over the course of a year.

It predicted that based on how popular meat substitutes have become, more than 211,000 pigs, 77,000 cows, and 350,000 chickens were saved in the country. 

Considering that the findings only focused on quick service chains, the real figure of animals saved with plant-based offerings in smaller establishments could add up to a million animals in total.

Additionally, WAP noted that its calculations did not take into account options sold in grocery stores, which play a big part in distributing the meat substitutes to households. 

In 2021, Impossible Foods went from offering its products at 150 retail stores to over 20,000 nationwide, displaying the staggering increase in the adoption of meat alternatives nationwide.

While the attitude towards animal slaughter definitely appears to be shifting, there are still 120 million pigs, 30 million cows, nine billion chickens, and 320 laying hens killed for food each year in just the US.

By choosing plant-based alternatives instead of meat at your usual joints, humans are said to save more of these animals’ lives and reduce their suffering. 

The next time you’re craving a burger, would you be tempted to go for McDonald’s meat-free options instead?

[via Plant Based News and World Animal Protection, cover image via Jenifoto406 | Dreamstime.com]