Is flexitarianism the “perfect” diet? Nestlé Research says it might be

25 Feb 2019 --- The increasingly popular flexitarian diet combines all the benefits of vegan, vegetarian and animal-based diets and may be best for most people, according to studies by Nestlé Research. Carried out in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the studies found that the levels of macro and micronutrients in each meal were more important than the type of diet consumed, suggesting that a flexitarian or semi-vegetarian diet may be most beneficial for overall health.

The researchers observed improvements in metabolic health indicators such as cholesterol, blood lipids and glucose tolerance within 48 hours of consuming a vegan diet. In order to understand how different diets affect metabolic health indicators, Nestlé’s researchers also monitored macro and micronutrients following vegan, vegetarian and meat-eating meals. 

Despite the benefits of vegan diets, certain micronutrients that are beneficial to health are more prevalent in animal-based diets. This suggests that a mainly plant-based diet that includes certain animal-based foods may be the best option. Flexitarian diets may, therefore, be the most beneficial for health, according to Nestlé Research.

However, veganism has also been criticized as lacking in certain micronutrients. NutritionInsight has previously reported on the issue, speaking with dietitians about veganism, key nutrients and how the food and beverage industry can help by spurring on appropriate NPD.

Reduced meat and flexitarian diets are touted as healthier while being more environmentally conscious. With this in mind and taking into account the studies, Nestlé is adding more healthy plant-based products to its portfolio. 

“The demand for plant-based foods and beverages is growing. At Nestlé, we want to make sure that we are meeting the plant-based consumer trend. We have been doing this through updated recipes with our well-known brands, new products and through acquisitions such as that of Sweet Earth and Terrafertil,” Janet Matope, R&D Communications at Nestlé tells NutritionInsight. 

In Europe, the company launched the Garden Gourmet range, which offers consumers seeking a flexitarian, vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, alternatives to meat such as the vegan filet pieces. The company is also accelerating new product launches across its portfolio via brands such as Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss non-dairy creamers and Nesfit plant-based smoothies.

High in the Nestlé’s list of priorities is the plant-based proteins and dairy alternative space. “We are specifically looking at meat and dairy alternatives. To ensure that we are getting these products as quickly as possible to our consumers, we use fast prototyping and leverage our size and scale for quick in-market testing,” Matope says.

A 2018 Innova Market Insights consumer survey found that one in five US consumers “have eaten less meat across the past year.” The broadening interest in plant-based diets has also resulted in meat alternatives moving beyond their original vegetarian and vegan domain. Their positioning encompasses a much broader base of flexitarians, as NPD focuses on improving quality to replicate real meat.

Meat substitutes accounted for 14 percent of global meat launches in the first nine months of 2018, up from six percent in 2013. There has been considerable activity and innovation from new plant-based meat brands targeting opportunities for good-tasting, nutritious and sustainable options among vegetarians, vegans, meat reducers and flexitarians.