By News Review Media L.W.
As a growing number of Canadians choose to eat plant-based foods, a new industry organization has been created to give voice to the issues shaping the increasingly mainstream sector.
Plant-Based Foods of Canada (PBFC) is comprised of food companies that make and market plant-based products that are part of a combination of or are the main source of proteins by a growing number of Canadians.
PBFC’s goal is to help support the regulatory and market interests of plant food companies in Canada that make and market vegetarian products similar to traditional animal protein products. “Canadians want and deserve plant-based food choices that align with current food trends,” says David Johnston, Vice President and General Manager of Pinnacle Foods Canada.
Together with Daiya Foods, Danone, Earth’s Own Foods, GreenSpace Brands, Hain Celestial, Ripple Foods, Lightlife Foods and The Field Roast Company, it’s among PBFC’s founding members. “Plant-based foods are an important source of protein for many Canadians and it is important to us that they continue to be a nutritious, delicious and exciting option for all,” says Johnston.
Consumer notions of what constitutes a good protein source are expanding to include a wider variety of plant-based protein ingredients, PBFC says in a statement. At the same time, the desire for health benefits – together with variety in the diet, compatibility with vegetarian and vegan lifestyles and concerns about sustainability among the general population – are shining the spotlight on plant proteins, it adds.
Earlier this year, the federal government announced a $150-million investment in the plant protein industry through its $950 million Supercluster Initiative. Recent Nielsen data shows an eight per cent increase in sales of meat and dairy alternatives over the past year, to more than $3 billion.
“The time has come for the plant-based food industry to build upon its collective voice within Canada,” explains Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Hain Celestial Canada. “In the next five to 10 years, we are going to see rapid growth in the interest and consumption of plant-based foods. It’s happening already. As industry continues to move into the mainstream, it’s critical that it has a voice to accurately represent it and help shape the direction it takes for the benefit of all Canadians.”