Researchers said changing packaging on meat and dairy-free products, which often proudly tout their vegan status, could result in more people selecting them.

People are more likely to pick a meat-free option if it’s not labelled vegan, a study suggests.

Foods described as “healthy”, “sustainable” or “plant-based” are all more appealing, according to the University of Southern California.

Its research saw more than 7,000 people asked to choose between a vegan food basket and one with meat and dairy.

The former was randomly labelled “vegan”, “plant-based”, “healthy”, “sustainable” or “healthy and sustainable”.

The experiment found people were more likely to select it when the focus was on its benefits (such as “sustainable”) rather than its content, though “plant-based” was still more popular than “vegan”.

  • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    Exactly. How can people who don’t eat hamburgers know what a good hamburger tastes like? How can they think a tofurkey is anywhere close to a real one?

    Thankfully, like gluten free foods, vegan ones are getting better. Though I still don’t trust vegan cheese.

    • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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      11 months ago

      My wife recently developed an allergy to dairy. There are some decent pizza blends and cheddar jack, but there are also a few that look and taste like melted plastic.

      I end up making 2 pizzas (since the other 3 people in the house still eat dairy) and her pizza is more gooey than stringy, but I’ll eat the leftovers of either no problem.

      • Fleur__@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        One thing that made me enjoy pizzas alot more after having stopped eating cheese is to just have it without the cheese (or substitutes). Honestly sometimes I think I prefer it that way as I feel cheese can sometimes smother some of the more vibrant flavors. Highly recommend giving it a go!

        • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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          11 months ago

          Yeah my crust game has improved and I copied/improved a crust seasoning based on one from King Arthur’s Flour.

          Brushed olive oil, seasoning and some brewers/nutritional yeast make really great breadsticks. And I can do it in about 30 minutes start to finish (plus a little more oven preheat time).

        • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Yeah, before the current trend of sustainable / halthy / eco friendly foods (yay) there was absolutely zero broad market demand for vegan foods - so you only got vegan food from small vegan-run companies, who while very well meaning lacked the resources to make food that wasn’t an abomination like the disgusting slimy mess that is tofurkey.

          With the rise of the internet and global cultural exchange and etc, there’s widespread ability for vegans to work collaboratively on improving the quality of the food / find dishes that are both delecious and incidentally also vegan (ex: chana masala). I’ve even had some gluten free baked goods that dont take like chickpeas and sand!

          (Rant:) Not that gluten intolerances are real outside of coeliacs, but its a big step forward in niche cookery. Stop claiming to be gluten intolerant, you’re not, and by diluting the severity of gluten intolerance you’ve made it impossible for coeliacs to safely eat at restaurants or trust ‘gluten free’ processed foods / ingredients.

          • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
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            11 months ago

            My mom’s coeliac and has been since the 80s. It’s gone from “salad no croutons” with extra croutons to “gluten free salad served in a bread bowl.” It’s really frustrating.

    • Fleur__@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Basically all vegans in the English speaking parts of the world have eaten meat before.

    • hightrix@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      As Stephen Lynch would say, “Tofurkey? Toe fuck yourself”.

      That stuff is not delicious. It is barely edible.