These products offer entree alternatives for consumers reducing meat in their diets for health reasons, such as concern about developing heart disease, cancer or high blood pressure. From a health perspective, most meat alternatives are cholesterol-free, contain higher amounts of fiber and usually contain less fat than their animal product counterparts.
From a global perspective, many people do not have access to meat for economic reasons, lack of safe distribution, or limited supply due to cultural or agricultural limitations. Headlines about food safety concerns--E.Coli and listeria, BSE and other food safety issues--have changed meat-eating habits and sent people to look for alternatives.