Non-GMO and Plant Based Trends in 2022

In 2022, the amount of people who are embracing a vegetarian or vegan diet is increasing as consumers want to limit their impact on the environment. Many plant-based food products are being produced to help these eco-conscious consumers reduce their footprint affected by their diet. According to a study done by Plant Based Foods Association 62% or 79 million US households are now buying plant-based products which span over 30 different categories in grocery stores as the recent rapid growth of the butter, eggs, and cooking sauces categories. Younger generations are causing this growing demand for plant based foods as 30% of millennials are trying to eat more of these foods while 79% of millennials already eat plant-based meats. For Gen-Z, 60% of them want to eat more plant-based foods and 79% already eat vegetarian 1-2 per week.  

Consumers are looking for a way to eat food that tastes great and aligns with their values for their personal health and the health of the planet. Fewer and simpler ingredient lists are alluring to this growing audience as well as overall ingredient transparency. Having buzz words on your menu like “organic”, “natural”, and “simple” are important but terms like “dairy-free”, “vegan”, and “non-GMO” are becoming even more essential classifications for plant-based food products.

Sustainable eating may seem like a trend, but it is definitely here to stay and is a major opportunity to cater to a diverse range of customers. Fast food chains like Burger King pioneered the Impossible Whopper (a Whopper with a plant-based Impossible Burger patty) which is now a staple item on their menu. Starbucks offers a variety of plant-based milks and other non-dairy drinks like Refreshers and lemonades that have become very popular items. Small changes can be made throughout the cooking process to provide a more holistic switch to a vegetarian or vegan kitchen. For food preparation, Vegalene provides a Non-GMO pan release spray to allow all your dishes to be made using a clean label product throughout the entire preparation. Start simple by making slight changes to develop your cooking process to be more plant-based without disrupting your overall system while working to add more new menu items.