Categories: Health & Nutrition

by Innovarum

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Categories: Health & Nutrition

by Innovarum

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In recent years, plant-based diets have gained traction worldwide, driven by concerns over health, sustainability, and ethical considerations. However, not all plant-based foods are created equal. The rise of ultraprocessed plant-based foods poses challenges to both human health and environmental sustainability, while minimally processed alternatives offer a more nutritious and eco-friendly path. The Sustain-a-bite project, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative, aims to enable the transition towards nutritious, minimally processed plant-based foods that promote both sustainability and health.

Understanding Food Processing

Food processing exists on a spectrum, from whole, unprocessed foods to heavily altered ultraprocessed products.

  • Minimally Processed Foods: These include whole foods that have undergone minimal alterations to enhance shelf life or convenience, such as whole grains, legumes, and upcycled food industry side-streams like apple, carrot, and tomato pomaces. They retain most of their natural nutrients and offer health benefits.
  • Ultraprocessed Foods: These are industrial formulations made primarily from extracted ingredients, additives, and artificial substances. Common examples include plant-based meat substitutes, flavored soy drinks, and packaged snacks. While they may offer convenience, they often contain excessive salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives.

The Health and Environmental Impacts of Ultraprocessed Plant-Based Foods

While plant-based eating is often associated with health benefits, the proliferation of ultraprocessed alternatives can counteract these advantages.

  • Health Concerns: Sustain-a-bite focuses on overcoming the nutritional limitations of current market products by developing foods rich in plant-based proteins, dietary fiber, essential minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins while minimizing antinutritional factors, saturated fats, and added sugars. These formulations promote satiety, digestibility, and nutrient bioavailability, supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
  • Environmental Impact: Sustain-a-bite prioritizes resource efficiency by valorizing underutilized industrial side-streams, using non-thermal technologies, and implementing sustainable food processing methods that reduce water and energy consumption. This ensures a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional ultraprocessed alternatives.

Sustain-a-bite’s Approach

The Sustain-a-bite project acknowledges the importance of plant-based diets in achieving sustainability goals but emphasizes the need for minimally processed alternatives. Through research, innovation, and collaboration with partners across 13 countries, the initiative seeks to:

  • Valorize Whole Grains and Side-Streams: Sustain-a-bite utilizes barley, faba beans, chickpeas, and upcycled food industry by-products to develop sustainable and nutritious food ingredients.

  • Advance Minimal Processing Techniques: The project integrates fermentation, seed activation, and non-thermal technologies to retain natural nutrients while reducing waste and energy use.

  • Develop Versatile Plant-Based Foods: Sustain-a-bite creates diverse options such as smoothies, yogurts, spreads, meat alternatives, and baked snacks, ensuring accessibility and variety.

  • Integrate Scientific Knowledge in Food Processing and Health: Using predictive models, the project enhances food safety, nutrition, and digestibility, ensuring optimal health benefits.

  • Assess Sustainability and Economic Impact: Circularity, environmental footprint, and economic viability are assessed to support the transition towards a more sustainable food industry.

  • Enhance Consumer Acceptance: Sustain-a-bite incorporates cultural and sensory preferences across Europe to develop appealing and affordable plant-based foods.

  • Engage a Multi-Actor Stakeholder Platform: By connecting producers, retailers, researchers, investors, and consumers, the project fosters innovation, market opportunities, and job creation within the biobased industry.

Choosing Wisely: A Balanced Plant-Based Diet

Consumers play a crucial role in shaping the future of food. Opting for minimally processed plant-based foods ensures not only better health but also a more sustainable planet. Some simple steps include:

  • Choosing foods made from whole grains, legumes, and upcycled ingredients.

  • Reading ingredient lists to avoid excessive additives and preservatives.

  • Supporting brands and initiatives like Sustain-a-bite that prioritize sustainability and nutrition.

  • Preparing homemade meals using fresh, minimally processed ingredients.

Conclusion

As plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, distinguishing between ultraprocessed and minimally processed foods is essential for achieving true health and sustainability benefits. The Sustain-a-bite project is committed to guiding this transformation by promoting whole-food-based alternatives, innovative processing techniques, and sustainable food solutions.

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