Vegetarian alternatives have twice as many additives

Dand according to the study, conducted in the United Kingdom by researchers at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, London institution that provides courses in nutrition with university accreditation, overall plant-based alternatives contained more additives, more ingredients and more numbers. “E” than animal equivalents.

The study examined 71 comparable products and showed that the vegetarian alternatives contained 456 more ingredients than meat congeners.

The investigation was led by a team of the “Institute for Optimum Nutrition”, a London institution that provides courses in nutrition with university accreditation, and published today in the scientific journal “Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A”.

Researchers analyzed the products by combining them based on several factors. Almond milk was combined with normal milk, vegan brownies with dairy-based brownies, and meat with normal meat. Other products also included lasagna, pesto, mayonnaise, yogurt and cakes.

The results of the study, published in the scientific bulletin “Food Additives & Contaminants”, showed that the total number of food additives in plant products was 199, compared to 100 in animal equivalents.

In plant products the total ingredient was 1,566 and in animal-based products 1.110. In vegetarian products 39 numbers were counted “E” (food additives) and 31 in products of animal origin.

Differences in ingredients and additives were greater in dairy, meat and fish products.

Joseph Whittaker, one of the authors of the investigation, said that there are but additives in plant products does not necessarily mean an increase in health risk.

“ Firstly, we have analysed only one range of products, so we cannot generalise for all herbal products,” he said, considering that there is no information on the impact of exposure to food additives, and all these additives pass through food safety regulations in the United Kingdom.

The authors note that the consumption of plant-based foods is on the rise and say that in the UK the data indicate a decreasing trend in meat consumption.

Researchers report that people are also concerned about the quantity of additives in food and the possible health effects of ultra-processed foods, and suggest that future investigations seek to verify whether the results replicate in other product lines, including different brands and products available in other countries.