Vegetarians used to be considered a very small percentage of the consumer market, but recent data suggests as much as 26 percent of consumers now fall into the category of “flexitarians”—individuals who prefer a more plant-based diet. Many consumers are making the switch due to health, ethical and environmental concerns; however, the food industry’s technological developments have made an impact by offering a greater variety of prepared vegetarian options in the form of shelf-stable, refrigerated and frozen products.

Data from SPINS puts the total market for plant-based foods, (excluding data from Whole Foods Market) at $3.61 billion in sales. The category includes plant-based versions of meat, tofu, milk, yogurt, cheese and cream, and has grown more than 8.7 percent over the last two years, while general food and beverage sector growth has been just 3.7 percent over the same period.

In this episode, INSIDER Managing Editor Judie Bizzozero and Michele Simon, executive director, Plant Based Foods Association discuss:

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Got feedback? Email Judie Bizzozero at [email protected]  or tweet to @NatProdINSIDER using #InsiderPodcast. For a complete library of podcasts, download the Healthy INSIDER Podcast app on iTunes. Michele Simon can be reached at [email protected] or www.plantbasedfoods.org.