Micronutrients & recovery
Most plant-based meat analogues on the market have insufficient protein quality or quantity compared to animal meat, and very few are fortified with essential micronutrients like Vitamin B12 or Iron.
Do not assume plant-based meats are nutritionally complete. Check labels for Vitamin B12 and Iron fortification, as only 12% of products include them. Also, verify protein quality; many analogues have lower digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS) than meat. If you eat these frequently, consider a B12 supplement and ensure you are getting enough total protein.
Among PBMAs, approximately 60% demonstrated good protein quality, while only 12% were fortified with key micronutrients, including vitamin B12 or iron.
Why this rating
Systematic analysis of protein sources and fortification status across 298 products.
Source
A Nutritional Evaluation of Plant-Based Meat and Sausage Analogues
Leah Brodersen et al. · Foods · 2025
DOI 10.3390/foods14213674
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