In First Coast Packing/Healthy Fats Coalition Ipsos Survey, Big Majority Say Natural Fats Healthier than Processed Foods, Agree Plant-Based Meat is ‘Highly Processed’

In an era where faux hamburgers “bleed” and meat substitutes are among the hottest “commodities” in the food business, nearly two-thirds of Americans believe “natural” is healthier than “processed” and that plant-based diets clearly belong within the “highly processed” camp.

So say respondents in the first-ever Coast Packing Company/Healthy Fats Coalition (HFC) Animal Fats Study, conducted this spring by Ipsos Research among 1,004 consumers nationwide.  On the table were the relative merits of processed foods, including artificial meat substitutes, and natural animal fats.

The survey marks the first joint project by Coast Packing, the number one supplier of animal fat shortenings in the Western United States, and the HFC, an educational initiative comprised of organizations, companies and individuals committed to clarifying the role of animal fats in the American diet.  Coast is a founding member of the HFC.

Among the survey’s key findings:

• Overall, almost 2/3 (62 percent) of Americans believe that natural fats — lard, beef tallow, butter, chicken fat, duck fat, etc. — are healthier than processed foods (vegetable oil-based food items like hydrogenated oils, palm oil, margarine and spreads, etc.).  Only 15 percent believe that processed foods are healthier than natural fats, and 22 percent don’t know.

• Women are more convinced that natural fats are healthier than processed foods (70 percent) compared to 54 percent for men, with only 10 percent of women (compared to 21 percent of men) believing that processed foods are healthier than natural fats, and 21 percent of women (versus 24 percent of men) indicating that they don’t know.

• Older respondents (age 55+) are relatively less likely to believe that natural fats are healthier than processed foods (58 percent), compared to 61 percent for ages 18-34 and 68 percent for ages 35-54.
• Overall, almost 2/3 (61 percent) of Americans indicated that they know that plant-based meat is a highly processed food, with a very similar gender distribution of 62 percent of men and 59 percent of women.

“As our first Coast/HFC survey shows, consumers increasingly get it -– they understand that highly processed foods aren’t typically conducive to promoting health,” said Eric R. Gustafson, CEO, Coast Packing. “They also recognize that the trend toward plant-based meat substitutes comes at a cost – not just at the check-out counter, but in terms of how these highly processed additions to our diet are manufactured.

“By contrast, animal fats are a net positive for health and well being,” Gustafson said.   “That’s why the natural makeup of both lard and tallow matter so much.  Neither is highly processed or contains the artificial trans fats found in hydrogenated shortenings. Today’s consumers clearly value authenticity and want food that is made with integrity and respect for culinary traditions, as our survey demonstrates.”

While plant-based “meat” providers often tout the smaller carbon footprint associated with the process, one major player was taken to task this month for a lack of transparency in its reporting of greenhouse gas emissions (see the analysis by Trucost).

The Coast/HFC survey coincides with release of The Power of Meat 2020 from The Food Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), an in-depth study of meat and poultry through shoppers’ eyes (https://www.perishablenews.com/meatpoultry/meat-institute-and-fmi-release-2020-power-of-meat-analysis/).  This year’s survey, the 15th annual, explores consumption trends, sales growth and consumer preferences, finding that demand for meat is accelerating, with $50.5 billion in sales for 2019.

Meanwhile, according to leading British cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra in The Sun (https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/11067486/vegan-veggie-meals-heart-attack-risk/), vegan and veggie meals at fast food chains are “more likely to give you a heart attack than meat burgers.”  In the article, Dr. Malhotra advised consumers “not to be fooled into believ­ing vegan or veggie is always healthy as the meals are still ‘ultra processed.’ Many contained high levels of refined carbohydrates and lower levels of protein.  Protein protects from high levels of insulin, the major trigger in heart attacks. High levels of sugar and salt were also found in many of the meals, plus ‘toxic oils.’”

About the Ipsos Survey

The Coast Packing/Ipsos study was fielded from February 28-March 2, 2020, just prior to the pandemic.  Ipsos eNation surveys consist of a minimum of 1,000 completes with adults 18 years of age or older in the contiguous United States.  The sample includes individuals selected from the online segment of Ipsos’ iSay/Ampario Panel, and is balanced to be representative of the general population based upon region, gender, age, race, and household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Results have a credibility interval of +/- 3.5 percentage points.  For a copy of the survey results, please email admin@edgecommunicationsinc.com.

About the Healthy Fats Coalition

The Healthy Fats Coalition (www.healthyfatscoalition.org) is an educational initiative comprised of those who understand that healthy fats are an essential part of the American diet.  The HFC’s mission to create an enlightened conversation about the food we eat, though news and editorial commentary, social media conversations, opinion surveys and more.  Who supports the Healthy Fats Coalition?  Visit https://www.healthyfatscoalition.org/supporters/.  For more information, please email info@healthyfatscoalition.org.

About Coast Packing Company

Now marking its 100th year in business, Coast Packing Company (www.coastpacking.com), a closely held corporation, is the number one supplier of animal fat shortenings – particularly lard and beef tallow — in the Western United States. The company sells to major manufacturers, distributors, retailers, smaller food service operations and leading bakeries. The company participates actively in diverse ethnic markets – from Hispanic retail chains, with its VIVA brand, to various Asian specialty markets. Based in Vernon, Calif., Coast Packing Company is regional, national and, increasingly, global. In some cases, supplier relationships are multigenerational, extending back 50 years and more. Coast is a founding member of the Healthy Fats Coalition (https://www.healthyfatscoalition.org/).

For more information about Coast Packing Company, visit: www.coastpacking.com. Follow us via social media on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coastpackingco, Twitter @coastpackingco and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/coastpackingco.