The plant-based eating trend continues.  On September 13, 2017, the Plant Based Foods Association and the Good Food Institute released new data commissioned from Nielsen reporting that retail sales of plant-based foods intended to replace animal products rose 8.1 percent since last year, topping $3.1 billion in sales.

In particular, Nielsen found that:

• plant-based “meats” grew at 6 percent from a year ago;

• plant-based meat constituted 2.1 percent of sales in refrigerated and frozen meat products sold at retail, as defined by the Nielsen data set; and

• plant-based milk comprised 9.3 percent of milk sales.

Nielsen analyzed data in several categories over a 52-week period ending August 12, 2017. The data represent foods that directly replace animal products, including meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy, as well as meals that contain animal foods replacements. For additional details on this survey click here.