Meat eaters try 3D printed plant-based meat

Redefine Meat develops 3D printing technology to produce plant-based meat alternatives (which they call Alt-Meat products). Today, the Israeli-based company revealed the results of the largest-scale public blind-tasting of Alt-Meat products ever made, targeted to meat eaters. Conducted with Best Meister (high-quality Israeli meat distributor), the two companies set up a carnivore-branded food truck in a small suburb of Tel-Aviv, expecting about 200 tastings in 2 days. The food truck concept was named “There’s a new meat in town”. According to the Good Food Institute, sales of plant-based alternatives grew by 11% in the U.S. alone last year. Motivated by various factors, including health benefits, climate change, and animal welfare, naturally product satisfaction plays an important role in the success of meat analogues.

In Tel-Aviv, the truck boasted staple Mediterranean meat foods, cooked to order, provided by Redefine Meat. Putting the meat experience truly to the test, the meat was served with little to no condiments or extras: focusing consumer senses entirely on the Alt-Meat’s appearance, flavor and texture. Over 600 visitors attended the food truck and purchased close to 1,000 servings of meat. Upon revelation that the meat products were plant-based, consumer feedback demonstrated overwhelmingly that the Alt-Meat products were comparable to animal meat on key metrics such as taste, texture, and mouthfeel – with over 90% acceptance rate.

The food truck served 600 visitors | Image via Redefine Meat

Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, CEO and Co-Founder of Redefine Meat recalls the experience: “We believe Alt-Meat should taste as good as animal meat – simple as that. Redefine Meat has achieved that with every product it has put to the test, transitioning the Alt-Meat conversation from health and sustainability and the view that ‘this is really close’ to ‘wow this meat is super delicious’”. The two companies have decided to form a strategic partnership. Best Meister will distribute the company’s Alt-Meat products commercially to Israeli restaurants and high-end butchers in the first half of 2021.