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Meat substitute

A meat substitute is a food used in place of meat, potentially based on plant, fungal, or other materials and shaped for comparable meal uses.

Meat substitute — illustrative ingredient image

About Meat substitute

A meat substitute is a food used in place of meat, without a specified base ingredient or formulation. Products in this broad category may be made from different plant, fungal, or other food materials, and may be shaped or seasoned to resemble particular meats.

It is used in meals as an alternative to meat, often in forms suited to cooking or serving in its place. Taste, texture, colour, and cooking behaviour vary by product; this label does not identify a particular recipe.

Ingredient type
other

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Where will you meet it?

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ON A MENU OR LABEL

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Where meat substitute appears

0 linked foods

Find foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.

Food connections are still being added.

No linked foods are available for this ingredient yet.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for meat substitute

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

meat substitute

English

meat alternative

English

Meat substitute, cereal- and vegetable protein-based, fried

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Meat substitute nutrition & diet

Meat substitute nutritional value

Product example: VEGETARIAN MEAT SUBSTITUTE (Blue Chip Group Inc.)

Per 100 g of this specific product as recorded by USDA, per 100 g.

Calories
346kcal
Protein
42.3g
Carbs
26.9g
Fat
15.4g

A product-specific label example, not a generic average. Formulations can change; use the nutrition label on the product being eaten.

The base ingredients, formulation, processing, and preparation vary; compare only a specifically matched product and form.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central branded product — VEGETARIAN MEAT SUBSTITUTE ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .