What are plant-based foods?

PBFC defines them as alternatives to animal products – meat and seafood alternatives, ingredient alternatives, egg substitutes and dairy alternatives. Single ingredient plant foods like vegetables, nuts etc. are excluded

Many plant-based foods are already common in Canadian diets, such as beans, grains, fruits and vegetables. But the number of exciting, new plant-based protein products are rising. Members of Plant-Based Foods of Canada (PBFC) produce a wide variety of vegetarian burgers, sausages, chicken, and seafood options. As well as dairy-free beverages, spreads, cheeses and desserts from soy, almonds, peas, oats, coconut and much more.

What is a plant-based diet?

A plant-based diet is made up primarily of foods derived from plants. This type of diet includes vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fruits. Those who follow a plant-based diet may consume for example: eggs, dairy, honey and animal products, they just proportionately choose more foods from plant sources.

Plant-based diets are rising in popularity. A 2018 survey, conducted by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois at Dalhousie University, found that 7.1 per cent of Canadians are vegetarian, while 2.3 per cent are vegan. The study authors said these numbers are higher than ever—and they do not reflect the number of Canadians who identify as flexitarians, or who are simply interested in incorporating more plant-based food into their diet.

Variations of a plant-based diet

Vegetarian - The term "vegetarianism" generally refers to the practice or theory of living on a diet made up of plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts, and may sometimes include animal products such as eggs, milk and cheese.

Flexitarian - Those that are interested in expanding their diet to include a higher proportion of plant-based foods, but they still consume animal-based products, whether regularly or occasionally. 

While strictly speaking, vegetarian food is one made from only plant-based ingredients, it is recognized that several types of vegetarian diets exist:

  • Lacto-ovo (or ovo-lacto)-vegetarian – Permits plant foods plus dairy and egg

  • Lacto-vegetarian - Permits plant foods plus dairy but no eggs

  • Ovo-vegetarian - Permits plant foods plus eggs but no dairy

  • Pescatarian – Permits fish but no other meat

  • Vegan - Permits plant foods only

 

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)