NECTAR, India Animal Fund and GFI India ran a blind taste test in which 700 meat eaters in Bengaluru and Mumbai rated 26 plant-based meat and egg products across eight categories against animal-based benchmarks. About 60% of participants liked the products and 85% expressed purchase intent, with overall liking scores of 4.3 to 6.0 on a 7-point scale; a plant-based chicken patty and a chicken tikka showed no meaningful difference from their meat equivalents, while eggs, chicken chunks and mutton keema had the most room for improvement. Conventional meat still scored higher on perceived tastiness and protein, and 53% of participants named total protein content the most important label attribute.
Why it matters: Blind taste test of 26 plant-based products in India shows two chicken items reaching meat parity while most categories lag.
Meatly has relocated to Grapht Works, Imperial College London's pilot and advanced manufacturing site in North Acton.
Why it matters: Meatly's move into Imperial College London's pilot facility comes with a disclosed 2027 production timeline and a London capacity plan.
Beyond Meat launched the Phytosphere portfolio on September 9, 2026, grouping plant protein powders.
Why it matters: Beyond Meat is expanding from a single plant-based meat line to a plant nutrition portfolio spanning protein powders, snacks, beverages and main dishes, reflecting alternative protein companies' attempts to shift toward nutrition platforms.
Solar Foods has joined the EU-funded BalticSeaH2 hydrogen valley project and received €350,000 in funding to expand Solein production capacity at Factory 01 while demonstrating the industrial use of hydrogen in protein production.
Why it matters: Solar Foods receives €350,000 to expand Solein production capacity within the BalticSeaH2 hydrogen valley project and demonstrate hydrogen's industrial use in food production.