Many people today are shifting towards a plant-based diet for a variety of reasons. However, they are constantly plagued by doubts regarding the authenticity of their diet.
It is here that certification agencies like Global Plant Based come to the rescue. Such agencies undertake a rigorous examination of the entire food chain to ascertain that it is truly plant-based.
This article takes you through the issues around certification and the benefits of a high-quality plant diet.
Let’s begin!
Why is a plant-based diet popular?
A plant-based diet primarily consists of foods derived from plants. It mainly includes vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fruits, and nuts. It stays largely free from animal products.
The votaries of a plant-based diet are usually driven by the following goals.
- Health reasons – fresh vegetables and fruits on the plate are plain healthy!
- Environment friendly- cut down methane emissions by avoiding food from animal farms
- Animal rights- preference for a vegetarian diet
- Lifestyle choices
Despite the undeniable benefits, people are worried about the authenticity of plant-based diets.
Why is it hard to ascertain the authenticity?
As the demand for plant-based diets increases, companies claiming to deal with them increase too. As an increasing number of products are marked ‘plant-based,’ consumers are worried about their authenticity.
Further, ingredient lists need not include those items which are under a specified quantity. This leads to doubts regarding the inclusion of small quantities of non-plant-based substances in food products.
Then, there are names for animal by-product ingredients that mask their actual origin. It throws consumers in constant worry.
To overcome these issues, certification of plant-based products has gained importance for both producers and consumers.
How does certification work?
Firms specialized in certification undertake a meticulous examination of the products before ascertaining the authenticity of the claims of food companies.
The certification ensures
- A thorough investigation of ingredients to examine the presence of non-plant-based substances.
- Inspection of food product manufacturing units to check for covert usage of animal-products
- Certification with appropriate logo for various standards like Halal, Kosher, and gluten-free.
Hence, certified plant-based diets allow the users to choose an appropriate dietary standard without being worried about the veracity of claims.
Concluding thoughts
The consumers of plant-based diets need the assurance that their food choice is indeed authentic. A trusted certification firm will ensure that the consumers can enjoy their food choices without the constant worry of dietary standard compliances.