Why plant-based meats are still expensive

In 2019, the plant-based meat industry experienced explosive growth.

Investors poured hundreds of millions of dollars into companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Fast-food giants like McDonald's and Burger King rolled out plant-based burgers nationwide. Even celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry backed the movement.

But then momentum stalled.

Since the early 2020s, plant-based meat sales have cooled. Prices remain high. Critics question how ultra-processed these products are. And some meat industry groups have pushed back with advertising campaigns and lobbying efforts.

So, what caused the decline of plant-based meat? And why is it still so expensive?