A Brief History of Plant Based Alternatives

1896

John Harvey Kellogg creates a peanut-based “meatless meat,” Nuttose, which becomes popular at sanitariums.

1933

Seventh-day Adventists found Loma Linda Foods, which produces some of the first commercially available soy- and wheat-based fake meats.

1967

British scientists discover Fusarium venenatum, a high-protein fungus.

1981

Oregon restauranteur Paul Wenner shapes leftover vegetables and rice pilaf into patties and sells them as Gardenburgers.

1994

UK-based Quorn introduces fake meat made of Fusarium venenatum.

1995

Tofurky launches.

2002-2003

Burger King introduces the BK Veggie Burger. McDonald’s launches a US non-meat option the following year.

2003

Gardein launches.

2009

Beyond launches.

2010

Sophie's Kitchen, a seafood alternatives brand, launches.

2011

Impossible launches.

2013

Chipotle introduces tofu “sofritas.”

2013

First plant based egg alternative is launched by JUST egg.

2013

Dutch scientists make the world’s first lab-grown burger from cow muscle cells, fetal calf blood, and antibiotics.

2016

Launch of the Impossible Burger.

2020

Cargill enters the plant based market with plant based beef patties and chicken nuggets.