Lidl Belgium is nation’s first retailer to offer a plant-based minced beef mix

Lidl Belgium is the first supermarket in the country to introduce a combination of 60% beef and 40% vegetable proteins in a plant-based minced beef mix.

The product looks and tastes like classic minced beef, but has much lower CO₂ emissions, up to 40% less, according to Lidl who says it is introducing meat lovers to a more sustainable and healthier alternative. Water and land consumption are also significantly reduced.

Sam Van Lier, responsible buyer Lidl Belgium & Luxembourg noted how minced beef is a permanent fixture in Belgian cuisine, and when it comes to eating less meat, many people still think too often in terms of all or nothing.

“That is precisely why we are particularly proud of this innovation. We want to inspire people in an accessible way to choose a more sustainable alternative. We see that as our responsibility as a retailer,” Van Lier added. “The development of this product took quite a while, because we absolutely wanted to focus on preserving flavour. The result is impressive: this minced meat mix contains less meat, but still tastes like classic minced beef. I dare say that even the real meat lover will hardly notice the difference.”

The new minced meat mix is ​​in line with the globally recommended ‘Planetary Health Diet’ – a diet that is good for both health and the planet.

Ines Verschaeve, responsible for sustainable purchasing policy Lidl Belgium & Luxembourg said: “Customers are still free to choose, but thanks to an ever-increasing range of vegetable proteins, wholemeal products and fruit and vegetables, they can more easily make more sustainable choices. The new minced meat mix is ​​a concrete example of this. Small changes on the plate can make a big difference for the climate, biodiversity and our health.”

Recent research by Sciensano also shows that the eating habits of Belgians do not correspond sufficiently with the nutritional recommendations of the High Health Council. For example, only 54% adhere to the advice to consume a maximum of 30 grams of red meat per day.