Tofu has been crowned the prince of protein by a scientific scoring system that measured human health, sustainability and affordability.
Dr Chris MacDonald – a behavioural scientist at the University of Cambridge and director of the Better Protein Institute – ranked 20 high-protein products, considering both their impact on the planet and humans.
Overall, plant-based proteins consistently scored higher than animal products, with tofu, chia seeds and beans at the top of the leaderboard. Cheddar cheese ranked lowest, followed by mozzarella and lamb.
Why? MacDonald told BBC Science Focus: “There were many factors, but perhaps the most pronounced was that plant-based sources tend to result in significantly lower emissions.”
To assess the environmental impact of each food, MacDonald compared the greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, land use and water use involved in producing 100g (3.5oz) of protein from each food.
