The cost of meat in British supermarkets has risen sharply compared with plant-based alternatives, with a widening “meat-to-beans gap” shaping household food choices. Euromonitor data shows meat prices have surged since 2020, while plant proteins such as beans, lentils and tofu have remained relatively stable.
Between 2020 and 2025, average meat prices rose by £3.31 per kg to £11.38, with beef prices nearly doubling and lamb up £5.77 per kg. In contrast, fresh pulses increased by just 45p per kg. Analysis by Madre Brava shows the price gap between beef and pulses widening from £6.58 to £10.54 per kg, driven by climate pressures, global conflict, the pandemic and Brexit.
With Christmas approaching, rising food costs are putting additional pressure on households, prompting many to consider alternatives. Nitin Mehta MBE, founder of Indian Vegetarians and Vegans, has launched a festive pledge encouraging people to avoid meat and dairy this Christmas, highlighting plant-based options as affordable and accessible.
Asian Voice spoke to experts on how rising meat prices are pushing households towards affordable plant-based foods, with beans, lentils and pulses emerging as cost-effective festive alternatives.
“Beans and lentils offer real savings for families”
Deirdra Barr, Director of the Vegetarian Society, said rising meat prices are accelerating a shift towards plant-based eating in UK households. “Affordable plant-based foods are now doing the heavy lifting in weekly shops,” she said, pointing to the widening ‘meat-to-beans gap’. According to Madre Brava (2025), the price difference between shelf-stable beans and beef has increased from £6.78 per kg in 2020 to £10.54 per kg in 2025. “Dried beans and lentils bought in bulk can provide 20-30g of protein for as little as 15-25p, compared with 60–90p from meat. For families under cost-of-living pressure, pulses, grains and vegetables offer real savings while improving health.”
Food writer and adviser Mallika Basu said plant-based staples have been side-lined by the dominance of cheap meat, despite their nutritional and environmental value. “Beans, lentils and pulses are affordable, nourishing foods that have been pushed off our plates,” she said, warning that low-cost meat often compromises animal welfare, the environment and diet quality. Citing the Eat-Lancet Planetary Health Diet, Basu called for meals built around whole grains and plant proteins, with smaller amounts of responsibly produced meat. “Plant-based foods should form the foundation of everyday eating, with meat treated as an occasional luxury rather than the default.”
Food activist and former UK Youth Parliament member Dev Sharma said the renewed focus on plant-based foods highlights deep inequalities in access to good nutrition. “Families are being priced out of basic nutrition, not making lifestyle choices,” he said. Sharma pointed to beans and lentils, long-standing staples in many communities, as low-cost, protein-rich foods that also benefit the climate. However, he cautioned against celebrating forced dietary change. “When ultra-processed food stays cheap but real, nourishing food doesn’t, the system is broken. We need government action so healthy, plant-based eating is accessible to everyone.”
Haematologist and lifestyle medicine physician Dr Shireen Kassam said rising meat prices are revealing the true value of plant-based diets. “Beans, lentils and other plant proteins are among the most affordable, nutrient-dense foods available and have a far lower environmental footprint,” she said. Kassam added that meals centred on plant foods can be both comforting and festive. “As people rediscover plant-based cooking, we have a real opportunity to improve public health and make sustainable eating the norm rather than the exception.”
