Virat Kohli loves mock chicken tikka: What is mock meat and how safe is it for health?

Recently Virat Kohli's Instagram post left his fans confused. The ace cricketer shared a snap of his delicious plate of 'chicken tikka'. Many fans wondered if Virat has started eating non-veg again. However, what the cricketer was having is called 'mock meat'!

Mock meat is plant-based meat and serves a very niche audience - non-vegetarians who do not consume nonveg anymore but would love to have their share of tikkas and biryani. Let us explore what mock meats exactly are and how good are they for your health.

What are mock meats?

India’s meat substitutes market is expected to touch $47.57 million (about Rs 390 crore), according to a report by India Today. Mock meats are plant-based alternatives that include soya, wheat isolate, jackfruit, banana peels, and watermelon. These mock meats can be made through correct processing and techniques to obtain a meat-like structure and consistency.

You can find mock meat in different forms including burger patties, sausages, meatballs, nuggets, kebabs, and tikkas.

How good is mock meat?

Although plant-based, mock meats are made using soya protein, wheat gluten, and meat substitutes like jackfruit. However, the high soya content in some fake meats would mean consuming more phytoestrogen, which affects hormone levels in young adults.

Mock meats are also full of preservatives and therefore high in sodium. Make sure to balance out mock meat with lesser salty food.

Not just Virat Kohli, even Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza have ventured into the plant-based meat space.

Also watch: Artificial meat approved for sale in US; know the difference between plant-based and lab-grown meat