Nearly 90% of U.S. Adults Believe Inaccurately That It’s Important to Eat Animal Products to Get Adequate Protein

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. adults wrongly believe that it’s important to eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or other animal products to get adequate protein, according to a new Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult survey. Women and Gen Z adults were among those most likely to disagree with the erroneous notion.

The poll included 2,203 U.S. adults surveyed Jan. 22 to Jan. 23, 2025. At the same time, when asked if it’s possible to build muscle on a plant-based diet, over half of respondents accurately said it is with 22% disagreeing and 21% saying they don’t know.

Roxanne Becker, MBChB, DipIBLM, with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a health advocacy group with 17,000 physician members, says the mixed responses shows some consumers still lack clarity on the multitude of benefits of a plant-based diet. “Plant protein has been shown in randomized controlled trials to be as effective as animal protein for building muscle when the amounts of protein are equal,” Dr. Becker said, “And it and it is full of nutrients and fiber unlike animal-based protein sources.”

Research supports this, including:

• A meta-analysis of 13 clinical trials involving older adults that showed plant protein was equally as effective as animal protein for maintaining/building strength and lean muscle mass.
• A study of men who ate either a vegan diet or an omnivorous diet that found no differences in strength or muscle mass gains over 12 weeks when coupled with a strength-training program.
• A new Harvard study that shows women who ate more plant protein in midlife increased their odds of aging healthily.
• A meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association that found replacing animal protein with plant protein improves cholesterol levels.

How much protein do people really need every day? The minimum amount an adult needs to support their body's functioning is 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. For a 155-pound man and a 128-pound woman, that is 56 and 46 grams per day, respectively. However, for people who weigh more or are more active, more protein is needed.

For those who strength train regularly, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American College of Sports Medicine suggests 0.54 to 0.91 grams of protein per pound of body weight to help build muscle. This would be 84 to 141 grams for a 155-pound man, and 69 to 116 grams for a 128-pound woman.

“As we age,” Dr. Becker said, “it’s important to consume enough protein to maintain our muscle mass so we can avoid frailty. Plant protein sources, which contain no artery-clogging cholesterol and are low in saturated fat, should be the go-to.”

Xavier Toledo, a registered dietitian with the Physicians Committee, offered an example of a day of plant-based eating that meets protein requirements.

Breakfast: Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie (~37g)

1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk (12 grams)
2 tablespoons peanut butter (8 grams) or 2 tablespoons peanut butter powder (6 grams)
3 tablespoons hemp seeds (10 grams)
1 medium frozen banana (1 gram)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Lunch: Burrito Bowl (~34g)

1 cup cooked brown rice (5 grams)
1/2 cup black beans black beans (8 grams)
1/4 cup textured vegetable protein (TVP), seasoned with taco spices (13 grams)
1/2 cup corn (2 grams)
1/2 avocado, sliced (1 gram)
1/2 cup diced bell peppers (< 1 gram)
1/4 cup salsa (< 1 gram)
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional, for a cheesy boost) (5 grams)
Cilantro for garnish

Dinner: Tofu and Vegetable Stir-Fry With Noodles (~36g)

1/2 block (4 ounces) extra-firm tofu, cubed (18 grams)
2 ounces soba buckwheat and brown rice noodles (6 grams)
1/2 cup edamame (shelled) (8.5 grams)
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced (1 gram)
1/2 cup bell peppers, sliced (< 1 gram)
1/2 cup bok choy, chopped (< 1 gram)
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional, for umami flavor) (2.5 grams)

Total: ~107 grams of protein

“Unlike animal-based protein, these foods contain zero cholesterol and tend to be low in saturated fat, making them a smart choice for long-term health,” Toledo said. “And the best part? Getting enough protein is as easy as enjoying meals you already know and love.”

Note to reporters: To arrange an interview with Dr. Becker or Mr. Toledo, please contact Kim Kilbride at 202-717-8665 or kkilbride [at] pcrm.org.