Part 4/12:
Critics of the current vegan startup landscape argue that the game is rigged against plant-based companies. They contend that meat and dairy products receive substantial subsidies, enabling them to be sold at artificially low prices, while their vegan counterparts bear the burden of relying on consumer demand alone. As a result, customers often find themselves paying more for plant-based options—a phenomenon referred to as the "vegan tax." Until government support mirrors that of meat and dairy, the argument posits that plant-based products will remain too costly for everyday consumers, rendering companies like Oatly and Beyond Meat vulnerable to failure.