A meal replacement is a drink, bar, soup, or other food that is meant to be used as a substitute for solid food and has controlled amounts of calories and nutrients. Some drinks are available in powdered form or as pre-mixed health shakes, which might be less expensive than solid foods with similar health benefits.

Meat snacks are a type of convenient food product. It is made from different meat products such as beef, turkey, and pork. Meat snacks are made by marinating meat in a curing solution and drying the product to get the required product. Meat processed in this manner gives it a unique flavor, and aroma. The marinating process also improves and increases the shelf life of meat snacks. The unique flavor of meat snacks is attributed to the concentrating effects of the moisture removal process.

The market for meat substitutes has experienced significant growth in the past few years, fueled by various factors other than just the increase in vegan and vegetarian diets. Environmental sustainability, the search for different protein sources, and animal welfare all play important roles in the increase in popularity of plant-based alternatives due to significant innovations. Food companies have introduced plant-based burger patties and breaded nuggets that mimic the flavor, consistency, and feeling of fullness of traditional meat options. Nevertheless, despite the rapid growth, knowledge about food safety risks is still lacking, especially when it comes to microbial growth and inactivation rates. Consumers are also figuring out how to safely handle these new products.