What are blended proteins? Blended proteins – or ‘balanced proteins’ as NECTAR calls them – are made by combining conventional animal meat with a significant portion of plant-based ingredients. They are a subset of alternative proteins – a broader category that includes plant-based meat, cultivated meat (grown from animal cells), and proteins from fungi (eg mycoprotein), algae, or insects. NECTAR Director Caroline Cotto is hopeful that the Asian results will yield a similar positive outlook for blended proteins. Overall, animal protein ranks top in terms of overall liking, followed by balanced proteins with plant-based alternatives faring the worst – it is therefore unsurprising that balanced proteins offer a good middle ground.