July 23, 2025

Unpacking the truth about ultra-processed plant-based alternatives, food politics, RFK Jr., and more | In Conversation with Marlana Malerich

1 hour 21 minutes

Is the fear around plant-based alternatives really based on science, and what does it teach us about the nature of misinformation? In today's episode, I chat with Marlana Malerich about plant-based alternatives, carnivore diets, seed oils, RFK Jr., meat lobby groups and more.

Marlana Malerich is a PhD candidate at University of Sussex Business School where she is focussed on the plant-based industry in the U.K. and Europe. Prior to the PhD, she has worked over ten years at the intersection of food and sustainability, and has served as an adjunct assistant professor, focusing on animal agriculture and the future of protein.

Marlana co–founded Rooted Research Collective, a group of multidisciplinary academics whose mission is to transform research insights into actionable and data-driven strategies for a sustainable plant-based food system.

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If you’re interested in reading my books, you can find them here:

📚 My latest book How to Argue With a Meat Eater (And Win Every Time) + if you’ve read the book, you can leave a review here!

📚 My first book This is Vegan Propaganda (& Other Lies the Meat Industry Tells You).

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Thank you so much for listening to this episode and for all of your support. I look forward to speaking to you again in the next episode!

Links to Marlana's work:

- https://rootedresearch.co/publications/nutrition-misinformation-digital-age/
- https://rootedresearch.co/insights/upf-pbm-instagram-sentiment-analysis/
- https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/ultra-processed-foods-plant-based-meat-guide-research-faq/

Danish Action Plan for Plant-based Foods - https://en.fvm.dk/Media/638484294982868221/Danish-Action-Plan-for-Plant-based-Foods.pdf

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By Ed Winters

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