What Is Quorn And Why Is It Controversial?

Quorn is a meat substitute that is formed from material derived from fungus. It contains no animal products at all and is marketed as a healthy option to meat, as it is naturally low in fat and cholesterol but has the look, texture and taste of meat.

It is controversial for two main reasons. First of all, its origins. It is made from the filaments of a fungus that is mass produced by fermenting cultures of the fungus in vats, then processing the mass of protein-rich material produced. To some people, possibly most people, this doesn't exactly appeal, and some are put off even trying the product. The company that makes Quorn has tried to get over this by describing the product as 'mushroom in origin', which is stretching the truth quite a bit and they have been taken to court over it in the USA.

The second area of controversy comes from people who have reported being very ill after eating Quorn – with an allergic type response and upset stomach. It is not clear whether they are reacting to the Quorn or some other ingredient in the product, but some people do seem to react badly.