Beyond Meat Inc. delivered a financial windfall to some investors when the share price reached nearly US$240 this summer, up from a 52-week low of US$45.

It's come back down to earth somewhat since then, but the company is still considered a darling on Wall Street.

The market leader in "plant-based meats" was propelled upward by a belief that younger people were more eager than previous generations to avoid consuming animal products.

That's now been reflected in a poll of 1,530 Canadians by the Angus Reid Institute.

It found that 58 percent of those between 18 and 34 have tried new plant-based protein products like Beyond Meat, compared with only 27 percent of those over the age of 55.

Among the younger set, 70 percent think these products are here to stay and only 30 percent think they're a fad that will fade with time.

For those over 55 years of age, 52 percent think that Beyond Meat and other meatless protein products are more of a fad.

This might cause some to wonder whether these vegetarian products pose a long-term threat to the Canadian meat industry.

In the major beef-producing province of Alberta, 35 percent responded that the meatless alternatives are having a negative impact on the domestic economy.

Nationally, only 21 percent felt that way.

"Among Canadians who regularly eat meat, one-in-five (22%) say they would like to reduce the amount they eat, while one-in-ten (10%) say they'd actually like to consume more meat," the pollster stated in its summary. "Most (68%) from this group say they're satisfied with their current meat intake and don't plan to change their eating habits."

However, among those respondents between 18 and 34, nearly four in 10 said that they would like to reduce their meat consumption.

Meanwhile, four in five respondents said they enjoy the taste of these meat substitutes, but 41 percent concluded that they offer poor or terrible value for the money.