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With a growing number of the population adhering to a plant-based diet - 3.5 million, according to a 2018 survey - vegan options are becoming increasingly necessary.

Today, a ‘first of its kind’ vegan ‘salmon’ sushi has launched at Selfridges which looks – and tastes – almost identical to real salmon.

The new range, which also includes vegan ‘duck’, ‘crab’ and ‘tuna’, is by family run plant-based brand IMA.

Launching at Selfridge’s Foodhall in London today, the realistic vegan salmon was created by liquefying the Asian plant Konjac into a naturally orange-coloured gel which the team at IMA then layered with a coconut get to get the appearance of sliced salmon.

After sampling the vegan salmon sushi, we can safely say that while the taste is different and more muted to that of real salmon, the texture is identical and the overall result is delicious.

IMA’s sushi retails at £6.99 for a pack of eight slices, and other flavours include hoisin ‘duck’, tofu firecracker and black California roll with ‘crab’ as well as a ‘tuna’ sushi burrito.

The brand decided to create vegan alternatives to meat and fish in a bid to tackle over fishing and plastic pollution. Figures show that 640,000 tonnes of ‘ghost gear’ (abandoned fishing equipment) enters the sea each year making up 46 per cent of plastic ocean waste.

Furthering its sustainability efforts IMA vegan sushi products are packed in 100 per cent biodegradable packaging.