Traditional meat products usually have
one ingredient, meat. These new meat free products are more
complicated. They are touted as good for the environment, but
neglect to publish whether they are good for us to eat.
The Impossible Burger
has 21 ingredients, and the Beyond Burger has 22. These burgers
are highly processed foods, which generally get a thumbs-down
from nutritionists and dietitians alike. Just because a product
is plant-based, does not mean it is automatically healthy.
French fries are plant-based. However, like so many other
things, marketing trumps science and good sense.
“My main concern is the
questionably high sodium content of these veggie-based
alternatives, which can rank up to five times the amount of a
regular burger patty. Beyond and Impossible burgers are very
different," said Cynthia Sass, a New York-based performance
nutritionist.
Impossible's main
protein source is soy, one of the big eight most common
allergens. Soy is high in phytic acid, also known as phytates.
These phytates prevent the absorption of minerals like iron and
calcium (among others). This can be particularly harmful,
especially for children. Additionally, soy is high in
phytoestrogen. This can block normal estrogen, which leads not
just to hormonal imbalance, but possibly breast cancer.
Impossible Burgers also include coconut oil, which supplies a
significant amount of saturated fat,” according to another
nutritionist. Because coconut oil contains more saturated fat
than butter or lard, many nutritionists recommend using it
sparingly.
Impossible Burger 2.0
ingredients include: Water, Soy-protein concentrate, Coconut
oil, Sunflower oil, Natural flavors (sic), Potato protein,
Methylcellulose, Yeast extract, Cultured dextrose, Modified Food
Starch, Soy leghemoglobin, Salt, Soy-protein isolate, Mixed
tocopherols (vitamin E), Zinc gluconate, Thiamine hydrochloride
(Vitamin B1), Sodium ascorbate (vitamin C), Niacin, Pyridoxine
hydrochloride (vitamin B6), Riboflavin (vitamin B2), and Vitamin
B12.
The Beyond Burger uses
pea protein isolate, which most people find easily digestible,
but can cause increased gastrointestinal discomfort if people
are not used to it, said Vandana Sheth, a registered dietitian
nutritionist. "This is a source of saturated fat, and you will
see that one burger contains 30% of the recommended daily
value." Beyond Burger is using that ingredient for a marbling
effect. The American Heart Association advises that we be wary
before choosing coconut oil due to its high saturated fat
content.
Beyond Burger
ingredients include: Water, Pea protein isolate, Canola oil,
Refined coconut oil, Cellulose from bamboo, Methylcellulose,
Potato starch, Natural flavor (sic), Maltodextrin, Yeast
extract, Salt, Sunflower oil, Vegetable glycerin, Dried yeast,
Gum arabic, Citrus extract, Ascorbic acid, Beet juice extract,
Acetic acid, Succinic acid, Modified food starch, and Annatto.
Beyond Meat's 4-ounce
patty is listed at 270 calories, while Impossible Foods' is
listed at 240 calories. There are 246 calories in 4 ounces of
Ground Beef (90% Lean / 10% Fat). Four ounces of extra-lean
ground beef (95 percent lean, 5 percent fat) contains 155
calories.
A real burger made
with lean beef has about the same calories, fat, and saturated
fat as a Beyond Burger, but more protein, less sodium, and
less calories. Caveat Emptor!
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