If I’m choosing between the two faux burgers, I’d choose Beyond Meat to avoid the whole soy-glyphosate issue. RELATED: The “Mostly Plants” Burger You’ll Make All Summer Long The Bottom Line Beyond doesn’t use organic ingredients, either, but it is non-GMO.
And “natural flavor” is one of those ingredients that’s a total mystery. It’s still an isolate, so the processing issue applies in the same way. The list looks pretty similar to the Impossible Burger, right? The main difference is the protein source is peas instead of soy. Beyond Burger Nutritionīeyond Burger ingredients : Water, Pea Protein Isolate, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Contains 2% or less of the following: Cellulose from Bamboo, Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Natural Flavor, Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Dried Yeast, Gum Arabic, Citrus Extract (to protect quality), Ascorbic Acid (to maintain color), Beet Juice Extract (for color), Acetic Acid, Succinic Acid, Modified Food Starch, Annatto (for color).
Glyphosate doesn’t only end up in the final food, it also pollutes soil and waterways. (The level detected is considered safe by the EPA, but I still don’t like it.) From an environmental perspective, GMO soybeans are grown in extractive agricultural systems that are heavily dependent on chemical use. The thing is, a non-profit recently tested the burgers and found they contained glyphosate, a known carcinogen associated with increased cancer risk. Impossible also says they screen the soy for pesticide residue and that it doesn’t contain any. RELATED: Are Fortified Foods Actually Healthy? Also, the burger is made from genetically-modified soy, and the ingredient that makes the burger “bleed” (which the FDA has approved as safe) is made using a genetically engineered yeast, which you should know if you prefer to avoid GMOs. For instance, soybeans naturally contain lots of micronutrients, but you’ll notice that Impossible had to fortify the burger with vitamins and minerals as those nutrients were lost in the processing. Soy protein concentrate is heavily processed, which means your body processes it differently, and many of the healthy components of the raw food are lost. I agree with the company that soybeans are inherently healthy, but this is not the same thing as smushing some soybeans into a patty.
Let’s start with the main ingredient: soy protein concentrate. Impossible Burger ingredients: Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, 2% or less of: Potato Protein, Methylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Cultured Dextrose, Food Starch Modified, 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), Vitamin B12.Īs you can see, it’s a long list. So, that all sounds fine, but here’s where things get tricky: the ingredient lists. The one caveat is that each burger contains almost 400 mg of sodium, which could be up to four times what you’ll get in a beef burger (although you may shake salt onto it!). They also both deliver important vitamins and minerals. The patties come in at under 300 calories per serving and contain under 20 grams of protein, which is comparable to a beef burger. Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers: The Nutrition Factsįrom a numbers perspective, both of these burgers look pretty good. These faux burgers also represent a totally different phenomenon compared to companies and chefs that have been trying to make great veggie burgers from whole, fresh vegetables for a long time. Real food will always beat out faux options. Another great option is a veggie burger made from real foods like black beans, brown rice and mushrooms. When you want to enjoy a burger, I’d recommend eating a real burger made from grass-fed, high-quality protein than eating an imitation meat burger. Both faux burgers are processed, packaged foods, and I don’t recommend eating them. Keri Says: The short answer is that eating an Impossible Burger or a Beyond Burger may be a toss up compared to eating a beef burger made from a cow living in a commodity feedlot. Ask Keri: Faux meat burgers are having a major moment, but are Impossible Burgers healthy? Are Beyond Burgers healthy?
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