Impossible Beef has taken the world by storm as a plant-based alternative to ground beef. With its meaty texture and savory flavor, it aims to perfectly mimic the taste and cooking experience of real beef. But how does it stack up nutritionally and what exactly is in it? This in-depth guide will uncover everything you need to know about the key ingredients nutrition facts, and health effects of Impossible Beef.
An Overview of Impossible Beef
Impossible Beef is a product by Impossible Foods, a company founded in 2011 by Patrick O. Brown. Their mission is to create plant-based replacements for popular animal foods like beef pork and chicken to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture.
Impossible Beef made its debut in 2016 as the plant-based version of ground beef. It’s available in pre-formed burger patties and bulk “meat” that can be shaped into anything ground beef is typically used for, like tacos, chili, meatballs, etc.
The key ingredient that sets Impossible Beef apart is heme, an iron-containing molecule that makes it taste remarkably similar to real beef with a rich, meaty flavor. But how does a plant-based product end up with heme? Keep reading to understand the science behind this meat mimicry.
The Main Ingredients in Impossible Beef
Here are the main ingredients that give Impossible Beef its uniquely meaty qualities:
Soy Protein Concentrate
This concentrated soy protein provides the bulk of the protein content in Impossible Beef. Soy is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids.
Coconut Oil
The coconut oil in Impossible Beef contributes to its fatty mouthfeel and juicy texture. Though high in saturated fat, it gives the beefy fat content.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil adds unsaturated fat to balance out the coconut oil. It helps make the finished product lower in saturated fat than real beef.
Heme
Heme is the magical ingredient that makes Impossible Beef seem just like ground beef. It’s what gives it the subtly bloody, meaty flavor and aroma.
In nature, heme is found abundantly in animal muscle, especially beef. But since Impossible Beef contains no animal ingredients, how do they obtain heme?
Impossible Foods manufactures heme through a fermentation process. They insert the soy gene responsible for heme into yeast and grow it. This heme protein from soy plants is then extracted.
Though it’s new in food, heme from soy plants has been deemed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the FDA based on current research. More long-term studies are still needed, however.
Impossible Beef Nutrition Facts
A 4-ounce serving of Impossible Beef (113g) contains:
- Calories: 250
- Total Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbs: 3g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 19g
- Calcium: 6% DV
- Iron: 15% DV
- Potassium: 10% DV
- Vitamin B12: 50% DV
Compared to 80% lean ground beef, Impossible Beef is lower in calories, fat, saturated fat and sodium. It’s also higher in fiber and certain vitamins and minerals.
However, it’s more processed and contains less protein than beef. Certain nutrients like zinc are lower as well since they are naturally abundant in beef rather than added.
The Potential Benefits of Impossible Beef
Here are some of the touted advantages of swapping regular ground beef for Impossible Beef:
More Sustainable
Compared to cattle farming, Impossible Beef production uses 96% less land, 87% less water and emits 89% fewer greenhouse gases. Its impact is a fraction of conventional beef’s.
Nutritionally Comparable to Beef
Ounce for ounce, the protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in Impossible Beef stack up closely to beef. It provides complete, high-quality protein.
Vegan and Allergen-Friendly
Impossible Beef contains no animal products or byproducts, making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians. It’s also soy-free and gluten-free.
Mimics Taste and Texture of Beef
Thanks to heme, Impossible Beef cooks, tastes, smells and even “bleeds” remarkably similarly to real ground beef. Even meat eaters enjoy the experience.
Easy Substitute in Any Recipe
Impossible Beef can directly replace beef in any recipe like chili, burgers, meatballs, tacos, etc. The cook time and doneness cues are the same.
Potential Downsides to Consider
However, there are a few drawbacks regarding Impossible Beef to keep in mind:
Highly Processed
While beef just requires grinding, Impossible Beef goes through extensive processing and uses over 20 ingredients to achieve the meaty mimicry.
More Sodium
There are no naturally occurring nutrients in Impossible Beef. The added vitamins and minerals, namely iron and zinc, raise the sodium content.
Contains Isolated Soy Protein
Some people prefer to avoid isolated soy protein due to concerns over thyroid health, hormonal effects and GMOs.
Uses GMO Yeast
The engineered heme-producing yeast does come from genetically modified organisms, which some consumers aim to avoid.
Less Research on Safety
While current studies show promise, more long-term research is needed to determine the safety of eating the engineered soy heme over decades.
The Bottom Line
Impossible Beef succeeds in imitating the taste, texture, versatility and nutritional profile of ground beef. It offers a more planet-friendly alternative for people wanting to cut back on conventional meat.
However, it is highly processed and contains genetically engineered ingredients. As with any novel food, long-term human research on its safety is lacking. It may not align with certain dietary preferences.
For most people, enjoying Impossible Beef in moderation as part of an overall healthy, balanced diet is unlikely to pose any harm. But listening to your own body and dietary needs is always advised when incorporating new foods.
What is the Impossible Burger?
The Impossible Burger, Beyond Meat and other meat alternatives are processed plant-based foods designed to taste like meat. The reasoning behind meat-imitating food was to provide a familiar taste for people who:
- are vegetarians or vegans
- want a more ecologically sustainable option
- view plant alternatives as healthier to meat-based food (compared to cattle, plant-based meats emit much less CO2 and other greenhouse gases, use less water and use less land)
- want more variety and options in their diet.
Prior to the Impossible Burger, most vegan “burgers” were made from black beans, soy, mushrooms or grains. The Impossible Burger is made from soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil, potato protein, methylcellulose, yeast extract, salt, gums, and water and additives, including vitamin B12, zinc, vitamin B6, thiamin (B1) and niacin.
The ingredient that gives an Impossible Burger the taste of meat is heme. Heme is an iron-containing compound that, in meat, comes from animal muscle or tissue. In the Impossible Burger the heme is soy based and comes from yeast fermentation.
But is the Impossible Burger healthy?
The Impossible Burger is a tasty alternative to beef for those who crave the taste of meat, but it is not really an improvement. The impossible Burger is an ultra-processed food with many added ingredients . Also, the Impossible burger adds GMO (genetically modified organisms) in the soy and yeast to produce the heme. If you are allergic or sensitive to soy then the Impossible Burger is not an option.
While an Impossible Burger is a good source of fiber, calcium and potassium, and they have zero cholesterol, they are high in saturated fats and sodium, both of which are linked to serious health issues like obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure.
If your goal is to eat less meat, then the Impossible Burger is a good option, but in moderation. If your goal is to improve your health, skip the beef and the Impossible Burger and try a plant-based patty made from bean, whole grains, mushrooms or vegetables instead. If you make a plant-based burger at home, be sure to add a source of vitamin C which is a carrier for the non-heme iron in plants. WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Personal nutrition counseling Find a location
Impossible Burger vs. Beef: Which is Healthier?
FAQ
What is impossible beef made of?
What is the Impossible Foods controversy?
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GMO Soybeans:Impossible Foods uses genetically modified soybeans, which some critics argue are not environmentally friendly or healthy.
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The “heme” molecule, derived from soy and produced by genetically engineered yeast, is a key ingredient in Impossible Foods’ products. It has been the subject of scrutiny due to the process of creating it, which involves the production of 46 unexpected proteins. Additionally, some critics argue that animal testing for FDA approval makes the products unsuitable for vegans.
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Animal Testing for FDA Approval:Impossible Foods conducted animal testing on their heme ingredient to obtain FDA approval, which some vegans consider a form of exploitation and makes their products not vegan-friendly.
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Impossible Foods has been embroiled in legal disputes with competitors, particularly Motif FoodWorks, over patents related to the use of heme proteins in meat alternatives.
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Accusations of Unethical Practices:Motif FoodWorks accused Impossible Foods of using private investigators to gather information about their products, leading to allegations of unethical behavior.
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Debates about “Processed Food”:Critics argue that plant-based meat alternatives, including Impossible Foods’ products, are highly processed and may not be as healthy as whole foods.
What is the white stuff in Impossible beef?
The white specks are made from coconut oil and cocoa butter. These plant-based fats provide melty, mouthwatering marbling to Beyond Beef, creating a juicy texture that’s closer to ground beef than ever before.
Why do vegans not like impossible meat?
But I do see some vegans disliking it because some vegans don’t like how meat tastes or it does not taste close enough to a burger by their standards. Also, it is not vegan by some vegans’ standards because its heme ingredient was tested on animals for FDA approval.
What is impossible meat?
Impossible Meat is celebrated for its remarkable ability to replicate the flavors and textures of beef without using any animal-derived ingredients. This revolutionary product is made primarily from simple plant-based components, yet it comes with a sophisticated engineering process that elevates it to the status of meat alternative.
What is Impossible Burger made of?
Impossible Burger is meat made from plants that tastes and cooks like ground beef, for people who love meat. It’s an extremely delicious and versatile ingredient that is a 1:1 substitute for meat, but is way better for the planet.
Does impossible meat taste like a Burger?
All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Impossible meat is a meatless ground beef substitute that actually tastes like meat—or so the company claims. Their burger, called “The Impossible Burger,” is made to taste like a burger, cook like a burger, and even bleed inside like a burger.
What are the ingredients in impossible meat?
1. Soy Leghemoglobin One of the most notable ingredients in Impossible Meat is soy leghemoglobin, a protein extracted from the roots of soybean plants. This heme protein is responsible for giving the meat its meaty flavor and juiciness. Flavor Enhancer: Soy leghemoglobin contributes to the beefy taste that consumers expect from traditional meat.
What is the difference between Impossible Burger and beef burger?
Both Impossible Burgers and beef burgers contain around 19 grams of protein. They differ in cholesterol content, however, as the Impossible Burger contains no cholesterol at all, and the beef clocks in at about a quarter of your daily limit.
Is impossible a meat alternative?
Unlike other meat alternatives, Impossible’s products include genetically modified food — their meat alternative tastes like meat because, even though it’s plant-based, it contains some of the same chemical compounds as real beef. Impossible’s key ingredient is “heme,” a molecule in hemoglobin that helps give meat its meaty flavor.