Are these high tech plant-based burger patties good for us?
This question seems to be a frequent topic of discussions ever since the meatless sensations like Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger entered stores and restaurants last year. Meatless patties have revolutionized the way consumers these days look at burgers. They are attracting meat-eaters and vegetarians alike with various options. These faux meat patties have evolved from being just veggie burgers to patties that look like real beef burgers. Take a look at this article on history of veggie burgers by Smithsonian Magazine. But is it a good thing to switch to these innovative plant-based patties? Let us evaluate the two sides of this new ‘flexitarian’ dietary choice.
The Good
Here are a couple of incentives for picking up those interesting-looking meatless-patties the next time you visit your local grocery store.
Rich Source of Nutrients
As opposed to traditional veggie burgers, the new meatless patties are richer sources of nutrients. Leading brands such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Burger prepare these patties primarily from legumes and soy products, which are high in protein. On top of that, these are often fortified with key vitamins and minerals found in meat, namely, Vitamin B12 and Zinc. This makes such burgers not only good meat substitutes to meat-eaters but also attracts vegans for whom it is otherwise difficult to get all these nutrients from an old fashioned veggie patty. Up until now, restaurants had limited vegan or flexitarian options in most cities, these new meatless items will certainly make lives of many a lot easier. “You don’t always have the option in restaurants,” George said. “If I’m with non-vegans, I don’t want to make a fuss and fulfill that negative stereotype.” Said a vegan customer in an interview for CNBC. Before implementing any changes in your daily diet, best thing to do is to seek an advice from a licensed health care professional or dietitian.
Environment-Friendly
The primary reason meatless patties were able to hit the ground running is that they are the friend of the environment. Experts believe that reducing meat consumption could affect the release of greenhouse gases into the environment. The preparation of these patties also consumes less water than traditional beef burgers. With climate change getting worse, these plant-based burgers could be one of the long-term solutions for the planet.
The Bad
Let us now look at the objections to making these meatless patties a part of your regular diet.
Highly Processed
The legumes and the soy typically used in these faux patties go through a lot of processing before they can mimic the look of the beef burger. Combined with high sodium content and saturated fat required to make these patties, these could be detrimental to those with lifestyle diseases such as hypertension or autoimmune conditions. Most dietitians will tell you that these products are highly processed and should not be on your daily menu but an occasional meat substitute. An interesting article on this issue was published by Harvard Medical School where they compared the two leading brands, Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger.
GMO based ingredients
Impossible Foods Co. is one of the pioneers of meatless patties that mimic real meat. But how do they do it? Well, they do add genetically engineered ingredients, such as heme and soy protein that give the patties a fake “bloody look.” Although GMOs are controversial, some experts have linked the rising use of genetically modified foods to increasing allergic reactions, anti-bacterial resistance as well as other long term health concerns. There are almost always two schools of thought when it comes to use of GMOs in food production.One stating that GMO based foods are safe for consumption, while the other will deem them toxic. This issue became almost a marketing tool and selling point for plant-based meat makers where in some cases investors are opting for GMO free companies. Year 2020 will bring important government regulations related to labeling of GMO based foods which will make it easier for consumers of plant-based patties to easily distinguish their ingredients. Take a listen tho this audio file by c|net
The Future
Even though it may look like some of the ingredients of plant-based patties and their highly processed nature are harmful to health, these burgers belong to a food category that is constantly evolving. If you wish to switch to meatless patties to save the environment while also not harming your health, look out for newer brands that are researching and innovating further. One such brand is Meatless Farm, which hopes to give its competitors a run for their money by creating patties that are lower in calories and saturated fat.
Another option is for brands to go back to traditional veggie burgers that were minimally processed, to begin with. Ultimately, it is a personal choice of taste for the consumer. By weighing the pros and cons of present-day faux meat patties properly, brands might be able to provide balanced meatless-patties to meat lovers and vegans alike in the future.