Fake meat is failing because it’s gross and unhealthy (2024)

FAQs

Why are they pushing fake meat? ›

At first, fake burgers and sausages seemed like a potential solution to Americans' obsession with red and processed meats, which have been linked to cancer and other chronic diseases.

“Compared to a meat-based burger, Beyond and Impossible contain roughly the same amount of saturated fat and more sodium,” she says, both of which, when over-consumed, can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Sales of plant-based meat are decreasing, showing changing tastes and preferences even among vegan and vegetarian consumers.

Big-name, plant-based meat alternative brands like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are losing revenue at an alarming pace. Multiple brands, like the vegan chicken nugget brand Nowadays, are going out of business. And Impossible Foods' private share value has dropped 89% since 2021.

As vegans we're very passionate about our ethical beliefs in regards to animals. But consuming meat analogues does not harm animals, nor does it compromise our ethics. And although there may be some uncanny similarities in names, appearances, flavors and textures, there is no cruelty involved.

​“They don't want to try it because they just have this idea that it's going to taste bad,” Hale said. Or they simply can't afford to shell out for a pricier product, made even more expensive by inflation. Plant-based meats often cost two or three times more than their cow-based counterparts at the grocery store.

Other than the protein, there is very little nutritional value in the Beyond Meat patty. Whereas a 100% grass fed beef patty, not only contains a high amount of protein, but is also loaded with vitamin B12, vitamin E, heme iron (a more bioavailable source), creatine, zinc, omega-3 fats, and others.

However, the Impossible Burger contains more sodium than regular ground beef and is lower in some vitamins and minerals. Compared with 90% lean ground beef, the Impossible Burger is also higher in fat and lower in protein (3, 4 , 5 ).

Impossible Foods initially sued Motif in federal court in March, 2022 saying Motif's Hemami ingredient infringed on at least one of its patents. Motif then filed a petition with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board challenging the validity of the Impossible Foods patent.

How Much Longer Do Vegans Live Than Meat-Eaters? There is no consensus in scientific studies that vegans live longer than meat-eaters. However, studies do show that vegetarians, when compared with people who eat meat, have lower incidences of chronic diseases that are leading causes of death.

Why is Beyond Meat dying? ›

The company said that declines in both domestic and international retail and food-service channels were driven by decreases in volume of products sold, reflecting demand softness in the plant-based meat category.”

Con #1: Plant-based meat can be more heavily processed than animal meat. As some plant-based meat and mock meat products are created to replicate animal meat, they may undergo more processing. This leads to a high content of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.

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.

Compared to a traditional beef burger, the Impossible Burger requires 96% less land (viable habitat), 87% less fresh water, while generating 89% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the health-related concerns they raise are the high sodium and caloric content in several popular imitation burger patties, and that these products are highly processed, which can lead to loss of nutrients.

Although the amounts of protein are similar between the meat and plant burgers, the quality and bioavailability of the protein differs. Both burgers have several additives, of which many have unknown long-term health implications. Other than the protein, there is very little nutritional value in the Beyond Meat patty.

Luckily, we live in a time in history when animals are not the only way to produce everybody's favorite food. Simply choosing Impossible Beef over the animal version uses 96% less land and 92% less water, while generating 91% less greenhouse gases.

The foundational elements in plant-based meat are a protein of some sort (like tofu, tempeh, or soy), plant oils (like sunflower or canola oil), and a vegan binding agent (like flour, aquafaba, or beans).