Chris Byrant of the Univesity of Bath and Marlana Malerich of the University of Edinburgh released a study concerning U.S. consumers’ attitudes toward cultivated meat product labels. Most commonly, this innovative animal-free meat uses “cultivated” as established by the Good Food Institute and Bruce Friedrich. However, the study found that the most popular terms were “cell-cultured” and “cell-cultivated” meat. In contrast, terms such as “artificial” and “lab-grown” revealed low interest.

“We surveyed U.S. consumers to compare nine different labels for cultivated meat and seafood products in terms of appeal, purchase intent, perceived safety, perceived allergenicity, and clarity,” Bryant told Vegconomist. “We tested terms that were suggested by stakeholders in recent USDA and FDA calls for comments, as well as some additional terms.

“Some had proposed that these products be labeled ‘artificial’ meat or seafood, but we found that this terminology was not a good representation of the nature of the products, and led to many people mistakenly thinking they would be safe for allergy sufferers. On the other hand, we also tested a completely new term, ‘Novari’, but we found that this had very low levels of consumer understanding.”

The researchers concluded that cultivated meat brands should highlight the origin of the meat, including ingredient and allergen lists when appropriate. Most importantly, consumers linked “lab-grown” to negative associations, making them less likely to purchase and try sustainable meat. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine consumer response to cultivated meat labels.

“Overall, the terms ‘cultured’ and ‘cultivated’ performed well in terms of understandability, consumer appeal, and communication of safety and allergy status,” Bryant said. “Adding the prefix ‘cell-‘ to these terms further increased understanding and clarity. Notably, none of the terms we tested were as well-understood as a short descriptive phrase (‘Grown from animal cells, not farmed or fished’). This suggests that including a short description could be optimal in terms of consumer understanding, and there could also be even better terms we have not yet tested.”

Regulatory Approval for Cultivated Meat

This November, Upside Foods became the first company within the United States to receive the “No Questions” letter from the FDA, signaling a “green light” for the cultivated chicken industry. The letter allows Upside Foods to prepare for commercials sale, awaiting the full regulatory approval needed from the United States Department of Agriculture. Currently, Upside Food’s EPIC facility is expected to produce 50,00 pounds of cultivated meat per year after opening, but is eventually, slated to reach a maximum capacity of 400,000 pounds per year.

Upside Foods is also working closely with acclaimed chef Dominque Crenn, who joined the company as a culinary advisor. Pending regulatory approval, Crenn will add the cultivated chicken to her Michelin-starred restaurant Atelier Crenn, marking the first time her menu has featured meat since 2018.

Plant-Based vs. Vegan

Terminology makes difference to shoppers, not only for cultivated meat but plant-based foods as well. About 88 percent of consumer care about the “authenticity” of their food, so when shoppers browse grocery stores, labels are essential. This December, ProvVeg International conducted two studies to determine the best labels for plant-based foods, finding that an overwhelming amount of consumers preferred “100 percent plant-based” over “vegan” or “vegetarian.”

For more plant-based happenings, check out The Beet’s News articles. 

Top 10 Sources of Plant-Based Protein According to a Nutritionist

1. Seitan

Protein: 21 grams in ⅓ cup (1 ounce) Seitan isn’t as popular as other proteins, but it should be! Made from wheat gluten, its texture resembles ground meat. It’s often used in pre-made veggie burgers or meatless nuggets. Seitan has a savory taste, like mushrooms or chicken, so it works well in dishes that call for an umami flavor. With a hearty texture, seitan can be the star of practically any vegan main dish. Add it to stir-fries, sandwiches, burritos, burgers, or stews. Like tofu, seitan will take on the flavor of any marinade or sauce.

2. Tempeh

Protein: 16 grams in 3 ounces If you like a protein with a bit of bite, add tempeh to your list. Made from fermented soybeans, tempeh has a slightly nutty flavor and is pressed into a block. Most varieties include some sort of grains, such as barley or millet. Not only is tempeh a plant-based source of protein, but the fermentation process also creates good-for-your-gut probiotics. You can cut tempeh right off the block and use it as the base for a sandwich or pan-fry it with some sauce. Or, crumble, heat, and make it the star of your next taco night.

3. Lentils

Protein: 13 grams in ½ cup cooked Lentils come in multiple varieties–red, yellow, green, brown, black. Regardless of the type lentils are small but mighty nutritional powerhouses. They pack a good amount of protein as well as iron, folate, and fiber. When cooked, brown lentils retain their texture and can be the base for a grain bowl or make a hearty substitute for ground meat in meatballs, lasagna, tacos or Bolognese. Red lentils are a bit softer and make a nice add-in for a hearty soup, chili, or stew.

4. Hemp Seeds

Protein: 10 grams in 3 tablespoons Hemp seeds are a tender and nutty seed, derived from the hemp plant. They contain good amounts of omega-3s, iron, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese. They are also a solid source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps to keep your digestive tract healthy and humming. Because they pack a double whammy of protein and healthy fats, hemp seeds can help satisfy hunger, preventing those embarrassing stomach growls as you slog your way to your lunch break. Add them to your morning smoothie or sprinkle them on top of yogurt, oatmeal, or even a salad.

5. Tofu

Protein: 9 grams in 3 ounces (⅕ of a block) Made from coagulated soybeans, tofu is the most popular plant-based protein. Soy is one of the only meatless “complete” proteins, meaning that it contains all of the essential amino acids that the body can’t make but needs for muscle and immune function. With 15% of your daily calcium needs, tofu is also a good replacement for dairy.

6. Edamame

Protein: 9 grams of protein in ½ cup This sushi appetizer is a nutrient powerhouse, so eat it anytime. Edamame is really just another name for soybeans in their pods. Let’s list off some stats–a small ½-cup serving of edamame has 9 grams of protein, 15% of your daily vitamin C, 10% of your daily iron and 16% of your daily fiber. Keep a bag of edamame in your freezer to serve as a fun-to-eat side dish or opt for the shelled variety to toss into salads or a grain bowl.

7. Quinoa

Protein: 8 grams per cup (cooked) Quinoa is an ancient grain and since it’s gluten-free a great choice for anyone avoiding gluten. Add it to your burger recipe to create filling texture, or instead of meat in your taco or burrito. Quinoa is among the healthiest foods on the planet, delivering phytonutrients that have anti-inflammatory qualities, so keep it in your pantry for any meal that needs a filling grain. Just remember to soak it and rinse before cooking to get rid of any bitter taste.

8. Black Beans

Protein: 7 grams in ½ cup (canned) Eating beans on the regular might as well be a prerequisite for a plant-based diet. Not only are canned black beans inexpensive, but they also contribute 10% of your daily iron and 25% of your daily fiber to your diet. For less than $1 a can, beans can be the star of tacos, quesadillas, salads, soups, burgers, or dips.

9. Amaranth

Protein: 6 grams in ⅔ cup (cooked) Chances are you’ve never cooked amaranth. But you should, since this tiny, gluten- free grain is packed with almost 30% of your daily fiber and 20% of your daily iron. Cook it like a traditional grain to yield a soft, porridge-like texture. Many people add amaranth to other a hot breakfast cereal mixture, like oats and quinoa. It also pops like popcorn. Toss it in a pot with some oil and wait for it to pop up into a nutritious snack.

10. Peas

Protein: 5 grams in ⅔ cup If peas were one of your most hated veggies as a kid, it’s time to give them another chance. These green beans are a great low-calorie protein to keep in your freezer. Sure, they don’t always taste great when steamed or microwaved (who wants to eat mushy, overcooked peas?), but they do blend well into a yummy puree that can be slathered on toast. To amp up the flavor, add some lemon juice or mint to your mix before you blend.

The post You’re More Likely to Buy Lab Grown Meat if It’s Called This appeared first on The Beet.

To get to the bottom of this vegan bacon mystery, we tracked down six of the latest and most widely available plant-based kinds of bacon on the market to see how they would stack up. Here is our take, and we would love to hear from you if you have any that you prefer! Plus, you may want to try making these bacons in the oven, for an even more crispy bacon taste.

Avoiding Processed Meat for Your Health

Bacon is America’s favorite processed meat with some estimates claiming that the average American consumer eats 18 pounds of bacon per year. But now, increasing research has shown eating processed meats such as bacon regularly can lead to several chronic health conditions including heart failure, kidney disease, and several forms of cancer, among others. Eating processed or red meat regularly can increase your heart disease and cancer risk by 18 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

To help improve your overall well-being and lower your risk of heart disease, introducing new plant-based bacon to your diet can significantly help improve your health for longer. Adding a few plant-based meals to your diet can reduce your risk of heart disease 30 years later, according to a recent study. Another study shows that switching to a more dominantly plant-based diet can actually prolong your life expectancy by 10 years or more. So next time you are cooking breakfast or making a B.L.T., check out some of these top bacon alternatives for a healthier protein.

For all the Beet Meters, check out the best vegan products.

Be Leaf Vegan Bacon

BeLeaf’s vegan bacon hits all the right taste and texture notes. For that reason, it tops our list. It cooks up extremely easily and yields a consistency and is easy to work with to create any bacon dish you desire. BeLeaf captures that meaty, salty bacon-like taste.

Price: $9.99, 10 oz package

Where to buy: Besties Vegan Paradise, Lassens, and other local natural grocery stores. Also on online retailers like Vegan Essentials, GTFO It’s Vegan, and more.

Calories 44

Total Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 3.5g

Hooray Foods Plant-Based Bacon

Hooray Foods is a plant-based bacon designed to look, cook, and taste like the real thing. The pieces stick together if they touch while cooking so make sure you use a large pan to keep separate. This bacon has a heavy coconut aftertaste so we would recommend using it on salads or as a topping.

Price: $8.49-$8.99, 5 oz package

Where To Buy: Select Whole Foods Market

Calories 60

Total Fat 4g, Saturated Fat 3g

Protein 0g

LightLife Smart Bacon

LightLife is a long-time player in the vegan food space and you can feel good about eating its Smart Bacon which is easy to find on most grocery store shelves. LightLife’s Smart Bacon has a slight soy taste which some people might not love. Use this Bacon on a plant-based patty or vegan BLT the next time you have a hankering for bacon.

Price: $5.99, 5 oz package

Where to buy: Various mainstream grocery stores, health-food retailers, and online shops.

Calories 20

Total Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 2g

Prime Roots Superprotein Bacon

Prime Roots uses fermentation technology to mimic real bacon. Their secret weapon is an ingredient called Koji, a Japanese fungus that is actually a whole-food protein, packed with nutrients. It certainly smells and tastes like bacon. It can overcook easily, so it’s a good option if you like “crispier” bacon. This would go well in a sandwich or as crumbles on a salad.

Price: $9.99, 8 oz package

Where to buy: Online at www.primeroots.com

Calories 110

Total Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 6g

Protein 6g

Sweet Earth Benevolent Bacon

Sweet Earth has been a consistent plant-based brand that doesn’t ever disappoint. And their Benevolent Bacon is no exception. This bacon is teeming with flavor and a “meaty” texture. You’ll enjoy notes of hickory, sage and garlic in every bite. It cooks like the real thing is available for purchase both in frozen and refrigerated packaging.

Price: $3.99, 5.5 oz package

Where to buy: Check out Sweet Earth’s online locator tool to find a store closest to you, including select SafeWay, Whole Foods Market, Walmart, and more.

Calories 45

Total Fat 1.5g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 4g

SUPRIMA Bacon Crack

As if we needed reminding just how addictive bacon is, along comes a plant-based bacon product called “Bacon Crack” that is cooked and crispy and ready to eat right out of the box. Bacon Crack from Superhumn, is an all-natural, gluten-free, soy-free plant-based formula that “checks all the boxes” when you’re searching for healthier bacon. The most important box of all? When it comes to bacon, that’s taste. When it comes to the savory, smoky, slightly sweet, crispy salty fix that bacon lovers have come to count on, many plant-based versions fall short. Bacon Crack checks that box too.  At 60 calories for 2 strips, a saturated fat content of 2.5 grams, and 2 grams of protein per serving, this bacon has half the fat and 40 percent less sodium than real bacon. We see a BLT in our future.

Price: $6.99 for one 2.5 oz package.

Where to Buy: Check out Superhumn’s website to purchase this tasty bacon. Currently offers limited availability.

Calories 60

Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 2.5g

Protein 2g

Upton’s Bacon Seitan

Upton’s makes a tasty and smokey bacon that is well suited in a BLT, or crumbles on a salad. While it doesn’t quite resemble the real thing, it’s still a good substitute when you need bacon in a recipe. We suggest you cook it longer to get a crispy bacon crunch.

Price: $4.69, 5 oz package

Where to buy: Whole Foods Market and other retailers as well as online Amazon.com, ThriveMarket.com and more.

Calories 100

Total Fat 0.5g, Saturated Fat 0g

Protein 15g

The post The Best Vegan Bacon That Tastes Just Like the Real Thing appeared first on The Beet.

Between December 8 and 10, selected guests will get the chance to taste chef-crafted dishes featuring the company’s signature cultivated chicken at Singapore’s Huber’s Butchery. Shortly after the tasting experience, the butchery will open for in-restaurant dining, where customers can order the cultivated chicken.

“Offering this new approach to making meat at a butchery is another historic moment in the long road to making our food system more delicious and sustainable. I’m very proud to partner with the Huber’s team to give people a whole new way to experience our cultivated chicken in the new year,” Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just, said.

Currently, GOOD Meat is the only cultivated meat brand that has achieved regulatory approval. The company began selling its cultivated chicken in Singapore last year. The company’s innovative product has been previously featured at roadside food stalls, local fine dining eateries, and online via Foodpanda, a prominent delivery service in Asia.

“When we founded our butcher shop, we made it our mission to provide top quality and exceptional tasting meat products with the highest food safety standards at an affordable price. Partnering with GOOD Meat is in keeping with that vision and the realities of our ever-changing food system,” Ryan Huber, Huber’s Butchery Managing Director, said

Cultivated Meat Demand is Growing

The cultured meat market will register a 95.8 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2022 and 2030, reaching $2.7 billion worldwide. In short, consumers everywhere are awaiting the sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to conventional meat production. Huber’s Butchery and GOOD Meat intend to showcase the potential of its sustainable meat when reservations open for the general public this January

Conventional meat production can be attributed to about 37 percent of the world’s total methane emissions. By promoting cultivated meat production, consumers can effectively cut their environmental footprint without drastically changing their diets.

“Cultivated meat could be one of the solutions to over-farming due to increased population size and density and an increase in animal protein consumption in many parts of the world,” Andre Huber, Executive Director of Huber’s Butchery, said.

Eat Just is working closely with ABEC Inc to increase its production capabilities in both Asia and the United States. This May, the company announced that it would begin building a production facility with 10 250,000-liter bioreactors that will become operational by 2024.

United States Gives the “Green Light” to Cultured Meat

This November, Upside Foods became the first company within the United States to receive e the “No Questions” letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This letter gives the food tech company the “green light” for its cultivated chicken product, allowing them to prepare for commercial sale. With this innovative product, Upside’s team believes that its product can curb American chicken consumption, which is estimated at 100 pounds per person per year.

To achieve this approval, Upside has been through rigorous examinations from the FDA and USDA since its founding in 2015. However, the company still needs full approval from the USDA to move forward on commercial sales and opened its biggest manufacturing facility, appropriately named EPIC to anticipate this jump in demand. The facility currently can produce 50,000 pounds of cultivated meat per year with a potential to reach 400,000 pounds per year.

“This is a watershed moment in the history of food,” Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and Founder of Upside Foods, said in November. “We started Upside amid a world full of skeptics, and today, we’ve made history again as the first company to receive a ‘No Questions’ letter from the FDA for cultivated meat. This milestone marks a major step towards a new era in meat production, and I’m thrilled that U.S. consumers will soon have the chance to eat delicious meat that’s grown directly from animal cells.”

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet’s News articles. 

Fast-food restaurants have finally got the memo that their customer base isn’t just coming through for a burger, fried chicken, or a beef taco. Many now have plant-based foods and are coming up with creative, delicious ways to get more greens on the menu. Here are the 6 best fast-food chains with plant-based options on the menu.

1. Burger King

Turns out there’s a lot more to rely on than a salad if you’re eating plant-based. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper featuring a meatless patty as well as a few secretly vegan options such as the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns.

2. White Castle

Known for its mini square-shaped sliders, this hamburger chain jumped on the plant-based bandwagon at some participating locations. You can find an Impossible Slider on some White Castle menus.

3. Del Taco

This was the first national Mexican fast-food chain to offer Beyond Meat at the company’s 580 restaurants across the country. Del Taco has the Beyond Avocado Taco on the menu along with the Epic Beyond Original Mex Burrito and Avocado Veggie Bowl.

4. Carl’s Jr.

Another brand synonymous with beef burgers, Carl’s Jr. offers several plant-based options for veggie and plant lover such as Beyond Famous Star Burger and Guacamole Thickburger.

5. Taco Bell

This fast-food restaurant may have been one of the first you frequented while transitioning to plant-based eating. That’s because Taco Bell has eight million vegetarian combinations and sells 350 million vegetarian items a year through menu substitutions or ordering off their vegetarian menu. In fact, they were the first quick-service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options.

6. Starbucks

From the time it started offering breakfast sandwiches in 2006, the coffee conglomerate became a competitor in the fast-food space. You can get your favorite hot and cold beverages made with almond, coconut or oat milk but there are also plant-based food options available such as the Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap, bagel with vegan cream cheese and Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.

The post This Is the First Butcher to Ever Sell Cultured Meat. Here’s Where to Find It appeared first on The Beet.

“With nearly two pounds of 100 percent plant-based meat, this cut enables the novice cook to the experienced chef the ability to create steaks, broths, bowls, sandwiches, roasts, or Wellingtons. Roast, grill, broil or pan-fry it,” Juicy Marbles said in a statement. “It can be cut into filets, chunks, or slices. It’s raw and unseasoned, giving full creative control in the kitchen.”

Juicy Marbles claims that its newest product is the biggest piece of plant-based meat ever created. The company uses a proprietary fat marbling technique that allows plant-based ingredients to replicate conventional meat texture and cooking ability. The innovative plant-based meat is made from non-GMO soy, sunflower oil, and beetroot powder. The loin contains 26 grams of protein per serving.

“In a world so extremely serious, Juicy Marbles wanted to create a reason to celebrate food, the joy of eating, and the human experience,” the company said in a statement. “You shouldn’t need to be a culinary genius to make delicious and satiating meals.”

Whole-Cut Loin sales started on November 11th. Currently, the brand has a waitlist of 15,000 shoppers. The company claims that it is “the biggest, most insulting piece of plant meat ever conceived & home-chefs most faithful companion.”

Lizzo Loves Juicy Marbles’ Filet Mignon

Juicy Marbles first launched in the United States this June, selling out of its plant-based filet mignon in just two hours. But before selling out, pop icon and TikTok sensation Lizzo managed to get her hands on the new vegan filet mignon. The star helped introduce the plant-based steak to her nearly 26 million followers by cooking a vegan steak and eggs with the help of JUST Egg’s plant-based egg replacer.

“We’ve decided to begin with the filet mignon because it is the ‘crown jewel’ of the steak world, and it showcases our marbling technology best — which we would say is our clear and defining selling proposition, before we move onto other whole-cuts,” Juicy Marbles told TechCrunch last year.  “We want to be known for our sirloins, rumps, filets, tomahawks, and wagyu, as well as for our filet mignons — not just the most expensive cuts long-term. Long-term, our view is that we want to make filet mignon more affordable and accessible, given the different economics of it being plant-based.”

Before releasing the vegan steak commercially, the food tech brand secured $45 million in seed funding. The brand aims to give chefs full creative control in the kitchen with its versatile, near-identical whole-cut vegan meats.

Vegan Steak is Here Nationwide

Juicy Marbles joins a wealth of other companies developing vegan steak alternatives, including Redefine Meat and Novameat, which have developed 3D printing technologies to replicate the muscle texture of conventional meat with plant-based ingredients. This August, Redefine Meat announced that its 3D-printed vegan flank steaks will roll out at several popular restaurants including Mr. Whites, German Gymnasium, Chotto Matte, and Gillray’s Steakhouse and Bar. Both brands currently have limited retail availability for consumers.

This October, Beyond Meat debuted its first plant-based steak product at select Jewel Osco stores across the midwest. Shoppers can find the 10-ounce plant-based seared tips for $7.99 on the retailer’s website. Beyond also recently debuted its Beyond Carne Asada Steak at Taco Bell locations in the Dayton, Ohio area until supplies run out.

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet’s News articles. 

The Surprising Reasons these Five Country Singers Went Meat-Free

1. Carrie Underwood Loved Her Family’s Farm Animals

Seven-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood has been hailed for her “enormous” vocal range. When it comes to her diet, Underwood’s a fan of breakfast burritos and lots of tofu. She doesn’t shy away from the carbs, either. According to Cheat Sheet, one of her favorite snacks is a toasted English muffin with peanut butter.

2. Blake Shelton Wants to Keep Up With His Older Girlfriend

Singer, songwriter, and “The Voice” coach, Blake Shelton, 43, has been working to stay fit recently with help from his long-time love, Gwen Stefani, who is a vegetarian and told him to get off the meat if he wants to feel fitter and lose some weight. Shelton has been trying to keep up with Stefani’s impressive fitness level, according to an interview Stefani gave this fall. The former No Doubt singer and Hollaback girl is a longtime vegetarian, eats a mostly vegan diet, and is super fit– and at 50, looks younger than her years. A source told Gossipcop, “Gwen’s told him the way to lose it is to stay the hell away from meat and bad carbs.” We’re rooting for him!

3. Shania Twain Has the Key to Gorgeous Skin

The best-selling female country music singer in history isn’t buying any expensive steak dinners after a performance. The “Queen of Country Pop” has sold more than 100 million records but says she keeps her meat-free diet simple. She is both vegetarian and eats very little dairy — though at times has said she does eat eggs.

4. Annette Conlon, Folk Artist with a Passion

Americana singer and songwriter Annette Conlon is also a passionate vegan. She started “The Compassionette Tour,” in an effort to bring compassion, social consciousness, human interaction, and animal issues to a mainstream audience.

5. Johnny Cash, Walked the Vegan Line Late in Life

The Man in Black is synonymous with country music, even nearly two decades after his death (1932-2003), probably in part because of the biopic about his life starring vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix. Ask any die-hard country music fan (or your dad, for that matter) and they will tell you that Johnny Cash was one of the best-selling musicians of all-time. His scores of hits include “I Walk the Line” and “Hurt” “A Boy Named Sue” and dozens of others. Cash himself was believed to have lived meat-free later in life to help combat some health issues. At Johnny Cash’s Kitchen and Saloon in Nashville, you can also load up on the meat-free dishes as the restaurant boasts a fully stacked veggie menu that includes greens, sweet potato mash, and fried okra.

The post This Whole-Cut Vegan Tenderloin Might Just Replace Steak appeared first on The Beet.

Impossible’s product selection features an impressive array of plant-based meat including pork, burgers, chicken tenders, and more. However, the vegan meat brand has yet to deliver whole-cut meat alternatives. Now, Impossible intends to continue development on vegan steak until it meets the demands of consumers, both vegan and meat eaters. Brown noted that before the company commercializes its steak alternative, it must compete with existing beef products. He encourages consumers to “stay tuned” because “it’s definitely coming.”

Before the ClimateTech conference, Brown teased the Impossible steak at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in 2019. He made the announcement when Impossible debuted the 3.0 version of the Impossible Burger recipe.

“The next categorically new product that we launch will most certainly be a beef steak,“ Brown said at the conference in 2019. “[Steak] has huge symbolic value. If we can make just an awesomely delicious world-class steak … that will be very disruptive, not just to the beef industry, but to other sectors of the meat industry.”

Beyond Meat Launches Vegan Steak in the U.S.

This month, Americans in the Midwest get a chance to try vegan steak with Beyond Meat’s new Beyond Steak Plant-Based Seared Tips. For the initial release, shoppers in the Midwestern United States can find the Beyond Steak at Jewel Osco locations for $7.99 per 10-ounce package. Soon, Americans nationwide could get a taste of plant-based steak.

“Our commitment to rapid and relentless innovation means we’re always working to bring the world’s best plant-based meat products to market to increase accessibility to delicious, nutritious, and sustainable plant-based proteins,” a Beyond Meat spokesperson told VegNews. “We’re excited to share more details soon about our sliced steak product and believe consumers are going to be very impressed with the product’s great taste and versatility.”

This announcement closely follows Beyond and Taco Bell’s most recent crossover: The Beyond Carne Asada Steak. This October, Taco Bell rolled out the meatless option at locations around Dayton, Ohio. The trial will run until supplies run out.

Plant-Based Steak Arrives at Restaurants Worldwide

Although Beyond and Impossible have led the meat alternatives market for years, these two companies are not the only ones producing vegan whole cuts. This August, Redefine Meat revealed that its 3-D printed vegan flank steaks will roll out at several popular restaurants including Mr. Whites, German Gymnasium, Chotto Matte, and Gillray’s Steakhouse and Bar. Also, the Israeli-based food tech company revealed a partnership with the hotel chain Selina, eventually intended to expand the plant-based steak presence internationally.

The vegan steak craze has also caught the attention of major celebrities. Grammy Award-winning Lizzo got a taste of vegan steak as well. The singer helped Juicy Marbles’ meatless filet mignon go viral on TikTok. Even Gordon Ramsay caved and shared a vegan (eggplant) steak on his TikTok.

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet’s News articles. 

Fast-food restaurants have finally got the memo that their customer base isn’t just coming through for a burger, fried chicken, or a beef taco. Many now have plant-based foods and are coming up with creative, delicious ways to get more greens on the menu. Here are the 6 best fast-food chains with plant-based options on the menu.

1. Burger King

Turns out there’s a lot more to rely on than a salad if you’re eating plant-based. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper featuring a meatless patty as well as a few secretly vegan options such as the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns.

2. White Castle

Known for its mini square-shaped sliders, this hamburger chain jumped on the plant-based bandwagon at some participating locations. You can find an Impossible Slider on some White Castle menus.

3. Del Taco

This was the first national Mexican fast-food chain to offer Beyond Meat at the company’s 580 restaurants across the country. Del Taco has the Beyond Avocado Taco on the menu along with the Epic Beyond Original Mex Burrito and Avocado Veggie Bowl.

4. Carl’s Jr.

Another brand synonymous with beef burgers, Carl’s Jr. offers several plant-based options for veggie and plant lover such as Beyond Famous Star Burger and Guacamole Thickburger.

5. Taco Bell

This fast-food restaurant may have been one of the first you frequented while transitioning to plant-based eating. That’s because Taco Bell has eight million vegetarian combinations and sells 350 million vegetarian items a year through menu substitutions or ordering off their vegetarian menu. In fact, they were the first quick-service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options.

6. Starbucks

From the time it started offering breakfast sandwiches in 2006, the coffee conglomerate became a competitor in the fast-food space. You can get your favorite hot and cold beverages made with almond, coconut or oat milk but there are also plant-based food options available such as the Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap, bagel with vegan cream cheese and Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.

The post Impossible Foods is Launching Vegan Filet Mignon, Founder Reveals appeared first on The Beet.

“The collaboration is a match made in heaven and a win-win for all,” Joe Beauprez, Marketing Director for Eggo, said to VegNews. “With chicken and waffles already known and loved by waffle fans, we came together with MorningStar Farms to bring a plant-based twist on this classic dish to tables this year.”

Kellogg’s developed the new vegan chicken and waffles product to offer shoppers an affordable, easy meal on the go. The box contains two sandwiches and will have a suggested retail price of $8.49. Now, Americans everywhere can enjoy the savory and sweet blend of conventional chicken and waffles without worrying about animal-based ingredients.

Eggo’s Meatless Chicken & Waffles

This announcement occurs a year after the company debuted its first meatless Chick’n and Waffles product for National Waffle Day on August 24. Partnered with Incogmeato, the meat-free breakfast item featured vegan fried chicken paired with the conventional Eggo waffles, but the company did not remove the animal-based ingredients completely. Following a successful launch, Kellogg’s started developing a vegan recipe for its iconic frozen waffles.

“Waffle lovers went wild for our Eggo x MorningStar Farms Incogmeato collaboration last year, so we knew we wanted to be able to bring the perfect pairing to even more people this year,” Beauprez said. “That meant creating our first-ever vegan waffle, to give any waffle lover the opportunity to enjoy our new sandwich.”

Kellogg’s removed the eggs from its waffle recipe by introducing a vegan egg made from wheat gluten and soy flour. The company also bulked its traditional thin waffle to better create the chicken and waffle sandwich. Complete with 11 grams of protein, the vegan chicken and waffles sandwich aims to give all hungry customers an easy “grab & go” meal.

Overall, the Nashville-inspired dish increased in popularity by 121 percent over the last four years, according to a study from DataEssential. So now, Kellogg’s intends to capitalize on the growing popularity by making this Southern comfort food accessible to both non-vegans and plant-based consumers.

“We’re always looking for new ways to make vegetarian foods more accessible for everyone, so we’re excited to partner with an iconic brand like Eggo to put a delicious new spin on a beloved dish like chicken and waffles,” Heidi Ray, Marketing Director for MorningStar Farms and Incogmeato at Kellogg Company, said at the time. “This limited-edition combo pack gives people another opportunity to see how delicious plant-based can be and experience our Chik’n Tenders that look, cook, taste, and tear just like the real thing.”

Kellogg’s is Going Plant-Based

This June, Kellogg’s announced that the company is breaking up, dividing into three separate companies that will be dedicated to snacks, cereals, and plant-based foods. By splitting into three new entities, the plant-based company will exclusively accelerate the sustainable sector of the major food brand.

Kellogg’s new plant-based company will temporarily be titled “Plant Co.” and will initially expand its MorningStar and Incogmeato brands. Kellogg’s first acquired the brand 20 years ago and due to a recent spike in plant-based interest, the company reallocated its resources to grow its product selection. Now, the plant-based brand is valued at $340 million.

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet’s News articles. 

The Surprising Reasons these Five Country Singers Went Meat-Free

1. Carrie Underwood Loved Her Family’s Farm Animals

Seven-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood has been hailed for her “enormous” vocal range. When it comes to her diet, Underwood’s a fan of breakfast burritos and lots of tofu. She doesn’t shy away from the carbs, either. According to Cheat Sheet, one of her favorite snacks is a toasted English muffin with peanut butter.

2. Blake Shelton Wants to Keep Up With His Older Girlfriend

Singer, songwriter, and “The Voice” coach, Blake Shelton, 43, has been working to stay fit recently with help from his long-time love, Gwen Stefani, who is a vegetarian and told him to get off the meat if he wants to feel fitter and lose some weight. Shelton has been trying to keep up with Stefani’s impressive fitness level, according to an interview Stefani gave this fall. The former No Doubt singer and Hollaback girl is a longtime vegetarian, eats a mostly vegan diet, and is super fit– and at 50, looks younger than her years. A source told Gossipcop, “Gwen’s told him the way to lose it is to stay the hell away from meat and bad carbs.” We’re rooting for him!

3. Shania Twain Has the Key to Gorgeous Skin

The best-selling female country music singer in history isn’t buying any expensive steak dinners after a performance. The “Queen of Country Pop” has sold more than 100 million records but says she keeps her meat-free diet simple. She is both vegetarian and eats very little dairy — though at times has said she does eat eggs.

4. Annette Conlon, Folk Artist with a Passion

Americana singer and songwriter Annette Conlon is also a passionate vegan. She started “The Compassionette Tour,” in an effort to bring compassion, social consciousness, human interaction, and animal issues to a mainstream audience.

5. Johnny Cash, Walked the Vegan Line Late in Life

The Man in Black is synonymous with country music, even nearly two decades after his death (1932-2003), probably in part because of the biopic about his life starring vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix. Ask any die-hard country music fan (or your dad, for that matter) and they will tell you that Johnny Cash was one of the best-selling musicians of all-time. His scores of hits include “I Walk the Line” and “Hurt” “A Boy Named Sue” and dozens of others. Cash himself was believed to have lived meat-free later in life to help combat some health issues. At Johnny Cash’s Kitchen and Saloon in Nashville, you can also load up on the meat-free dishes as the restaurant boasts a fully stacked veggie menu that includes greens, sweet potato mash, and fried okra.

The post Leggo My Vegan Eggo! Kellogg’s First Plant-Based Waffle is Coming appeared first on The Beet.

Yet it’s unrealistic to expect that someone who is plant-curious (but not fully committed to eating a vegan diet) will leap into a whole food plant-based diet and cut out meat and dairy altogether. Instead, more consumers are self-defining as “flexitarian” and trying to eat more plant-based and less meat. To that end, sales of meatless meat, or plant-based meat alternatives, have grown at a multiple of other food products. They are touted by companies that make them (including Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods) as better for the planet and better for the animals, but few people actually claim say they are better for you.

These are highly processed formulas that are not as good for you as, say, a bean burger or mushroom burger you’d make in your own kitchen. Still, there is a way of determining where meatless products sit on the spectrum of health foods, and the answer is that they lie somewhere between a beef burger and a quinoa salad.

Whether you’ve decided to take a step toward Meatless Mondays or are considering going fully vegan or you watched a documentary like What the Health and want to cut way back on meat, you may be wondering, are those plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) actually good for me? We are here to answer that question and clear up some common misperceptions about the role meatless protein plays in the future of our food systems.

Are Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Healthy?

A 2021 study showed that plant-based meat alternatives that mimic meat in taste, texture, and experience could help people who can’t imagine a life without meat shift their diets away from animal products. Instead of eating foods produced by a grossly inefficient food system, people can enjoy the experience of many of their favorite meat dishes in a more sustainable plant form. The best way to get more people to eat more plants is by meeting them where they live, dietary speaking, not guilt-tripping them about their current food preferences.

Like many of us, you may want to help combat climate change and reduce animal suffering without sacrificing your favorite foods. To help you in your decision, here are the pros and cons of swapping meat for plant-based alternatives.

The Pros of Plant-Based Meats

1. Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients

The most significant advantage of plant-based meat alternatives over conventional meat is that they contain fiber — an essential nutrient critical for good health. An estimated 95 percent of Americans don’t consume the recommended amount of fiber per day. (At least 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men is the accepted minimal amount of fiber to aim for.) And when it comes to gut health, fiber plays a key role in digestion and cultivating beneficial bacteria for a healthy microbiome.

In a recent study of 40 people, researchers looked at the impact of plant-based meat alternatives on gut health. Participants who replaced animal meat with plant alternatives for several weeks experienced an “increased metabolizing potential of butyrate.” Meaning? The fiber in plant-based meat alternatives, once digested, causes the growth of healthy gut bacteria, which release butyrate — an important short-chain fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties that improves digestion and promotes gut health. Alternatively, red meat and dairy promote less healthy gut bacteria, which can contribute to high cholesterol and other early markers of increased risk for heart disease.

In addition to fiber, PBMAs can pack more nutrition than animal meat. “Plant-based meats are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that animal meats lack,” explains Brittany Lubeck, RD, a registered dietitian and nutrition writer. “Because of their nutrition profile, eating more plant-based foods has been linked to lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.”

2. Better for the environment

With the global population expected to increase for the remainder of the century and the effects of climate change already being felt, there hasn’t been a better time to swap meat for plant-based alternatives to reduce your environmental footprint substantially. “As the global population grows, the negative environmental impacts of animal [agriculture] may become even worse. This means it may take a large plant-based meat movement to make a difference on the environment,” observes Lubeck.

Plant agriculture requires significantly less land, water, and energy than animal agriculture. Consequently, eating a plant-forward diet that includes plant-based meat alternatives is one of the most effective strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and agricultural land use related to food production and consumption. By choosing PBMAs over conventional meat, you’re supporting companies in favor of helping the environment.

Companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are part of the growing sustainability trend. In 2017, Beyond Meat engaged the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan to assess the Beyond Burger. When compared to a quarter pound of beef, the results found that the Beyond Burger:

3. Generates 90 percent less greenhouse gas emissions

• Requires 46 percent less energy
• Has 99 percent less impact on water scarcity
• Has 93 percent less impact on land use

Similar results were found for another popular seller, Impossible Burger, which has an 89 percent lower carbon footprint than beef burgers. The statistics leave no doubt that PBMAs are the better option for the planet when compared to conventional meat.

4. Lower risk of heart disease

Research says that choosing the veggie burger over a sirloin can significantly lower your risk of heart disease. A small 2020 study examined the effects of animal-based meat and plant-based meat alternatives on heart health. Researchers had 36 people include animal meat as part of their typical diet for eight weeks, then swap the meat for PBMAs for another eight weeks while keeping the rest of their diet the same as before.

Researchers observed that the plant-based meat alternatives stage improved several cardiovascular disease risk factors, including reduced TMAO and cholesterol, due to less saturated fat and increased fiber intake. Also, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating more plant protein in place of animal protein for reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cons of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

1. They’re highly processed and not as healthy as whole foods

“One con of plant-based meats is they’re not always the better-for-you option, making it somewhat difficult to choose the best brands,” Lubeck says. “Some plant-based meats are just as high or higher in sodium and saturated fat than animal meats, which may not be suitable for people with certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease.”

Many PBMAs contain added sugars, hydrogenated oils, high amounts of sodium, and other filler ingredients to enhance flavor and modify the texture to more closely resemble animal meat, according to a 2019 study published in Nutrients.

A few of the regular additives to plant-based meat are controversial, such as carrageenan which while deemed safe by the FDA, is known to cause inflammation. Look at the label. If the item has more than ten ingredients, chances are it’s a highly processed food with many additives that should be parsed individually for their health value.

The following table compares the nutrients of various plant-based meat alternatives with their animal-based counterparts.

Overall, plant-based meat alternatives are the healthier option when compared to animal-based meat. However, in the pursuit of mimicking meat, PBMAs are highly processed products that are no match when compared to whole plant foods in terms of delivering health benefits. It’s worth noting that research still needs to be done on the long-term health effects of regularly consuming plant-based meat.

2. More expensive than meat

The cost of PBMAs is a major deterrent for many people. Currently, plant-based meat products are on average 38 percent more expensive than animal meat, according to a new report by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab (AAL).  Fortunately, lower prices are on the horizon. A recent report from the Good Food Institute (GFI) projects that plant-based meat products will be cheaper than conventional meat by 2023, giving customers more affordable options when shopping for alternative proteins.

The Bottom Line: Plant-Based Meats Are Better for Your Health – in Moderation.

Plant-based meat products contain more fiber, vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, and have a significantly smaller environmental impact than conventional meat. Although plant-based meat alternatives are heavily processed and high in sodium and saturated fat, they can be part of a healthful diet when enjoyed in moderation and in place of animal products.

For more expert advice, visit The Beet’s Health & Nutrition articles. 

The post Are Plant-Based Meats Bad for You? An Expert Answers appeared first on The Beet.

Beginning September 7, Panda Express’ new plant-based entree will be available at all 2,300 locations nationwide. Back by popular demand, the Beyond The Original Orange Chicken marries Panda Express’ fast-food experience with Beyond Meat’s sustainable, plant-based protein. Now, customers will have the option to avoid chicken and choose a more sustainable option at any Panda Express location in the U.S.

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“Our team has been overjoyed by the undeniable excitement and incredible demand generated when we first introduced Beyond The Original Orange Chicken last summer as an innovative twist on our most iconic dish,” Andrea Cherng, Chief Brand Officer at Panda Express, said. “After nearly 40 years of creating original American Chinese dishes, quality and innovation remain at the core of who we are. We’re continuously exploring creative ways to present our guests with the comfort and crave-ability they can expect from Panda while appealing to their evolving preferences and tastes.”

Panda Express and Beyond Meat first teamed up in 2021, releasing the Beyond The Original Orange Chicken at New York City and Southern Califonia locations for a limited launch. Immediately, Panda Express saw firsthand how hungry customers are for affordable, plant-based options. The fast-casual chain sold more than 1,300 pounds of plant-based orange chicken on the first day alone.

Following the initial success, Panda Express expanded its new menu item to 10 additional states including California, New York, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. With success in all ten markets, the national chain is testing the meatless orange chicken as a permanent menu item in 45 states.

To promote the release, Panda Express and Beyond will host a traveling Panda Express Recharge Station at 10 college campuses. Students will be given free samples of the plant-based entree, prizes, and more.

Panda Express Tests New Plant-Based Entrees

This January, Panda Express worked with Beyond again to develop two additional plant-based dishes. The Mapo Tofu with Beyond Beef and the String Beans with Beyond Beef became available for one month at the brand’s Innovation Kitchen in Pasadena, California. The plant-based meat option will significantly bulk up Panda Express’ plant-based options. The Beyond The Original Orange Chicken marks the first meatless option to reach a national customer base.

“We are thrilled to offer Beyond The Original Orange Chicken to consumers nationwide for the very first time,” Dariush Ajami, Chief Innovation Officer at Beyond Meat, stated. “By partnering with Panda Express to introduce new and innovative plant-based options that deliver the delicious taste and experience of their iconic menu items, we’re enabling people to enjoy their favorite dishes with the upsides of plant-based meat.”

America’s Vegan Fast Food Frenzy

Despite Beyond Meat’s wavering stock prices, the plant-based meat company’s fast food presence continues to expand. Currently, Beyond Meat is working closely with Yum! Brands – the parent company that owns Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell. While Taco Bell and Beyond Meat perfect their vegan option, Taco Bell is testing its own meatless beef in Birmingham locations until mid-October.

Current estimates expect the vegan fast-food market to reach $40 billion by 2028. In recent years, the vegan fast food market has been driven by major brands such as Taco Bell and Panda Express, but recently, smaller, exclusively plant-based chains have popped up in the United States. Two California-based eateries, Plant Power Fast Food and Noomo, have partnered with franchising firms to help solidify a national presence. Recently, Kevin Hart entered the competition as well with his new vegan fast food concept Hart House.

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet’s News articles. 

Fast-food restaurants have finally got the memo that their customer base isn’t just coming through for a burger, fried chicken, or a beef taco. Many now have plant-based foods and are coming up with creative, delicious ways to get more greens on the menu. Here are the 6 best fast-food chains with plant-based options on the menu.

1. Burger King

Turns out there’s a lot more to rely on than a salad if you’re eating plant-based. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper featuring a meatless patty as well as a few secretly vegan options such as the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns.

2. White Castle

Known for its mini square-shaped sliders, this hamburger chain jumped on the plant-based bandwagon at some participating locations. You can find an Impossible Slider on some White Castle menus.

3. Del Taco

This was the first national Mexican fast-food chain to offer Beyond Meat at the company’s 580 restaurants across the country. Del Taco has the Beyond Avocado Taco on the menu along with the Epic Beyond Original Mex Burrito and Avocado Veggie Bowl.

4. Carl’s Jr.

Another brand synonymous with beef burgers, Carl’s Jr. offers several plant-based options for veggie and plant lover such as Beyond Famous Star Burger and Guacamole Thickburger.

5. Taco Bell

This fast-food restaurant may have been one of the first you frequented while transitioning to plant-based eating. That’s because Taco Bell has eight million vegetarian combinations and sells 350 million vegetarian items a year through menu substitutions or ordering off their vegetarian menu. In fact, they were the first quick-service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options.

6. Starbucks

From the time it started offering breakfast sandwiches in 2006, the coffee conglomerate became a competitor in the fast-food space. You can get your favorite hot and cold beverages made with almond, coconut or oat milk but there are also plant-based food options available such as the Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap, bagel with vegan cream cheese and Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.

The post Now You Can Find Beyond Meat Orange Chicken at All Panda Express Locations appeared first on The Beet.

Buona –– the midwestern chain famous for its affordable Italian Beef sandwiches –– developed the plant-based alternative to its signature sandwich with the help of Upton’s expertise in the plant-based protein sector. The frozen meal is currently available at Fresh Thyme, Jewel-Osco, and Whole Foods stores for $7.49.

The plant-based beef sandwich features a custom-made gravy that helps replicate the juiciness of traditional Italian Beef sandwiches. Similar to the original Buona family recipe, the sandwich is packed with oregano, garlic, and pepper. The ready-to-eat product is packed with 36 grams of protein per serving.

Buona’s First Vegan Sandwich in 40 Years

Buona currently operates 26 locations across Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado, but plans to franchise in the coming years. Preparing for national expansion, the restaurant launched its first plant-based sandwich in 24 years. With the help of Upton’s, the company debuted the Plant-Based Italian Beefless Sandwich at all locations. The chain sold out in 24 hours.

“Our plan was to see if people loved the Plant-Based Italian ‘Beef’ as much as we did – and the good news is that they loved it even more than we could have imagined.” Candice Jordan, Buona’s director of marketing, said. “The outstanding support of the vegan community really helped make this a permanent menu item. It has become one of our most popular menu items and that is really great to see.”

Following the outstanding success, Buona announced that it plans to make the beefless sandwich a permanent menu item. The company aims to cater to the growing number of vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians in both the Chicago area and the United States.

Choosing Plant-Based Over Beef for Your Heart

Buono’s beloved meat-heavy menu gave customers no options for heart-healthy meals until it launched its beefless Italian sandwich. Chowing down on an original Italian Beef can increase your risk of heart disease by 18 percent, according to a study from the University of Oxford. Plant protein can even revert some causes of mortality. Another study found that consuming plant-based protein can reduce your risk of several diseases, including heart disease.

“Among major protein sources, comparing the highest with the lowest [amount] of consumption, processed red meat or eggs was associated with a higher risk of all‐cause mortality,” the study found. “Unprocessed red meat, eggs, or dairy products, were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.”

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet’s News articles. 

Fast-food restaurants have finally got the memo that their customer base isn’t just coming through for a burger, fried chicken, or a beef taco. Many now have plant-based foods and are coming up with creative, delicious ways to get more greens on the menu. Here are the 6 best fast-food chains with plant-based options on the menu.

1. Burger King

Turns out there’s a lot more to rely on than a salad if you’re eating plant-based. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper featuring a meatless patty as well as a few secretly vegan options such as the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns.

2. White Castle

Known for its mini square-shaped sliders, this hamburger chain jumped on the plant-based bandwagon at some participating locations. You can find an Impossible Slider on some White Castle menus.

3. Del Taco

This was the first national Mexican fast-food chain to offer Beyond Meat at the company’s 580 restaurants across the country. Del Taco has the Beyond Avocado Taco on the menu along with the Epic Beyond Original Mex Burrito and Avocado Veggie Bowl.

4. Carl’s Jr.

Another brand synonymous with beef burgers, Carl’s Jr. offers several plant-based options for veggie and plant lover such as Beyond Famous Star Burger and Guacamole Thickburger.

5. Taco Bell

This fast-food restaurant may have been one of the first you frequented while transitioning to plant-based eating. That’s because Taco Bell has eight million vegetarian combinations and sells 350 million vegetarian items a year through menu substitutions or ordering off their vegetarian menu. In fact, they were the first quick-service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options.

6. Starbucks

From the time it started offering breakfast sandwiches in 2006, the coffee conglomerate became a competitor in the fast-food space. You can get your favorite hot and cold beverages made with almond, coconut or oat milk but there are also plant-based food options available such as the Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap, bagel with vegan cream cheese and Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.

The post You Can Now Buy Vegan Italian Beef Sandwiches Nationwide. Here’s Where appeared first on The Beet.

To test the new menu item, Burger King will roll out the meatless chicken sandwich at select stores in Cincinnati, Ohio. The meatless chicken sandwich can be ordered fully plant-based without the mayonnaise. Note that this burger may not be 100 percent vegan due to cross-contamination on the grill. If possible, ask for the burger microwaved to avoid this possibility. This new meatless chicken sandwich will debut a larger format chicken patty than Impossible’s new retail option.

Burger King’s new Original Chick’n Sandwich is the third product developed in partnership with Impossible Foods. Other than the Impossible Whopper, Burger King also launched an 8-piece Impossible Nuggets meal, making the meatless chicken sandwich Burger King’s second foray into the plant-based chicken category.

“Burger King has demonstrated once again that they know how to deliver innovative options that taste great,” Impossible Foods SVP of North America Sales Dan Greene said in a statement. “Working with them to launch our first-ever chicken patty has been a fun way to continue our partnership. We think fans are going to love this new plant-based twist on the Original Chick’n Sandwich.”

Impossible Chicken Launched Nationwide

Impossible Foods entered the plant-based chicken market last year with its vegan nuggets. The company even debuted a Dino Nuggies variation, marketing its meat alternatives to parents and their children. Earlier this month, the meatless brand unveiled its Impossible Chicken Patties at retailers nationwide. Customers can find the plant-based chicken patties at stores including Sprouts and Safeway before further expansion this fall.

The Impossible Chicken Patties are similarly sustainable to its plant-based burgers. The company claims that this plant-based product uses 44 percent less water, requires 49 percent less land, and produces 36 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions when compared to its poultry counterpart.

Burger King’s Vegan Fast Food in Europe

While Burger King remains a plant-based pioneer for American fast food, the burger chain is redefining vegan fast food across Europe. In some instances, Burger King has converted stores to serve primarily plant-based options. For example, The company hosted a “Meat Optional” campaign at one store in Austria. Customers had to choose to eat beef when ordering, but otherwise, the entire menu featured plant-based options as the primary menu.

The chain’s plant-based pop-ups have featured vegan variations of Whoppers, Long Chicken Sandwiches, and Nuggets with the help of brands including The Vegetarian Butcher. The chain opens a 100 percent vegetarian location in Spain called Vurger King and launched a one-month-long vegan concept in London this March.

More recently, Burger King opened two plant-based concepts in Switzerland this June. The Basel and Geneva storefronts served a plant-based menu with 14 vegan options for approximately one week. These tests are helping the company fulfill its pledge to offer a 50 percent meat-free menu worldwide.

Customer Are Hungry for Comfort Food Made From Plants

American consumers want sustainable, healthy options now more than ever. Approximately 55 percent of shoppers keep sustainability in mind at the grocery store, according to a report this year. Burger King and other fast food giants are working to provide customers with a planet-friendly option.

The University of Oxford found that plant-based burgers and other meats are up to 10 times more environmentally-friendly than their meat counterparts. With more customers conscious of their environmental footprint, small and large fast-food chains have made plant-based meat more accessible to the American public. Chains such as McDonald’s and KFC have launched plant-based options including the McPlant and Beyond Chicken Tender, respectively.

With the vegan fast food market expected to reach $40 billion by 2028, smaller chains have entered the market. Plant Power Fast Food and Noomo have teamed up with franchising agents to bring their plant-based burger concepts to Americans nationwide.

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet’s News articles.

Fast-food restaurants have finally got the memo that their customer base isn’t just coming through for a burger, fried chicken, or a beef taco. Many now have plant-based foods and are coming up with creative, delicious ways to get more greens on the menu. Here are the 6 best fast-food chains with plant-based options on the menu.

1. Burger King

Turns out there’s a lot more to rely on than a salad if you’re eating plant-based. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper featuring a meatless patty as well as a few secretly vegan options such as the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns.

2. White Castle

Known for its mini square-shaped sliders, this hamburger chain jumped on the plant-based bandwagon at some participating locations. You can find an Impossible Slider on some White Castle menus.

3. Del Taco

This was the first national Mexican fast-food chain to offer Beyond Meat at the company’s 580 restaurants across the country. Del Taco has the Beyond Avocado Taco on the menu along with the Epic Beyond Original Mex Burrito and Avocado Veggie Bowl.

4. Carl’s Jr.

Another brand synonymous with beef burgers, Carl’s Jr. offers several plant-based options for veggie and plant lover such as Beyond Famous Star Burger and Guacamole Thickburger.

5. Taco Bell

This fast-food restaurant may have been one of the first you frequented while transitioning to plant-based eating. That’s because Taco Bell has eight million vegetarian combinations and sells 350 million vegetarian items a year through menu substitutions or ordering off their vegetarian menu. In fact, they were the first quick-service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options.

6. Starbucks

From the time it started offering breakfast sandwiches in 2006, the coffee conglomerate became a competitor in the fast-food space. You can get your favorite hot and cold beverages made with almond, coconut or oat milk but there are also plant-based food options available such as the Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap, bagel with vegan cream cheese and Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.

The post Have It Your Way! Burger King Launches Impossible Chicken Sandwich appeared first on The Beet.