When something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t. In recent years, more consumers are trying meat substitutes made with plants. But they’re not madeonlywith plants. Fake meat can have over 50 chemical ingredients—something you wouldn’t realize if you’re ordering at a restaurant.
Consumer interest in fake meat has been piqued thanks to new manufacturing techniques that give plant-based “burgers” a taste more closely resembling real meat.
But how do corporations make plants taste and have mouthfeel resembling real beef? Chemical additives. After all, veggie burgers don’t grow in the ground. They’re made in factories.
Here are some things you might not know are in that veggie burger:
- Tertiary butylhydroquinone.TBHQ is a synthetic preservative that prevents discoloration in processed foods. The FDA limits the amount of TBHQ allowed in foods because studies of laboratory animals has found an association with TBHQ and cancer.
- Magnesium carbonate.Remember when some bread was accused of having a yoga mat chemical? Well, magnesium carbonate, used in foods to retain color, is also used in flooring, fireproofing, and fire-extinguishing compounds.
- Erythosine (Red #3).Red #3 is an artificial food coloring. The FDAbanned the use of Red #3in products such as cosmetics in 1990 after high doses of the substance were linked to cancer. But it can still be used in foods like fake meat.
- Propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid used as a moisturizer. It’s also used as a liquid in e-cigarettes and is the primary ingredient in antifreeze.
- Ferric orthophosphate. Also called iron phosphate, this chemical is used to fortify foods. It can also beused as a pesticideto kill slugs and snails. While generally considered safe (for people) in food in small quantities, it can be a skin and eye irritant and may cause an upset stomach.
Beyond Meat’s CEO says in interviews that they “just take the amino acids and the fats from another source and recreate those.” Really? Beyond Meat products also include things like dipotassium phosphate, potassium chloride, titanium dioxide, and maltodextrin.
Are the chemicals in fake meat harmful? Probably not. But many people want to avoid them anyway. So if fake meat companies or their marketing surrogates tell you fake meat is natural and healthy for you and your family—make up your own mind about whether that’s true.
This print advertisem*nt is just one of our efforts to educate the public about the content of fake meat. Most people do not realize how processed fake meat is and what kinds of chemical additives are used to create it.
Other efforts include digital advertising and email outreach. We need your help to spread the word about the true nature of “plant-based” meats, so please share this article with your friends, family and colleagues.
Find out more about the consumer push to avoid processed fake meat products at www.CleanFoodFacts.com.
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FAQs
Alternative proteins—meat and seafood made from plants, fermentation, or cultivated from animal cells—use a fraction of the land and water required by conventional meat, generate fewer greenhouse gases (GHGs), and reduce the flow of pollutants into communities and ecosystems.
What are the ingredients in fake meat? ›
6 Common Ingredients in Plant-Based Meats
- Vegetable protein. Typically listed as pea protein, this ingredient is used as an animal protein substitute, says Mark Windle, a registered dietitian from Edinburgh, Scotland and nutritionist for Fitness Savvy. ...
- Seitan. ...
- Coconut oil. ...
- Beet juice. ...
- Yeast extract. ...
- Soy leghemoglobin.
Alternative proteins—meat and seafood made from plants, fermentation, or cultivated from animal cells—use a fraction of the land and water required by conventional meat, generate fewer greenhouse gases (GHGs), and reduce the flow of pollutants into communities and ecosystems.
Does plant-based meat have chemicals in it? ›
“In reality, plant-based meats are ultra-processed and contain numerous food-grade chemicals as ingredients.”
What carcinogen is in plant-based meat? ›
And now we have lab tests showing that six fake meat products, when cooked, tested positive for a carcinogen, acrylamide. Acrylamide can be formed when plant-based foods are cooked at high heat–for example, cooking a fake meat burger.
What are the disadvantages of plant-based meat? ›
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.
What does beyond meat do to your body? ›
The 5 year endeavor is designed to provide peer-reviewed, clinically significant studies on the health implications of a plant-based diet, including plant-based meat. Initial findings have reported the improvement of several cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as LDL cholesterol levels and TMAO.
Why avoid fake meat? ›
Because of their processed nature, plant-based meats don't provide a plethora (or sometimes any) of the nutrients that make whole plant foods so good for you, such as significant amounts of fiber, vitamins, minerals, monounsaturated fats, and polyphenols.
How much chemicals are in fake meat? ›
But they're not made only with plants. Fake meat can have over 50 chemical ingredients—something you wouldn't realize if you're ordering at a restaurant. Video: The Real Story Behind Fake Meat.
What are fake burgers made of? ›
The plant-based burgers and sausages found on supermarket shelves are made by extracting the protein from plant foods, often pea, soy, wheat protein, and mushrooms. But a myriad of additives are needed to make these products look and taste like traditional meat.
Fake meat can be divided into two main categories: plant-based meat and what is sometimes called lab-grown or cultivated meat. Plant-based meat is made from plant proteins like soy protein, pea protein and wheat protein.
Is plant-based meat dying? ›
In 2022, U.S. plant-based meat sales declined for the first time — 8 percent by volume. Beyond Meat, a behemoth in the sector and the supplier of McPlant patties, saw its stock price plummet 94 percent from its peak in 2020 as sales slid more than 20 percent last year.
Why are plant-based meats not as healthy? ›
New research shows that although plant-based meat products are generally healthier than meat equivalents, they can be higher in sugar and are often lacking important nutrients found in real meat.
What are the binding agents in plant-based meat? ›
Binders: Several soluble binders such as soy protein isolate, methylcellulose, carrageenan and modified starches are used in emulsion-type meat analogues.
Is organic meat treated with chemicals? ›
According to the USDA, all farmers must abide by strict guidelines that outline approved organic practices to raise their animals. This means they cannot use artificial fertilizer or synthetic pesticides to produce feeds, and unapproved antibiotics to treat their animals.
Does plant-based meat have preservatives? ›
Plant-based meat substitutes are surprisingly often not the healthiest choice for kids: they can be packed with artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, and high amounts of fat and sodium.
Do plant-based meats have nitrates? ›
Plant-based meat is also free from preservatives including nitrites and nitrates, both of which have been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
This print advertisem*nt is just one of our efforts to educate the public about the content of fake meat. Most people do not realize how processed fake meat is and what kinds of chemical additives are used to create it.
