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Plant-Based Meat: Beyond vs Impossible Science

Heme molecules, pea protein, and the food-tech race. Test your knowledge of how Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods actually make plants taste like beef.

10 questions~5 minen
Q1 / 10
Score: 0

What is the main protein source in a Beyond Burger?

📚 See all answers + explanations

  1. Q1. What is the main protein source in a Beyond Burger?

    • Soy
    • Pea protein isolate
    • Wheat gluten
    • Mushroom
    The Beyond Burger uses pea protein isolate as its primary protein, along with rice and mung bean protein. Beyond originally chose pea to be soy-free and gluten-free.

  2. Q2. Impossible Foods' signature ingredient that gives a 'bleeding' look is:

    • Beetroot juice
    • Soy leghemoglobin (heme)
    • Red yeast extract
    • Tomato paste
    Impossible Foods uses soy leghemoglobin, an iron-carrying heme protein produced by genetically engineered yeast. Heme is what gives meat its 'meaty' flavor and pink color when raw.

  3. Q3. Which oil is used in Impossible Burgers to mimic meat fat?

    • Coconut and sunflower oil
    • Palm oil only
    • Olive oil
    • Avocado oil
    Impossible uses coconut oil and sunflower oil to imitate the marbled fat of beef. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, similar to beef tallow, so it 'melts' on the grill like real meat.

  4. Q4. Compared to a 4 oz beef patty, a Beyond Burger has roughly:

    • Half the saturated fat and no cholesterol
    • Twice the saturated fat
    • No protein
    • Five times more salt
    A Beyond Burger has about 5g of saturated fat versus around 9g in 80/20 beef, and 0 mg of cholesterol versus 80 mg in beef. However, it has more sodium (around 390 mg) than plain beef.

  5. Q5. Heme in meat is essentially:

    • A vitamin
    • An iron-containing molecule found in hemoglobin and myoglobin
    • A starch
    • A fat-soluble pigment unrelated to iron
    Heme is the iron-containing porphyrin ring found in hemoglobin (blood) and myoglobin (muscle). It catalyzes browning reactions and is largely responsible for the rich savory flavor of cooked meat.

  6. Q6. Why is plant-based meat usually classified as 'ultra-processed' food?

    • It contains refined ingredients reassembled with industrial processing
    • It is irradiated
    • It has more than 5 ingredients always
    • It is freeze-dried
    Even when ingredients are plant-derived, plant-based burgers undergo high-pressure protein extrusion, oil emulsification and binder addition. By NOVA classification, that qualifies them as ultra-processed.

  7. Q7. Which big chain first launched a national Impossible Whopper in the US in 2019?

    • McDonald's
    • Burger King
    • Wendy's
    • Carl's Jr.
    Burger King launched the Impossible Whopper nationwide in August 2019, after a successful St. Louis pilot. It was the first major fast-food rollout of an Impossible product.

  8. Q8. Which major chain partnered with Beyond Meat for a fried chicken-style nugget launch in 2021?

    • Chick-fil-A
    • KFC
    • Popeyes
    • Chipotle
    KFC and Beyond Meat introduced Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets in early 2022 after several pilot tests starting in 2019. It marked one of the largest fast-food plant-based protein rollouts.

  9. Q9. Roughly how much do plant-based meats reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to beef per kg?

    • No reduction
    • About 50%
    • Around 90%
    • They emit more than beef
    Studies (including peer-reviewed life-cycle analyses by Beyond and independent researchers) report ~90% lower greenhouse gas emissions per kg of plant-based patty versus US beef, plus large reductions in land and water use.

  10. Q10. Plant-based meat sales in the US grew rapidly until ~2020 then:

    • Tripled
    • Plateaued and partially declined due to price and taste fatigue
    • Were banned
    • Replaced beef entirely
    After explosive 2018-2020 growth, US retail sales of plant-based meat plateaued and declined in 2022-2024, blamed on high prices, ultra-processed perception and inflation. Both Beyond and Impossible have laid off staff and refocused.

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