Have You Tried the New Impossible Whopper?

HAVE YOU TRIED BURGER KING’S MEAT-FREE IMPOSSIBLE WHOPPER?

In the past, those that wanted a meat-free "burger" typically turned to a varied mixture of beans, lentils, mushrooms, rice, potatoes (or any other easily "mashable" vegetable) that was crushed and bound together with something like egg whites and/or breadcrumbs and formed into a patty with some flavorful spices. While the end result was typically tasty and nutritious, it didn't necessarily taste like a "burger". Enter the Impossible Burger: "meat made from plants for people that love meat". This meat-alternative is made by Impossible Foods - a company that has been striving since 2011 to use plants to make meat-like products with the same flavors, aromas, textures, and cooking characteristics as meat. Impossible Burger products are available at restaurants around town, most notably Burger King (it’s "The Impossible Whopper" on the menu). The company's website reports that various "Impossible" products (including "Impossible Pork") will be on grocery store shelves too. And their website includes some tasty-looking recipes to try in your own home (though at the time of this writing, HEB is yet to carry these products).

Is there a "magic ingredient"? The incorporation of heme molecules (soy leghemoglobin) into the Impossible Burger appears to be what sets it apart from its competitors, contributing to the flavor and color of the product as well as its ability to "bleed" when cut, like beef. According to Impossible Foods, heme is what “makes meat taste like meat”. Heme is a vital iron-containing compound that is found abundantly in the blood of animals, and therefore is present in meats, but it is present in plants too. The Impossible Burger's plant-based heme is made through the fermentation of genetically engineered yeast (that has had soy DNA inserted into it).

Is it good for you? There are several things to consider when evaluating the nutrition aspects of the Impossible Burger. Take a look at the chart below to compare the Impossible Burger to plain ground beef. You can also see how the Impossible Whopper compares to a traditional Whopper (with beef).

Some nutritional pros of the Impossible Burger are that its protein content comes close (but doesn't meet) that of ground beef and contains a few grams of fiber (beef contains no fiber). The Impossible Burger is higher in a few vitamins and minerals than beef (including vitamins B12, E, zinc and others), as these nutrients are added during the processing. On the other hand, the Impossible Burger doesn't offer a great calorie-savings over ground beef (so, not necessarily better for the waistline) and can't be regarded as "heart healthy", as the saturated fat and sodium content are both high.

The main source of protein in the Impossible Burger is soy. Isoflavones, found in whole, minimally processed soy products (edamame, tofu, soy milk) are thought to be responsible for some of the health benefits associated with moderate consumption of soy in the diet; however, the processing of the soy in the Impossible Burger decreases the isoflavones to less than 8% of that found in a serving of whole-soy products.

Soy is also one of the 8 most common food allergens, so those allergic to soy, should avoid the Impossible Burger. The current Impossible Burger recipe is gluten-free (this is the Impossible burger itself, not the buns and/or sauces that restaurants may add to the “Impossible” product). The Impossible Burger does not contain other common allergens (dairy, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish or wheat).

The Impossible Burger itself is vegan-friendly, as it contains no animal products or byproducts; however, those following a vegan diet should exercise caution if ordering the Impossible Burger from restaurants. For example, the Impossible Whopper is not considered a vegan option because it is usually cooked on the same grill as Burger King's other meat products (and therefore will contain some meat byproducts) and contains mayonnaise (which has eggs). That being said, if you are following a vegan diet, you can order the Impossible Whopper without mayo and request that your food not be prepared on the broiler.

As concern about the environment and animal welfare grows, so does interest in meat-free alternatives to some of our favorite meals/dishes. The Impossible Burger is a big player in the current market of plant-based alternatives to meat. Other "up and comers" include Beyond Meat (primarily made with pea protein) and Memphis Meats (meat grown from cultured cells in a lab). It is well-known that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has multiple health-promoting effects, but not all meat-like products are created equally. If you have questions about plant-based, vegetarian, or vegan diets or any other nutrition-related concern, be sure to set up a nutrition assessment with Campus Recreation’s registered dietitian nutritionist, Annie Bell. Appointments are individualized and last about an hour – oh, and they’re free! Follow the prompts here to register: https://campusrec.utsa.edu/nutritionregistration

Impossible Burger vs Impossible Whopper vs

Ground Beef (plain) Beef Whopper Impossible 90% Lean Traditional Burger cooked Impossible Whopper Whopper Plant-based ground beef (plant-based) (beef) (4 oz) (4 oz) Calories 240 242 630 660 Total fat 14 g 13 g 34 g 40 g Saturated fat 8 g 5 g 11 g 12 g Cholesterol 0 mg 100 mg 58 mg 90 mg Protein 19 g 30 g 25 g 28 g Total carb 9 g 0 g 58 g 49 g Sugars < 1 g 0 g 12 g 11 g Fiber 3 g 0 g 4 g 2 g

References and further reading: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/impossible-and-beyond-how-healthy-are-these-meatless-burgers-2019081517448 http://jaysonlusk.com/blog/2019/8/8/consumer-preferences-for-labgrown-and-plant-based-meat https://ghgguru.faculty.ucdavis.edu/2019/09/26/no-four-pounds-of-beef-doesnt-equal-the-emissions-of-a-transatlantic-flight/ https://impossiblefoods.com/ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/impossible-burger https://vegangreenliving.com/impossible-burger-review/ https://company.bk.com/menu-item/impossible-whopper https://company.bk.com/menu-item/whopper https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171795/nutrients