Examining Nutrition Facts of Beyond Meat's Plant-Based Meat Products

Examining the Nutrition Facts and Health Profile of Beyond Meat Products

Beyond Meat produces plant-based meat substitutes designed to mimic the taste, texture and satisfaction of animal meat. Their product line includes Beyond Burger patties, Beyond Sausage links and crumbles, Beyond Beef taco meat and Beyond Chicken tenders and strips.

The company advertises its products as healthier alternatives to traditional meat with comparable protein content but less saturated fat and no cholesterol. But some critics argue the highly processed ingredients and sodium levels undermine the purported health benefits.

This article will analyze the nutrition facts and health profile of popular Beyond Meat products to assess how they truly compare to animal meat nutritionally.

Beyond Meat Nutrition Facts and Ingredients Overview

The base of Beyond Meat products consists of pea protein isolates, canola and coconut oils, and refined coconut oil. Binders and stabilizers like methylcellulose and gum Arabic are added to replicate a meat-like texture and mouthfeel.

Beet juice and annatto provide the "bleeding" effect when cooking Beyond Burger patties. Maltodextrin, yeast extract, potatoes and apple extract help generate savory umami and meaty flavors. Natural colors like beet and carrot juices also enhance visual similarity.

Nutritionally, Beyond Meat touts advantages like more protein, less saturated fat, zero cholesterol and no antibiotics or hormones compared to real beef. However, the products contain high amounts of sodium, ranging from 380-900mg per serving.

Nutrition Facts Comparison: Beyond Burger vs Beef Burger

Let's compare the nutrition facts of the popular Beyond Burger to an equivalent 4-ounce beef hamburger patty:

Beyond Burger (4 oz)

• Calories: 250
• Fat: 18g (Saturated 6g)
• Carbs: 5g (Fiber 2g, Sugars 0g)
• Protein: 20g
• Sodium: 380mg

Beef Hamburger Patty (4 oz, 90% lean)

• Calories: 287
• Fat: 18g (Saturated 7g)
• Carbs: 0g
• Protein: 19g
• Sodium: 75mg

Compared gram for gram, the Beyond Burger contains slightly less calories, total fat, saturated fat and sodium. But some experts point out the burger has hefty amounts of canola oil, coconut oil and sodium still.

Beyond Sausage Nutrition Facts

Beyond Meat's sausage products deliver a cholesterol-free alternative to pork sausage in both link and ground "crumble" versions. But sodium levels are markedly high.

Beyond Breakfast Sausage (3 links)

• Calories: 220
• Fat: 18g (Saturated 10g)
• Carbs: 2g (Fiber 1g, Sugars less than 1g)
• Protein: 10g
• Sodium: 790mg

Beyond Beefy Crumbles (4 oz)

• Calories: 180
• Fat: 14g (Saturated 2.5g)
• Carbs: 3g (Fiber 2g, Sugars less than 1g)
• Protein: 14g
• Sodium: 460mg

While lower in saturated fat than pork sausage, a single serving of Beyond Sausage can contain nearly half your daily recommended sodium intake.

Beyond Beef Nutrition Information

Beyond Beef plant-based ground beef mimics the texture and flavor of ground beef. It can be used similarly in recipes for tacos, chili, bolognese sauce, etc. But it swaps animal fat for canola and coconut oils.

Beyond Beef Feisty Crumbles (4 oz)

• Calories: 170
• Fat: 12g (Saturated 2g)
• Carbs: 4g (Fiber 2g, Sugars 0g)
• Protein: 14g
• Sodium: 390mg

Beyond Beef provides comparable protein to lean ground beef with less saturated fat. But total fat remains similar due to plant-based oils. Sodium is elevated as well.

Beyond Chicken Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

Beyond Chicken products replicate the fibrous, juicy texture and taste of chicken through strategic use of plant proteins, fats, flavors and binders. But the formula also amps up sodium.

Beyond Chicken Tenders (3 oz)

• Calories: 140
• Fat: 5g (Saturated 1g)
• Carbs: 2g (Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g)
• Protein: 16g
• Sodium: 390mg

Beyond Chicken Strips (3 oz)

• Calories: 120
• Fat: 4g (Saturated 0.5g)
• Carbs: 2g (Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g)
• Protein: 18g
• Sodium: 470mg

While lower in total and saturated fat compared to chicken breast, Beyond Chicken contains triple the sodium - making moderation prudent.

Health Profile: Benefits and Drawbacks of Beyond Meat

Here are some of the health pros and cons associated with Beyond Meat products:

Potential Benefits

• High in plant protein to support muscle tissue.
• Lower in saturated fat than animal meat.
• No cholesterol concerns.
• Provide alternative protein source for vegetarians/vegans.
• Comparable taste and texture to meat.

Potential Drawbacks

• Heavily processed and high in sodium - may increase health risks if consumed regularly.
• Often higher in fat, calories and sodium compared to lean meats like chicken breast.
• Contains various processed oils, thickeners and stabilizers.
• High phytic acid content from peas may impact mineral absorption.
• More expensive than conventional meat options.

Overall, Beyond Meat offers a vegetarian-friendly, low-cholesterol alternative high in plant protein. But reliance on oils, sodium, and additives to achieve taste and texture may counter any proposed benefits versus lean meat for some consumers.

How Beyond Meat Compares to Other Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

Beyond Meat spearheaded the plant-based meat movement, but faces increasing competition from brands like Impossible Foods, Quorn and MorningStar Farms. Here's how some of their top-selling products stack up nutritionally.

Beyond Burger vs. Impossible Burger

The Impossible Burger uses soy protein, coconut oil, sunflower oil and heme iron instead of pea protein and canola oil, but is quite similar overall.

Beyond Burger (4 oz)

• Calories: 250
• Fat: 18g (Saturated 6g)
• Protein: 20g
• Sodium: 380mg

Impossible Burger (4 oz)

• Calories: 240
• Fat:

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.