Debunking Common Misconceptions

Is plant-based meat ultra processed and unhealthy? 

Not all processed foods are created equal.  

A recent study backed by the World Health Organization reports that processed animal-meat products are linked to an increased risk of multimorbidity (the coexistence of multiple, long-term health conditions). Plant-based meat alternatives, however, are not. 

 Oversimplifying this category does not acknowledge the nutritional spectrum between processed and ultra-processed foods. This study underscores that it might be time for us to reframe our thinking to help empower consumers to make conscious choices about their health. Read more about it on our blog here. 

Here’s the process behind making Beyond Steak: Farmers, including those in the states of North Dakota and Montana, grow faba beans, which is a source of protein in Beyond Steak. The crop is harvested and then it’s milled. The flour is placed in an air chamber, and because the density and size of the protein and starch are different, they naturally separate. We then take the protein, blend it with wheat gluten and run it through heating, cooling and pressure to restructure the form of that protein into a structure similar to that of animal muscle. We then mix in natural flavors and colors from carrots and apples, and oil to create Beyond Steak, which is a good source of protein, low in saturated fat (1g per serving) and has no cholesterol – creating a nutrition profile that qualifies it as a heart-healthy* food certified by the American Heart Association. 

 It's a process that is elegant that produces better outcomes for the human body and earth. 

 *Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and as low as possible in trans fat, may reduce the risk of heart disease 

 

Is plant-based meat full of chemicals?  

Beyond Meat products are made from clean and simple plant-based ingredients. For example, check out Beyond Beef’s new simplified ingredients list here replacing seed oils with avocado oil. And check out Beyond Steak here, named TIME’s Best Invention of 2022, and certified by The American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Program. 

 The new Beyond Meat IV products are the first plant-based meat products to be Clean Label Project Certified, considered one of the strictest third-party certification programs in the country when it comes to protecting consumers from industrial & environmental contaminants and chemicals of concern, requiring a rigorous compliance framework. 

 This myth has been propagated by the animal meat industry and can be traced back to "A Super Bowl commercial & NYT ad, paid for by a PR firm used by the meat industry, about “scary” ingredients in plant-based meat back in 2020." (source) It's been going on ever since with the meat industry actually recruiting 'meat-influencers' to spread the word (check out this "MBA" course from course developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association). 

 Methylcellulose is a plant fiber derivative that helps hold our ingredients together; similar in function to cornstarch or flour. Methylcellulose has been recognized as safe for use in food by the FDA for 50 years.   

 

Is Beyond Meat high in sodium?  

Comparing our products to raw, unseasoned beef is not an apples-to-apples comparison as nearly no one eats their meat unseasoned. When people make burgers using ground beef, they inevitably add salt or a salted spice blend. 

The new Beyond Burger and Beyond Beef have 14% Daily Value of sodium. 

The SWAP-MEAT study showed just that – average daily sodium intake and blood pressure levels were consistent for participants between the animal-based meat diet and the plant-based meat diet phases of the study, debunking the myth that plant-based meats are higher in sodium than animal-based meat once you account for seasoning. 

 

Is animal meat “pure and nutrient dense”?  

Animal meat, especially red meat, is linked to high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease. Luckily, reducing red meat and increasing plant-based food can decrease the level of TMAO (Trimethylamine N-oxide), which is linked to heart disease (source). 

Processed meat is classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization (source). 

70% to 90% of the world's meat comes from factory farms (source) where animals are kept confined (unable to turn around) and deprived of light (raising cortisol levels of the meat), fed soy, corn and sometimes hormones from horse blood and hormones & antibiotics (causing rising levels of antimicrobial resistance source). 

  

Are seed oils unhealthy?  

There is no solid scientific evidence proving they’re harmful to health. Much of the criticism stems from misleading hype on social media rather than credible research.  

Some claim that seed oils’ high levels of omega-6 fatty acids relative to omega-3 fatty acids may drive up chronic conditions by increasing inflammation in the body. Researchers have found that people who consume more omega-6 fatty acids generally do not have higher markers of inflammation in their blood. 

 A large body of research has shown that people who consume more omega-6 fatty acids or who have higher levels of those fats in their blood have lower risks for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and earlier death. 

 Clinical trials have also consistently shown that when people replace some saturated fats (from animal fats like butter or lard) with seed or other plant-based oils, their LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol levels and risk for cardiovascular disease decrease, said Alice H. Lichtenstein, a professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University.  

 

Do only vegans and vegetarians eat Beyond Meat?  

Over 80% of Beyond Meat consumers eat both plant-based meat and animal meat (source: Primary Quantitative Research US August 2024, n=4,000+ US respondents).