Vegan maybe...but one burger had twice the fat of a Big Mac
THERE is no doubting the scientificinput needed to make juicy, meat-freeburgersthatareuncannilyliketherealthing.Buthowdoesthenewgenerationof alt-meat burgers perform when itcomestohealth…andtaste?
MOVING MOUNTAINS Cals: 247. Saturated fat: 18g. Sugar: 0.6g. Protein: 14.4g. Fibre: 4.1g. Salt: 1.2g. WHAT’S IN IT?
A mix of pea,wheatandsoyproteincombinedwithmushrooms,chicoryandtomatoes.Flour,oatsandbarleyprovide bulk and almostfive teaspoons of coconutoilperpattybindstheingredientstogether. It has plant-based bulkingagents, plus sugarsyrup, spices and lemonjuiceandaddedVitaminB12. Beetroot juicegivescolour.
VERDICT:
One pattyalone contains twice thesaturated fat of a Big Mac,thanks to the coconut oil. Italsopacksmorecalories,sugarand almost three times the salt of aTescoFinestbeefburger.The addition of a brioche bun andsaucetakesituptoabout600calories–morethanhalfamargheritapizza.However, there is the addition ofVitaminB12,essentialforhealthyblood vessels, and the same amountofbowel-friendlyfibreasinapotato.
TASTE TEST:I’mnotaburgerfan.But
Iwassurprisedhowmeaty-tastingthiswas – and the texture and rednessinside the patty were extremely convincing.Thiswasthebestofthebunchintermsofflavour.
HEALTH RATING: 2/5 BEYOND MEAT BURGER Cals: 255. Saturated fat: 3.8g. Sugar: 0.2g. Protein: 19.6g. Fibre: 0.5. Salt: 1g. WHAT’S IN IT?
Mainlypowdermadefrom pea protein – it makes up a fifthof the burger. Coconut oil appearsagain,asdoespotatostarch,yeast,sunfloweroil,beetrootandgumArabic–a popular thickener often used insweetslikechewinggum,plusabulkingagentmadefromasubstancefoundinbamboo.
VERDICT:
Althoughit’sthehighestincalories,theBeyondMeatburgerhasthe lowest saturated fat of all alt-meatburgersandhalfthatofarealburger.
Sugar content is about the same, as isfibre,withsaltfractionallyhigher.
LiniaPatel,adieticianspecialisinginpublic health, says that pea proteinlacks the array of amino acids thatmeat has and which are needed to successfullybuildproteininthebody.
She says: ‘By choosing this burgeroverbeef,youaresubstitutingproteinrichmeat for a poor-quality vegetableprotein.’
This burger loses points for it slackof vitamins too .
Atypical beefburger boasts importantvitamins such a sB 12, B 6, E , D and K ,a swell as iron and thiamine . BeyondMeat’ s burger has none of these addedbut is injected with Vitamin C , whichyou won’ t find in atypical beefburger .
TASTE TEST:
Inaword,bland.Servedinabapwithalargeamountofcheese,sauceandonion,it’sflavourful.Butonitsown,thepattytastedofnothingmuch.Burgerloversintheofficeweresimilarlyunconvinced.
HEALTH RATING: 3/5 IMPOSSIBLE BURGER WHAT’S IN IT?Aconcoctionofalmost
20 different ingredients that includepowdered soya, coconut oil, sunfloweroil,potatoprotein,yeastandvitamins.
Next ,there’ s a range of additives ,such as the bulking agent methyl cellulose ,preservatives , flavourings and wheat st arch.
Butthecrucialingredientis‘heme’,thecompoundthatgivesredmeatitsdistinctive colour, juicy texture andtaste. They claim their burger is nutritionallyequivalenttomeat.
VERDICT:Ithassixtimesthefibreofa
regularbeefburger,andanextratwogramsofprotein.
OnepattyalsoofferstwicetherecommendeddailyintakeofVitaminB12,essentialforhealthybloodvessels,andthesamequantityofdisease-fightingzincasyou’llfindinabeefburger.
Ithassimilaramountsofsaturatedfat,sugarandcaloriestoarealburger.
Linia Patel says potatoes and soyaproteinlacktheaminoacidsthatmeathas, and these are vital for keepingmuscleandboneshealthy.
And there are question marks overhow well the vitamins and heme areabsorbed.‘WeknowalltheBvitaminsinmeatworktogethertobeabsorbedwellbythebody,’saysPatel.‘Wedon’tknowifthesameistrueforthisversion.’
TASTE TEST:
The skinny , sinewy pattyiss lathered in spicy burger saucewhich mask sits lacklustre flavour . Itdoes smell and look just like the McDonald’ sequivalent , but the dull taste is in comparable . I continue chewing , waiting for my taste buds to awaken , but there’ s no response .
HEALTH RATING: 4/5