What is Beyond Meat made of? A Deep Dive into its Plant-Based Ingredients

In a 2022 life-cycle analysis, the Beyond Burger was found to generate 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and use 97% less land than a beef burger, highlighting a major reason for its popularity. But this innovation has many asking: what is Beyond Meat made of? The answer lies in a carefully crafted blend of simple plant-based ingredients processed to perfectly mimic the texture, taste, and appearance of animal meat.

Quick Summary

Beyond Meat products are crafted from simple, plant-based, non-GMO ingredients like pea and brown rice protein, oils, and minerals, which are processed to create the fibrous texture, juiciness, and flavor of meat.

Key Points

• Protein Base: Beyond Meat primarily uses pea protein, along with brown rice, and other legumes like fava beans, to form the core of its products.

• Juiciness from Oils: Plant-based oils such as avocado, coconut, and canola provide the juicy, fatty mouthfeel that mimics animal meat.

• Natural Coloring: The distinctive red, meaty color is achieved with a natural extract from beet juice, which also creates the 'bleeding' effect.

• Binding and Texture: Ingredients like methylcellulose and potato starch are crucial for binding the plant proteins and creating the final, firm texture.

• Manufacturing Process: A key part of production involves heating, cooling, and pressurizing the ingredients through an extruder to form fibrous, meat-like muscle tissue.

• Nutritional Profile: Compared to beef, Beyond Meat is cholesterol-free and lower in saturated fat, but it is a processed food and can be higher in sodium.

The Core Ingredients of Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat products are known for their ability to replicate the sensory experience of eating meat, a feat accomplished through food science and a carefully selected list of plant-based components. While the exact formula varies slightly by product and generation, a few ingredients are consistently at the core of the Beyond Meat lineup, including proteins, fats, minerals, and flavor enhancers.

The Protein Foundation

Protein is the building block that gives Beyond Meat its satisfying, fibrous structure. The primary source is yellow pea protein, which provides a complete protein profile. This is often combined with other plant-based proteins, such as:

• Brown rice protein
• Mung bean protein
• Fava bean protein, particularly in products like Beyond Steak
• Red lentil protein, found in some newer formulations

These proteins are subjected to a process called extrusion, where they are heated, cooled, and pressurized to create a fibrous, meat-like texture.

The Role of Fats

Just as fat contributes to the juiciness and flavor of animal meat, plant-based fats are essential to Beyond Meat's taste and texture. The company has evolved its oil blend over time:

• Early formulations: Used a combination of coconut and canola oil.
• Recent formulations: Have replaced these with heart-healthy avocado oil to reduce saturated fat and improve cooking performance.

These oils are often blended with the protein matrix to create the marbling effect, which melts when cooked, adding to the juicy experience.

Flavoring, Coloring, and Texture

To truly replicate the meat experience, Beyond Meat uses natural ingredients for flavor, color, and binding:

• Color: Beet juice extract is used to mimic the reddish hue of raw meat and even create the illusion of 'bleeding' when cooked.
• Umami Flavor: Yeast extract provides a savory, umami flavor profile that is characteristic of cooked meat.
• Binding and Texture: Methylcellulose (a plant-derived carbohydrate) and potato starch are crucial for holding the product together, retaining moisture, and creating the right mouthfeel.
• Minerals: Ingredients like calcium, iron, and potassium are added to provide a nutritional profile comparable to animal meat.

Beyond Meat vs. Impossible Foods: A Key Ingredient Difference

Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are two of the biggest names in the plant-based meat space, but they use different approaches to achieve their meat-like properties. The most significant divergence lies in their protein source and coloring agent.

Feature	Beyond Meat	Impossible Foods
Main Protein	Pea protein, often combined with brown rice, fava bean, or mung bean.	Soy protein concentrate and potato protein.
'Bleeding' Component	Beet juice extract for a natural, visual effect.	Heme, a molecule produced by genetically engineered yeast, to replicate the metallic, 'bloody' taste and appearance.
GMO Status	Non-GMO.	Uses genetically engineered yeast to produce heme, making it a GMO product.
Primary Oils	Avocado oil in newer formulations; canola and coconut oil in older versions.	Coconut and sunflower oil.

Ingredient Breakdown by Product

While the core components are similar, the specific ingredients can vary across the Beyond Meat product line to achieve different textures and flavor profiles.

Beyond Burger Ingredients (as of recent formulations):

• Pea Protein
• Rice Protein
• Avocado Oil
• Red Lentil Protein
• Fava Bean Protein
• Potato Starch
• Apple Extract
• Beet Juice Extract (for color)
• Natural Flavors

Beyond Steak Ingredients:

• Water
• Wheat Gluten
• Faba Bean Protein
• Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil
• Natural Flavor
• Spices
• Pomegranate Concentrate
• Fruit and Vegetable Juice Color

Beyond Sausage Ingredients:

• Pea Protein
• Rice Protein
• Fava Bean Protein
• Coconut Oil
• Potato Starch
• Seasoning

The Manufacturing Process

Beyond Meat's manufacturing process is key to converting simple plant ingredients into a convincing meat replica. The process involves:

1. Sourcing: Plant proteins are sourced from legumes and grains.
2. Extrusion: The proteins are run through a food extruder, a machine that uses pressure, heat, and cooling to cook the mixture and reorganize the proteins into a fibrous, dense material similar to muscle tissue.
3. Blending: The extruded protein base is then combined with fats, binders, colors, and flavors.
4. Forming: The mixture is shaped into various final products, like patties, crumbles, or sausages, before being packaged and frozen.

What the Ingredients Mean for Your Health

When evaluating Beyond Meat's health profile, it's important to weigh its benefits against its status as a processed food.

• Heart-Healthy Ingredients: The recent shift to avocado oil has further improved the product's nutritional profile by significantly reducing saturated fat. Beyond Meat products are also cholesterol-free. Beyond Steak has even received the American Heart Association's Heart-Check certification.
• Higher Sodium: A common trade-off in many plant-based meat alternatives is higher sodium content compared to plain, unseasoned meat.
• Aiding Sustainability: From an environmental perspective, Beyond Meat has been shown to have a substantially lower impact than traditional beef production across several metrics, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption.
• Not a Replacement for Whole Foods: While a good alternative to meat, it's not a substitute for whole plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and legumes.

Conclusion

So, what is Beyond Meat made of? It's a combination of plant proteins, most notably pea protein, blended with oils, minerals, and natural colorings like beet juice. Through innovative food science, these plant-based components are transformed into a product that delivers the taste, texture, and cooking experience of meat, all without the need for animal products. While a processed food, Beyond Meat offers a sustainable and often heart-healthier alternative to traditional beef, with ongoing innovations continuing to refine its nutritional profile. As the company's promise is to enable consumers to "Eat What You Love" with a plant-based option, its ingredient list is the foundation of that mission. To learn more about their products and mission, visit the official Beyond Meat website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main protein source in Beyond Meat?

The primary protein source is pea protein, often combined with other plant proteins like brown rice, fava bean, or red lentil protein depending on the product formulation.

What makes Beyond Meat look like real beef?

The reddish color and "bleeding" effect are achieved through the use of beet juice extract, a natural ingredient that replicates the appearance of meat.

Is Beyond Meat gluten-free and soy-free?

Yes, Beyond Meat products are typically gluten-free and soy-free, making them suitable for individuals with those dietary restrictions. Always check the specific product label for confirmation.

Is Beyond Meat considered a processed food?

Yes, Beyond Meat products are considered processed foods, as they are created through industrial processes like extrusion to transform plant ingredients into meat-like products.

How does Beyond Meat get its meaty texture?

The texture is created by putting plant proteins through an extruder machine, which uses heating, cooling, and pressure to create a fibrous structure similar to animal muscle tissue.

Is Beyond Meat healthier than a traditional beef burger?

Nutritionally, Beyond Meat contains no cholesterol and less saturated fat than an 80/20 beef burger. However, it can be higher in sodium, so it is important to consider both aspects.

What type of oil is used in Beyond Meat?

Older formulations used canola and coconut oil, but recent versions have transitioned to heart-healthy avocado oil to reduce saturated fat content and improve cooking performance.