Beyond Beef Is Worse Than Beef
Canadians can't get enough of Across Meat's plant-based burger that's designed to taste merely like beef.
It has attracted not just vegetarians just too meat eaters such as Jim Allen, who recently dined on a Beyond Burger at A&W, assertive it was the healthier pick.
"I was quite eager to effort it," said Allen, who lives in Toronto. "Everybody'southward saying get abroad from red meat and eat more plants."
Canada's new nutrient guide advises Canadians to consume less meat and consume more salubrious plant-based poly peptide foods such every bit beans and lentils.
But does Beyond'southward burger qualify equally a healthy protein alternative?
Beyond Meat says yes. On its website, the California-based company markets its establish-based products as "better for you" options that don't come up with the major wellness risks associated with sure kinds of meat.
Yet, nutrition experts CBC News interviewed argue that in that location's no difficult scientific data — at least not yet — to bear witness that a processed plant-based patty trumps beef.
"Where is their research saying that — that this is better than eating a modest, portion-controlled, lean piece of meat?" said Toronto-based dietitian and nutritionist Rosie Schwartz.
The Beyond Burger contains shut to 20 ingredients, including refined coconut oil, pea protein isolate and flavouring. Schwartz says that qualifies it every bit a highly processed food — something that Canadians are advised to limit in their diet, along with candy and fatty meat.
"When Health Canada says nosotros should be choosing more establish-based protein alternatives, I believe they're talking about whole foods. They're non talking about ultra-processed foods," said Schwartz.
Beyond Meat CEO weighs in
Food scientist Ben Bohrer says when comparing a Beyond Burger with beef, the nutritional limerick is fairly similar.
A Beyond patty contains 270 calories, 5 grams of saturated fatty and 390 milligrams of sodium. In comparison, Walmart'south Peachy Value Beefiness Burger has 30 fewer calories and two more grams of saturated fatty. Information technology besides has 300 mg less sodium, simply it's non pre-seasoned like the Across patty.
- How the new institute-based burgers stack up to beef
"They try to lucifer basis beef as closely every bit they can," said Bohrer, a professor at the University of Guelph. "If you lot're doing that, then I don't know how y'all could say that there'southward advantages to the product that yous've fabricated."
Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown argues such comparisons are besides simplistic considering they don't cistron in the reported health risks — such as cancer and heart disease — that are associated with eating carmine and processed meat.
"The media has an obligation to get this stuff right," said Chocolate-brown in a telephone interview. "If consumers are reading these [news] pieces, and going away thinking they just as well might be eating red meat, that'south not fair to them."
As proof, Across Meat sent CBC News data on numerous health studies looking at the implications of eating meat.
Research lacking
The almost contempo study the company pointed to was published in June past the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It institute that upping one's crimson meat intake — processed red meat, in detail — increased the risk of premature death.
"I'grand imploring people to please exercise their research," said Brownish.
"The health implications of reddish and candy meat really stretch far beyond saturated fat levels."
Dr. Frank Hu, senior author of the Harvard study, says the research then far demonstrates that eating too much red meat, especially processed meat, can be harmful to one's health.
"Replacing red meat with other sources of poly peptide, peculiarly plant-based protein food, can reduce [the] adventure of chronic disease and premature expiry," said Hu, a professor of diet and epidemiology at Harvard.
Merely he said we don't all the same have research showing that a processed plant-based burger is a healthier food pick.
- Plant-based eating goes mainstream equally Beyond Meat targets Canadian grocery shelves
- 'Is ruby-red meat expert or bad?' Researchers say that'due south the wrong question
"Based on the data we have, we can make a prediction they're better," said Hu. "Merely this blazon of study hasn't been done yet to directly compare the health effects of the 2 types of burgers."
Across Meat, however, is sticking to its claims.
"Given the abundance of enquiry clearly demonstrating the link between cherry and processed meat consumption and health risks, we stand firmly behind our belief that Beyond Meat products are an improvement nutritionally," Dariush Ajami, Across Meat'southward principal innovation officer, said in an email.
He added that the Beyond burger likewise has the do good of containing no cholesterol or animate being-derived saturated fatty, and is lower in saturated fatty than burgers fabricated from fattier cuts of beefiness.
As for customer Allen, he'southward decided that unless new research tells him otherwise, he'll continue to presume that Beyond's constitute-based burger is healthier. However, he doesn't programme to purchase it over again at a fast-nutrient restaurant. That's because he discovered that once the bun and toppings are added, A&W's version has i,110 milligrams of sodium.
"I'1000 disappointed," said Allen, who'southward trying to cut down his sodium intake.
Wellness Canada recommends that adults aim for about 1,500 mg of sodium daily and non exceed two,300 mg.
A&W told CBC News that customers can modify their burger to arrange their dietary needs, such every bit swapping the bun for a lettuce wrap.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/beyond-meat-burger-beef-health-risks-1.5220777
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