Beyond Meat To Launch 2 New, Healthier Burgers With ‘Even Better Nutritional Profile’ Next Year

Plant-based food tech giant Beyond Meat has announced that it will be launching two new versions of the Beyond Burger in early 2021. The company says that one will represent the “meatiest” version to date, while the other will be the brand’s most nutritious patty to meet consumers’ growing attention on both taste and the health and nutritional profile of plant-based proteins. 

Announced on Monday (November 16), Beyond Meat’s two new iterations of their flagship Beyond Burger is expected to launch nationwide in the U.S. early next year to offer consumers more choice. The first is described as the “juiciest patty for the meatiest burger experience” while still delivering a healthier experience with 35% less saturated fat compared to conventional 80/20 beef, while the second will boast a 55% reduction in saturated fat. Both will also contain added Vitamin B and minerals to rival the micronutrient profile of its animal-based counterparts. 

Just as you can find different varieties of ground beef, consumers will now have more choice to satisfy their individual nutritional needs and preferences.

Ethan Brown, Founder & CEO of Beyond Meat

“I am personally thrilled to introduce this new Beyond Burger platform as it speaks so clearly to what our brand and company stands for,” said Ethan Brown, founder and CEO of Beyond Meat. “Our commitment is to provide consumers with absolutely delicious plant-based meats that are better for people and the planet, no sacrifice required. These new iterations deliver on this promise.” 

“Just as you can find different varieties of ground beef, consumers will now have more choice to satisfy their individual nutritional needs and preferences,” Brown added in a nod to the growing base of consumers who are not only looking for more sustainable and ethical meat alternatives, but are also increasingly conscious over health and nutrition in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a recent interview between the company’s head of communications Shira Zackai and FoodNavigator, there will be a slight change in ingredients to formulate the new Beyond Burgers. 

“We have removed mung bean so the protein in the new Beyond Burgers is sourced from a blend of peas and rice,” said Zackai, who added that the new iterations will replace the current platform, which contains pea, mung bean, faba bean and brown rice protein. 

We have removed mung bean so the protein in the new Beyond Burgers is sourced from a blend of peas and rice.

Shira Zackai, Head of Communications at Beyond Meat

To unveil the new Beyond Burgers, the El Segundo, California-based food tech will be hosting a preview tasting in Los Angeles this week before launching the products next year. It currently sells its products across 28,000 retail outlets across the U.S., including in the biggest chains such as Walmart and Costco, and will be adding more than 7,000 CVS pharmacy locations to its growing list beginning in January 2021. 

Beyond Meat has yet to release further details on when the new burger patties will launch in international markets, where it has a present in approximately 122,000 point-of-sales in over 80 countries, including its domestic market. However, given its recent move to set up a new manufacturing facility in mainland China with ready access to Shanghai, which is slated to launch in early 2021, it is likely that the food tech will be expanding its new offerings across Asia soon after its U.S. launch. 

Beyond Meat’s latest news comes hot on the heels of its nationwide partnership with fast food giant Pizza Hut to roll out two new vegetarian-friendly pizzas containing its Beyond Sausage, revealed on the same day that McDonald’s announced a new McPlant line, which the food tech said it was a co-developer. 

Lead image courtesy of Beyond Meat.