PLANT-BASED MEATBALLS

Information updated April 2024

Once upon a time, Plant-based meant Veggie-based.

Today, the term “Plant-based” has emerged in reference to meat analog products designed to taste, feel and look like animal meat.

In technical terms, Plant-based means it’s made from plants. But these products are made from much more than plants . . .

Beyond Meat contains ingredients which are Not In Kitchen™ when making homemade Plant-based Meatballs including commercial Natural Flavors, Potassium Chloride, Methylcellulose, Sunflower Lecithin and Beet Powder for color. The first five ingredients in Beyond Meat are Water, Pea Protein, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil and Natural Flavors. (Source: Beyond Meat Web site 4/24)

Following is a look at the ingredients Not In Kitchen in several Plant-based Meatballs.

Note that some Plant-based Meatballs include Soy Protein Isolate >> an ingredient from which Harvard Medical School advises we stay away. “Some soy products contain estrogen-like chemicals that could have adverse effects. So, stay away from soy isoflavone supplements and foods made with textured vegetable protein and soy protein isolate.”(Source: Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School 2024)

Many Plant-based Meatballs also contain Yeast Extract which is a flavor Enhancer. The U.S. FDA does not allow products which contain Yeast Extract to say ‘No MSG’ on their packages >> both contain potentially harmful glutamates. (Source: U.S. FDA 2024)

Following is a look at a few other brands of Plant-based Meatballs:

According to Statista 2024, Kellogg’s Morning Star Farms is the #1 U.S. brand of Meat Alternative. Morning Star Farms Veggie Meatballs — below left — contain two Flavor Enhancers >> Yeast Extract and Natural Flavor plus two sweeteners >> added Sugar and Dextrose; Dextrose is a sugar from which candies like Smarties are made. (Source: Kellogg’s Morning Star Farms 4/24)

With regard to the Mycoprotein noted in Quorn Meatless Meatballs — below right — here is the description from the Quorn Web site: “To make Quorn mycoprotein, we don’t start with livestock, we take a natural, nutritious fungus that grows in the soil. This fungus is known as Fusarium venenatum. We then use the age-old process of fermentation.” (Source: Quorn Web site 4/24)

Shown below, the first five ingredients in Impossible Foods Plant-based Meatballs are Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil and Methylcellulose. (Source: Impossible Foods Web site 4/24)

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