Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat was one of the first brands to take plant-based meats mainstream. But a lot has changed in the past 15 years, and the brand has been busy reformulating its products to be both meatier and healthier.
Beyond Meat just launched the fourth iteration of its Beyond Burger as well as its plant-based ground meat product, Beyond Beef. Spurred by customer feedback, the brand spent years working with leading medical and nutrition experts to revamp its signature products in order to offer a healthier plant-based solution to customers. In fact, I was one of the registered dietitians who worked closely with Beyond Meat on this project, dubbed Beyond IV.
As a registered dietitian and the director of the Nutrition Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, I rigorously analyze food products year-round. I've worked closely with the Beyond Meat team over the years, and when they expressed interest in making the burger healthier to meet our standards for nutrition quality, I was eager to help.
What's in the new burgers?
The new Beyond Burgers are now made with avocado oil, which has cut the saturated fat in the product by 60%. In addition to a simplified ingredient list, the new version also has 20% less sodium and more nutrient-dense plant-based ingredients like red lentils and faba bean protein. According to the company, Beyond IV has 75% less fat than traditional 80/20 beef (that's 80% lean meat and 20% fat).
Here's a full nutritional breakdown of the Beyond IV burgers:
- 230 calories per serving
- 21g of protein per serving derived from peas, brown rice, red lentils and faba beans
- 2g of saturated fat derived from avocado oil
- 20% less sodium than the previous version
- No cholesterol
- No GMOs
How do the new meats taste?
Of course, more protein and less fat is great — but does it taste good? It was very important to our team at Good Housekeeping that Beyond Meat's latest iterations be delicious. Luckily, avocado oil has a smooth, neutral flavor that unlocks an even meatier, beefier flavor profile, as well as a juicier product overall. Plus, avocado oil has a higher smoke point than the oils used in previous products, so the brand's plant-based beef sizzles and cooks up even better than before.
Beyond Meat's products have also been recognized by leading health organizations, including the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. They're the first plant-based meat products to be Clean Label Project Certified, as well.
“Every ingredient in this fourth iteration was thoughtfully selected to bring the nutritional power of plants — from the heart-healthy monounsaturated fats in avocado oil, to the protein and fiber in peas, red lentils, faba beans and brown rice," said Beyond Meat Founder and CEO Ethan Brown in a recent press release. "There is goodness throughout Beyond IV, and we are excited to pass along these benefits to the consumer."
The new products are expected to roll out this spring at retailers across the United States.
Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition and Fitness Lab, where she oversees all nutrition and fitness-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University, as well as advanced certifications as a Women's Fitness Specialist and a Behavior Change Specialist. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.
