Are Impossible® Products Healthy?

When it comes to healthy eating, we believe it’s best to focus on consuming a diverse, balanced mix of foods that in total provide the vital nutrients needed to contribute to overall healthfulness. The reality is that categorizing singular foods as “healthy” or “unhealthy” is a difficult task. However, what we can do is look at the nutrient compositions of foods to determine how closely they align with recommended nutrient intake.

At Impossible Foods, we strive to make nutritious meat from plants that is better for consumers and better for the planet. We have a wide range of nutrient-dense beef, chicken and pork products from plants. Our meat contains high-quality protein, has essential nutrients like iron, calcium, and potassium, and also outperforms the animal on key nutrients such as 0mg cholesterol, 0g trans fat and intrinsic fiber (see nutrition panel for fat and sodium content). And, a majority of our meat from plants contain at least 25% less total fat and saturated fat compared to the animal.¹

Here is a quick look at how our products compare to the animal.

To fully understand the nutritional profile of Impossible meat from plants, let’s take a deep dive into their nutritional compositions in comparison to their animal counterparts. ¹ See impossiblefoods.com/nutrition-disclaimers for more info.

What’s in Impossible® Beef?

Impossible Beef is made from plants for people who love meat. Impossible Beef is highly versatile; use it just like you would ground beef in any recipe - from tacos to chili, pastas and lasagnas, stir fries, salads, and of course, burgers. It cooks like beef, tastes like beef, and is much better for the planet than beef from cows.

Impossible Beef Vs. Ground Beef From Cows

Compared to a 4 oz serving of USDA 80/20 ground beef from cows, Impossible Beef contains:

• 19g of protein, the same as beef from cows

• 40% less total fat (13g vs 23g) and 33% less saturated fat (6g vs 9g), from coconut oil and high-oleic sunflower oil

• 25% DV iron (4.2mg), which is 1.5X more than animal beef (2.2mg, 10% DV)

• 5g of dietary fiber, thanks to our plant ingredients – unlike beef from cows, which contains no intrinsic fiber

• 0mg cholesterol, compared to 80mg

• 0g trans fat, compared to 1.5g

• Comparable or greater amounts of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, calcium, potassium, and B Vitamins including B12 and B6

• No animal hormones or antibiotics

• Gluten free, halal, and kosher

One 4 oz serving of Impossible Beef contains 370mg sodium (16% DV), making it a suitable addition to a wide range of diets – including low-sodium diets. While this is higher than a serving of unseasoned, raw beef, it’s important to keep in mind that ground beef is almost always seasoned with salt when cooked. So, the true sodium content of animal ground beef when consumed can’t be fully visualized just by looking at the nutrition facts panel. A general tip you’ll commonly hear from nutrition experts is to think about sodium in the context of your entire meal and dietary pattern, rather than just one ingredient. Read more about sodium here.

What’s in Impossible® Lite Ground Beef?

Impossible Lite Ground Beef is made from plants, heart healthy,¹ and certified by the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Program. It also has no cholesterol and only 1g of saturated fat – that’s 75% less saturated fat than lean 90/10 ground beef from animals!² It crumbles, cooks, and tastes like lean beef,³ too, while being better for the planet.⁴

¹ Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and as low as possible in trans fat, may reduce the risk of heart disease. ² USDA 90/10 ground beef has 4.5 grams of saturated fat, while Impossible Lite Ground Beef Meat From Plants has 1 gram of saturated fat per 113g serving. ³ Based on a U.S. National In-Home Use Test with 149 consumers in October 2022. ⁴ Impossible Foods Life Cycle Assessment of Impossible Beef Lite, ISO compliant; Planet FWD, 2023.

Impossible Lite Ground Beef Vs. Lean Ground Beef From Cows

Compared to a 4 oz serving of 90/10 lean ground beef from cows, Impossible Lite Ground Beef contains:

• 21g of protein, similar to lean beef from cows (23g)

• 75% less saturated fat (1g vs. 4.5g) and 45% less total fat (6g vs. 11g)

• 25% DV iron (4.4mg), which is 1.5X more than animal beef (2.5mg, 18% DV)

• 6g of dietary fiber, thanks to our plant ingredients – unlike beef from cows which contains no intrinsic fiber

• 0mg cholesterol, compared to 75mg

• 0g trans fat, compared to 0.5g

• Comparable or greater amounts of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, calcium, potassium, and B Vitamins including B12 and B6.

• No animal hormones or antibiotics

• Gluten free, halal, and kosher

One 4 oz serving of Impossible Lite Ground Beef contains 260mg sodium (11% DV), making it a suitable addition to a wide range of diets – including low-sodium diets. Similar to our flagship Impossible Beef product, while this is higher than a serving of raw lean beef, it’s important to remember that ground beef is almost always seasoned with salt when cooked. Therefore, making a 1:1 sodium comparison between our beef from plants and animal beef is not very accurate.

What’s in Impossible® Beef Hot Dogs?

The Impossible Beef Hot Dog made from plants offers a fresh take on an American classic. These next-generation franks are easy to add to all your comfort classics, delivering the smoky, juicy flavor you know and love but with less of an environmental footprint compared to the animal version.¹ ¹ Impossible Beef Hot Dogs US LCA (2023).

Impossible Beef Hot Dogs Vs. A Leading Animal Beef Hot Dog

Compared to a 47g serving of a leading animal beef hot dog, an Impossible Beef Hot Dog contains:

• 12g of protein, compared to only 5g in animal-based hot dogs

• 50% less saturated fat (2.5g vs. 5g) and 45% less total fat (7g vs. 13g) than leading animal beef hot dogs

• 0mg cholesterol, compared to 25mg cholesterol

• 0g trans fat, compared to 0.5g

• Comparable or greater amounts of minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium.

• No animal hormones or antibiotics

• No nitrates/nitrites added, except those naturally occurring in cultured celery powder

• Equivalent sodium content

What’s in Impossible® Sausage?

Impossible Sausage is made from plants for people who love juicy, flavor-packed sausage. We make it easy with several different options: from patties, links and ground sausage, to savory, spicy, italian, and bratwurst! Use Impossible Sausage in breakfast burritos, casseroles, sandwiches, or even crumble it on top of pizza. It’s also perfect alongside your favorite pancakes or egg scrambles.

Impossible Sausage Vs. Ground Pork Sausage

• When compared to a cooked 2 oz serving of a leading pork ground sausage, Impossible Sausage has:

• 8g protein, when cooked, equivalent to a leading pork ground sausage when cooked (9g)

• 47% less total fat (10g vs. 19g) and 42% less saturated fat (4g vs. 7g) when cooked

• 25% fewer calories (150 vs. 210) when cooked

• 0mg cholesterol, compared to 35mg cholesterol

• 10%DV iron (1.8mg) when cooked, compared to 0.45mg (2%DV)

• Comparable or greater amounts of minerals such as calcium and iron

• No animal hormones or antibiotics

• Comparable sodium content

What’s in Impossible® Chicken Nuggets?

With a crispy, golden brown coating and a tender, juicy bite, Impossible Chicken Nuggets Meat From Plants prove that the better nuggets no longer come from chicken—they come from plants. Whether you’re popping them in the microwave, oven or air fryer, Impossible Chicken Nuggets hit the spot and are better for the planet than animal chicken.

Impossible Chicken Nuggets Vs. Animal Chicken Nuggets

When compared to a 95g serving of a leading animal chicken nugget, Impossible Chicken Nuggets have:

• 13g protein, similar to animal chicken nuggets (15g)

• 60% less saturated fat (1.5g vs. 4g) and 30% less total fat (12g vs. 18g)

• 10% DV iron (2mg), compared to animal chicken nuggets which have no iron

• 0mg cholesterol, compared to 40mg cholesterol

• Comparable or greater amounts of minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium

• No animal hormones or antibiotics¹

• Comparable sodium content

¹ Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in poultry.

What’s in Impossible® Pork?

Do you love the juicy, savory taste of ground pork? We’ve got good news for you: Now you can enjoy pork from plants that tastes better than the animal,¹ and is better for the planet². Although Impossible Pork is only available in restaurants currently, you can use our handy locator tool to find a restaurant serving it near you.

¹ In a blind taste test of over 200 consumers in Hong Kong, Impossible Pork Meat From Plants was preferred to ground pork from pigs (54% preference vs. 46%). ² Impossible Foods Life Cycle Assessment of Impossible Sausage, Amendment for Impossible Pork, ISO compliant; WSP, 2021.

Impossible Pork Vs. Ground Pork From Pigs

• When compared to a 4 oz serving of USDA 70/30 ground pork, Impossible Pork contains:

• 18g protein, comparable to animal ground pork (17g)

• 59% less total fat (13g vs. 32g) and 36% less saturated fat (7g vs. 11g)

• 37% fewer calories (220 vs. 350)

• 4g of dietary fiber, thanks to our plant ingredients – unlike ground pork from pigs, which contains no intrinsic fiber

• 0mg cholesterol, compared to 85mg cholesterol

• Comparable or greater amounts of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, calcium and B vitamins, including B12 and B3

No animal hormones or antibiotics

One 4 oz serving of Impossible Pork contains 290mg sodium (13%), making it a suitable addition to a wide range of diets – including low-sodium diets. Similar to our other ground meat from plants, Impossible Beef and Lite Beef, Impossible Pork may have more sodium compared to raw ground pork from pigs, but the comparison requires more nuance. Animal ground pork is almost always seasoned during the cooking process, contributing to a higher sodium content in the final product.

You may also be wondering: is Impossible Pork Halal? While it isn’t certified Halal (good news, Impossible Beef and Sausage are!), it contains no animal ingredients or antibiotics and is made from plant ingredients.

What’s in Impossible® Meatballs?

Impossible Meatballs Meat From Plants go from fridge to plate in under 5 minutes, making weeknight dinners that much easier. You can cook them straight from frozen in the oven or microwave, or simply toss them into your sauce of choice while it simmers. Spaghetti with meatballs, meatball subs, Swedish style—it’s all up to you.

Impossible Meatballs Vs. Animal Meatballs

When compared to an 85g serving of leading animal meatballs, Impossible Homestyle Meatballs have:

• 12g of protein, similar to animal meatballs (14g)

• 25% less sodium (440mg vs. 590mg)

• 0mg cholesterol, compared to 60mg cholesterol

• Comparable total fat (14g vs. 15g) and saturated fat (3.5g vs. 4.5g)

• Equivalent iron content (2.2mg, 10% DV) to the animal (1.8mg, 10% DV)

• Comparable or greater amounts of minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium

• No animal hormones or antibiotics

Why Do Impossible Products Contain Soy?

Soy is used in countless products in the food industry, and for good reason. We use American-sourced¹ soy in Impossible Beef because it is one of the only widely-consumed plant proteins with comparable quality to animal protein. Not only that, it is also rich in many other beneficial nutrients including dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids (the good kind of fats!), and essential nutrients like folate, iron, magnesium, and potassium.

While concerns about soy’s safety still seem to linger in some corners, scientific consensus has long supported the health benefits of soy. Click here to learn more about why we use soy in Impossible products. ¹ 99% of the soy in Impossible Beef is American-sourced.

Are Impossible Products Processed?

It’s important to remember that processing does not necessarily make a food or an ingredient less healthy. Any food product that undergoes changes from its raw, natural state by heating, cutting, seasoning, etc. is considered “processed.” This includes most foods you’d find in a supermarket, from bread to olive oil to yogurt. So while “processed” may be a buzz word often conflated with “unhealthy,” it’s important to recognize that the truth is much more nuanced.

The best way to assess the healthfulness of a product is by looking at its nutritional qualities, rather than on the processing methods used. At Impossible Foods, we utilize high quality plant-derived ingredients to make meat that looks, cooks, tastes, and satisfies like meat from animals. However, plants don’t behave like meat in their raw and natural states. That’s why we use food processing methods to achieve a food product that compares favorably to the animal in terms of taste, nutritional profile, and overall sensory experience. We take our leadership in the food industry seriously, and strive to produce healthier, more delicious food products. To read more about processed foods, click here.

The Bottom Line

At Impossible Foods, we want people to eat more meat: from plants! Doing so offers some great upsides like high-quality protein, 0mg cholesterol (see nutrition information for fat and sodium content), and reduced saturated fat intake (with most Impossible products having 25% less saturated fat than their animal counterparts¹).

We are always working to create uncompromisingly delicious, nutrient-dense and safe products for all people who love to eat good food. ¹ See impossiblefoods.com/nutrition-disclaimers for more info.