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Burger King is Testing a Vegetarian Whopper Made With Impossible Burger (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the not-an-april-fools'-day-joke dept.

Burger King is testing a vegetarian version of its Whopper that uses an Impossible Burger for its patties, becoming the first national fast-food chain to sell the plant-based burger. From a report: The Restaurant Brands International subsidiary is offering the Impossible Whopper at 59 St. Louis locations. The chain already sells veggie patties made by Kellogg's vegetarian brand, Morningstar Farms. To announce the launch, Burger King released a video on April Fools' Day that shows unsuspecting Whopper fans eating the version with the Impossible Burger and then exclaiming that they can't taste the difference. Silicon Valley-based Impossible Foods genetically engineers heme, a protein that makes the vegetarian-friendly burger taste like meat. The ingredient is also responsible for giving the patty red juices that make it look like it's bleeding, just like a piece of beef.

4 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Seems pretty smart by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm still not sure if I would like the Impossible Burger as much as a real hamburger.

    But like it more than a Burger King or McDonalds burger? Suddenly I find it a lot more believable.

    Between that and the much better naming "Impossible Burger"s sounds much cooler than "Veggieburger" I could see this gaining some traction simply because of better quality.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Seems pretty smart by idk07002 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I tried it and found it 90% as good as a real hamburger and would definitely eat it again. I hope they make it available in the supermarket sooner than later.

    2. Re:Seems pretty smart by Solandri · · Score: 5, Interesting

      When I worked at a hotel, occasionally a convention group would order veggie burgers but leave enough leftovers that the staff were allowed to eat them. These were better than the mass-produced fast food beef hamburgers I've eaten. They were so good I actually went online to track down a retail seller of the veggie patties so I could eat them at home. That's when I discovered from the nutrition label that they got the taste by loading it up with as much saturated fat as a ground beef burger. So basically it wasn't any healthier for you than a beef burger, it was just made from plants to assuage the guilt of vegetarians. (This isn't the same veggie patty, but you can see what I mean about the saturated fat content.)

    3. Re:Seems pretty smart by tlhIngan · · Score: 4, Interesting

      What's a little stupid about it is that it's about as unhealthy as a regular burger. I was expecting it to be healthier, maybe have some fiber and less fat, but it's just slightly fewer calories and just as fatty. Better for the earth, but not all that much better for consumer. But I guess that's why it can masquerade as a burger so well.

      It's basically just better for the earth. To do otherwise you end up with flavorless pieces of cardboard that no one likes.

      And honestly, there's nothing wrong with it not being "healthier" than beef - it's like diet soda - it just feels healthier but isn't.

      Though, to be honest, the saturated fat debate is back in the open again - at least with respect to dairy based fats (butter is in again).

      I see veggie burgers as a way of not consuming so much planet resources eating something that's still bad for me, but tastes good. Slightly less guilt.