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Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

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Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#71
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd also disagree with - People who want meatless products aren't buying meat so they're an expansion opportunity. I think that's a fair assessment. I think that the desire to eat meat-like products is much lower than a lot of people assume in vegetarian/vegan people. Products like Seitan and other "meat texture" items have always done poorly when compared to vegetarian/vegan offerings that simply omit any meat-like…

> Products like Seitan and other "meat texture" items have always done poorly when compared to vegetarian/vegan offerings that simply omit any meat-like ingredients Hm... do non -vegetarians/vegans actually prefer these newer "meat texture" items over the classic veggie ones?

Well, it's just a very personal anecdote here, but I am a non-vegetarian who vastly prefers vegetarian hamburgers to real ones. Because I do try to limit my meat consumption, both for health and for ethical reasons. I also feel "safer" buying and eating stuff that is plant based, for some reason. I think that a lot of people would rather go for the fake option most of the times if the taste and texture were convincing enough.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#72
post #23

It seems to me that insect meat is the way to go taste, nutrition, and cost wise. But people are adverse to eating bugs. To me this seems to be a branding problem. One of the plant based burger producers should advertise that their food is supplemented with natural proteins and lipids, then stuff their plant burgers with ground up crickets or meal worms or whatever. I don’t think people would have as much a problem e…

What they really need to do is stop pushing fake meat as “like beef” and start pushing it as delicious on its own. Fried crickets are amazing. It’s natural to be squeamish but just like people were once scared of red tomatoes they’ll come around.

They started doing that in Norway with some of the veggie burgers and they are delicious. I don't think I've had a meat burger in two years.

I haven't been able to find insect meat here yet but it's probably coming soon if you got it in the US now.

We do eat meat though, but only once or twice a week and almost never red meat anymore.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#73

Off Topic: another example of egregious capitalization! Is "Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger" easier on the eyes? Or should proper nouns be wrapped in quotes when part of a headline?

On HN we don't have a rule about that, but we do try to make titles internally consistent.

I've attempted to reduce your eye strain above.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#75

As a long time flexitarian (I hate that phrase too), I just roll my eyes at all of these "non-meat initiatives". Impossible and Beyond burgers don't hold a candle to a classic portobello burger. People have made delicious meals without meat since society began, and they didn't rely on "tricking" people into thinking a meal is something else. It's baffling that the marketing department of Beyond and Impossible have tu…

I’m a new vegan and occasionally miss getting a good ol hamburger. Recently I went to Carl’s Jr. and picked up a Beyond Burger with fries. It’s a super unhealthy meal, but it’s nice to know I can go get fast food if I want to. That said, today I had a traditional veggie burger and it was delicious. I wouldn’t normally want the meat alternatives, but I’m super happy I have the option. If they started carrying the fake chicken nuggets I’d be in total heaven.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#76
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Products like Seitan and other "meat texture" items have always done poorly when compared to vegetarian/vegan offerings that simply omit any meat-like ingredients Hm... do non -vegetarians/vegans actually prefer these newer "meat texture" items over the classic veggie ones?

Well, it's just a very personal anecdote here, but I am a non-vegetarian who vastly prefers vegetarian hamburgers to real ones. Because I do try to limit my meat consumption, both for health and for ethical reasons. I also feel "safer" buying and eating stuff that is plant based, for some reason. I think that a lot of people would rather go for the fake option most of the times if the taste and texture were convincin…

I was asking about the meat-imitation vegetarian ones vs. the classic vegetarian ones. I wasn't asking about normal meat-based ones.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#77
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting... she has no issues with weight loss or GI issues, but gets migraines? Is this bread she’s eating, rye or otherwise, a brand name or is it made in a local bakery? If it’s the latter she might be reacting, not to gluten, but the yeast. Some people with migraines find that tyrosine is a potent trigger, and yeast is a rich source of tyrosine. Especially if the bread is sourdough, as opposed to off-the shelf…

We switched over to off-the-shelf sourdough a bit ago, I'll pass this on to her and after this round of trials is over I may try baking a loaf of windowsill sourdough myself with more control over the inputs. The coarse rye bread we've been able to find is supposed to be "leavened with natural starters and little to no yeast" but there is wiggle room in their language. Thanks!

My pleasure, and good luck.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#78
post #43

Off Topic: another example of egregious capitalization! Is "Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger" easier on the eyes? Or should proper nouns be wrapped in quotes when part of a headline?

Is English not your first language? Titles are supposed to be capitalized

This is a headline, not a proper noun. Regardless of 'supposed to', it shouldn't be capitalized. There is no advantage to capitalizing, it, but it does lead to confusion.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#79

It's terrible news for the environment. In terms of environmental harm, vegetable farming is easily the most environmentally damaging human endeavor. The distant second is raising livestock. The most environmentally friendly method for humans would be the "hunter gatherer" diet ( wild vegetation and wild animals ). But we might be too populous for that to work. If you care about the environment, this is the worst new…

I want a source for that outrageous claim that the most environmentally damaging human endeavor is growing vegetables. I suspect you being right would turn the world on its head.

Re: Canadian meat giant Maple Leaf debuts new plant-based burger

#80
> “Consumers may realize the product is healthier for them and their family, but when it boils down to it they’re probably going to go with the thing that tastes better or they’re more familiar with,” said Billy Roberts, senior food and drink analyst at Mintel. But manufacturers such as Lightlife are targeting younger consumers, he said, who are more likely to try new products they see as healthier.

I sometimes think these plant-based burger outfits are doing themselves a disservice by trying to simulate a beef burger. At this point, the ground beef most people are accustomed to is not all that tasty.

As for taste vs healthy, well that's another, albeit related, issue. Food as a source of pleasure, as opposed to a source of nutrition for the body / mind, has distorted the consumption expections for the last 25 - 50 years. Too much salt, too much sugar, hyper-flavored foods designed to increased consumption are all status quo.

To me, the smart (startup) move would be to move beyond the confines (and baggage) of the burger, and become the sports drink of healthier eating.

Yes. Easier said than done. But being a cookie cutter is running into the competition storm.

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