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Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

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Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#291

Post by saagarjha »

esyir wrote: post #282
saagarjha wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They may occasionally need certain vitamins that are rare in plants, but it's inaccurate to classify vegans as unable to satisfy their protein requirements. (And FWIW, there are natural vegetarian cultures that have survived without supplements.)

Vegetarians are fine, but vegans are at particular risk. I assume that's why op mentioned them to begin with.

They mentioned protein in particular, which isn't really that big of a deal (as opposed to certain other nutrients like Vitamin B-12, which can often be a problem).

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#292

Post by zsrxx »

robin_reala wrote: post #111
dmix wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe at McDonalds but KFC are usually meat only besides the side salads.

Haven’t been to one in a while, but my local one apparently has a halloumi burger: http://kfc.nu/var-meny/burgers/halloumi-burger/

kfc.nu ? Why that TLD?

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#293

Post by idreyn »

anonymouswacker wrote: post #278

I was a vegetarian, vegan, then back to vegetarian, then flexitarian, and now predominately carnivore -- over the course of 15 years. The me from 2 years ago would be overjoyed about this "progress", from an ethical standpoint and from believing that meat is bad for you. Present me sees this as what it is: another unhealthy product in an already oversaturated marketplace to dupe suckers.

How did your reasoning about the ethics of eating meat evolve over this time?

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#294

Post by bradbeattie »

Kaveren wrote: post #260
bradbeattie wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How long do you suppose vegans could go before they die from lack of protein? A month? A year? 10 years?

They will not literally die but they will not be healthy at all, many of them will likely live less than non-vegans. It is a dangerous lifestyle motivated by poor reasoning.

Okay, so not death. But other health issues? Can you point me to a relevant meta-analysis on PubMed or something? Because all I'm seeing from national dietetic organizations is support for the diet.

> A healthy vegan diet can meet all your nutrient needs at any stage of life including when you are pregnant, breastfeeding or for older adults. https://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Factsheets/Guidlines-for...

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#295

Post by Broken_Hippo »

tempsy wrote: post #222
_bxg1 wrote: post #2

I think it's fascinating how all these fast-food chains are jumping on artificial meat. It makes perfect sense: meat is expensive and difficult to work with, so low-cost chains like these have been serving really disgustingly low-quality meat for quite some time now; in some cases it could barely even be called meat. Plant-based meat, on the other hand, can be both cheaper and less gross at the same time, and it migh…

Why do you think plant-based meats are lower calories than regular meat? IIRC they are pretty similar as far as calories go. There's no evidence plant-based burgers are healthier. Why would eating something super processed and filled with carbs be better than eating meat?

1. Because I don't eat meat outside of fish. This is both a lifestyle choice and a health thing: I don't have a gall bladder and my digestive track is much happier if I stay away from greasy foods, especially animal fats. I'll occasionally get an upset stomach from fish or fried eggs still, but it isn't an everyday thing.

2. While they do have carbs, they also have protein. And a bunch of other stuff the burgers don't have. Oh, and less fat in most cases. I'm guessing many are lower in calories, but I'm not sure about these particular products.

3. Not all of them are super processed. I've literally made different sorts at home, though I'm just as likely to buy a soy option. (obviously not Beyond Meat or Impossible Burgers. I actually am not impressed with these options).

4. They are an easy meal.

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#296

Post by BubRoss »

bad_user wrote: post #242
BubRoss wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As opposed to plants?

Thinking that eating fake meat is like eating plants is ... similar to thinking that crack cocaine has similar effects with coca leaves. I expect more from HN :-)

Can you explain the difference between it and the vegetables it is made out of?

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#297

Post by phil248 »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #248
saagarjha wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> vegans will never be able to get the protein they need to survive There are millions of vegans around the world who can "survive" without meat: they just get their protein from other places.

They're dependent on technological intervention to get the required supplements. It isn't a natural way for humans to persist.

Sure, but "cooking" is technological intervention, so the bar you are setting seems low to the point of being meaningless.

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#298

Post by kevinslashslash »

wil421 wrote: post #133

Why do American (and presumably westerners) vegetarians want to replace meat? I hated vegan and vegetarian food for song long until I ate meat free Indian food. It was always the meat replacements like veggie patties and tofurkey type products that turned me away. Indian food doesn’t have some weird mystery replacement I find on almost every vegan or veggie dish. I had a conversation with and Indian colleague who liv…

Because "red curry with tofu" is just called "red curry with tofu", not "vegan red curry with tofu". Same with chana masala, hummus and veggie sandwich, pasta marinara, etc. But a hamburger, "chicken nuggets", etc very much needs the "vegan" prefix to make it clear what it is, so you end up associating the word with the meat substitutes. But that doesn't mean American vegetarians only eat things that have the word vegan/vegetarian in the label.

Similarly, "gluten-free" is associated with breads, pastas, etc. Not rice or other non-imitation products.

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#299

Post by icxa »

tptacek wrote: post #203
icxa wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Full disclaimer: Info coming from a variety of sources: some documentaries which I know have their own inaccuracies, some my own personal experience in food service, and specifically working at McDonalds, and some having an ex-girlfriend of 3 years who was the district manager of another international large fast food burger chain, so by chance that gleaned me a lot of insight into the inner workings of fast food burg…

McDonalds does in fact use 100% USDA-inspected beef, with "no fillers, additives, or preservatives", and explicitly does not use mechanically separated meat. It's not "organic", but then, most beef isn't.

Then I am happy to say I am happy for their recent changes, this certainly wasn’t the case a few years ago when I wrote them off, and even more not the case 10 years ago when I was still in the industry. I think it should be promoted as an example that consumer pressure and expectations can cause companies to change for the better.

I will say I remain skeptical on exactly how they can go from the ammonia wash + chemical food flavoring process to using fresh beef and not have any discernible difference in taste or food safety, but kudos to them.

Re: Beyond Meat and KFC partner to test fried plant-based ‘chicken’

#300

Post by phonypc »

_bxg1 wrote: post #186
skyyler wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't like this definition of gross. If it were true, then cooking something would serve to make it far more gross. Hundreds, if not thousands of new chemical compounds are created via the Maillard reaction. Food that can make you sick isn't necessarily gross tasting. Spoiled food is definitely gross, though.

Pedantry isn't helpful. You knew what I meant by "chemicals": flavor additives, preservatives, antibiotics, etc.

None of which are generally present in fast food beef.
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