Live data from Hacker News

Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

reuters.com

21–30 of 77 posts

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#22

Are there any variants of plant based products which could compare to extremely high protein/calorie ratio foods, foods like egg white and chicken breast. The ones I have eaten/seen till now seem quite bad if you look at the overall composition. Sure, they have decent amount of protein from the legume they come from but the overall composition is not good. There are certain variants of Tofu with low fat/carb count bu…

Gluten-based food? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_gluten_(food)

Edit: judging from this food nutrition label, the protein/calorie ratio is quite extreme...[0]

[0]: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61D08CfuRzL...

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#23
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I think it's a reality that people don't want to change the type of food they eat, just the components." Why do you think this is true? Why would people who enjoy a good burger want to change anything about it, and why would someone proclaim that 'most people do want to change it'?

> Why would people who enjoy a good burger want to change anything about it If you are eating the burger specifically and solely for the beef, perhaps you don't. But for many people "cheeseburger" is a unit of food all on its own and the patty inside is more of a toppings-and-condiments delivery device. So if there's a plant-based substitute that's mildly healthier (Impossible is not a "low calorie, low sodium, low f…

Yes, some people would change, there's no doubt.

The point being: why does the author think that 'most' people would feel this way?

Because I suspect that the vast majority of people don't.

My suspicion is that the vast majority of people would view a 'regular burger' as 'more healthy' than most plant-based alternatives (even if they were roughly the same), and that all even if things were 'equal' or even slightly favourable to the veggie burger for 'health', they would prefer meat.

You folks do realize that probably the majority of food in the US is probably unhealthy? And that people aren't really making their choices based on health so much?

I believe that 'people like us' mostly live in bubbles and have a hard time grasping what 'most people' like. Every time I visit my 'very normal' family members I am reminded.

If there is a dramatic difference in price I can see change, but otherwise, people will want their regular burgers.

I would even go a step further: the more 'regular people' can be convinced the meat is 'real' and of 'high quality' - the more they will value it. Not less.

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#24

Great! While I do think plant-based diets are at their most delicious and healthy when they don't try to imitate animal products, I think it's a reality that many people (who want to avoid/minimise animal products) don't want to change the type of food they eat, just the components. I've really been enjoying the Burger King impossible burger - they've much better texture, flavour and juicyness compared to Burger King…

Dayia cheese is in my opinion, superior than cheese in applications such as burgers. However, looking at the ingredients it looks unhealthier gram by gram vs cheese. But if it spares the suffering of one animal I'm all for it.

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#25
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why would people who enjoy a good burger want to change anything about it If you are eating the burger specifically and solely for the beef, perhaps you don't. But for many people "cheeseburger" is a unit of food all on its own and the patty inside is more of a toppings-and-condiments delivery device. So if there's a plant-based substitute that's mildly healthier (Impossible is not a "low calorie, low sodium, low f…

Yes, some people would change, there's no doubt. The point being: why does the author think that 'most' people would feel this way? Because I suspect that the vast majority of people don't. My suspicion is that the vast majority of people would view a 'regular burger' as 'more healthy' than most plant-based alternatives (even if they were roughly the same), and that all even if things were 'equal' or even slightly fa…

I think the phenomenon you're observing here isn't really to do with health, but more of naturalness - or more specifically, perceived naturalness.

Obviously a hamburger isn't literally natural, but it's made from beef and mostly nothing extra.

An "Impossible Meat" burger was born out of a lab - researched, developed, tested, and finally manufactured. There's nothing "natural" about it, which can turn a lot of people off.

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#26
post #22

Are there any variants of plant based products which could compare to extremely high protein/calorie ratio foods, foods like egg white and chicken breast. The ones I have eaten/seen till now seem quite bad if you look at the overall composition. Sure, they have decent amount of protein from the legume they come from but the overall composition is not good. There are certain variants of Tofu with low fat/carb count bu…

Gluten-based food? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_gluten_(food) Edit: judging from this food nutrition label, the protein/calorie ratio is quite extreme...[0] [0]: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61D08CfuRzL...

Thanks, I just searched for that. Those are some extreme numbers[1] and there seem to be a lot of dishes in East Asia that are making use of it, not sure if the use is just as an additive.

I wonder why it doesn't come up a lot in protein rich food discussion. I will try to read up more about it.

[1] https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168147/n...

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#27
post #6

I feel like this level of funding and therefore expected future worth is only possible if laws were passed to limit proper meat cultivation.. I have never so far felt the urge to pay more for non-beef, beef.

The interesting thing about the alternative meat industry isn't where the meat puck is, but where it's going (if you'll pardon the pun).

Making soybeans taste like a supermarket hamburger almost certainly uses a very similar organizational skillset as making soybeans taste like, say, a Kobe beef burger - or some other meat option that's currently default-expensive. So the thesis is likely that their intellectual capital is now mature enough that they can iterate their way up the price / quality spectrum to win meaningful market segments.

My guess is Impossible's valuation is probably justified, even if the investor story is a disjunction of "scale will eventually bring prices to parity or better with most real meat options" and "R&D will eventually produce flavor / texture profiles that transcend those of most real meat options". People eat a heck of a lot of meat, in a heck of a lot of varieties. And of course, the folks who invested will have gotten a look at the non-public numbers too.

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#28
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gluten-based food? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_gluten_(food) Edit: judging from this food nutrition label, the protein/calorie ratio is quite extreme...[0] [0]: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61D08CfuRzL...

Thanks, I just searched for that. Those are some extreme numbers[1] and there seem to be a lot of dishes in East Asia that are making use of it, not sure if the use is just as an additive. I wonder why it doesn't come up a lot in protein rich food discussion. I will try to read up more about it. [1] https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168147/n...

Just for some additional search terms, seitan is a form of prepared Vital Wheat Gluten.

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#29
I imagine meat alternatives will really take off once they are cheaper than meat. There seems to be a lot of potential for cost savings if you don't need to raise a large animal to create the product. So far I haven't seen much of a cost advantage to meatless products, but perhaps with more funding this would be achievable. While I don't thing Impossible tastes better or even as good as the real thing, it isn't too far off. Having a price advantage would tip the scale for many people, especially in the fast food space.

Re: Impossible Foods raises $200M in fresh funding

#30
post #29

I imagine meat alternatives will really take off once they are cheaper than meat. There seems to be a lot of potential for cost savings if you don't need to raise a large animal to create the product. So far I haven't seen much of a cost advantage to meatless products, but perhaps with more funding this would be achievable. While I don't thing Impossible tastes better or even as good as the real thing, it isn't too f…

Impossible should lobby for a carbon tax, which would skyrocket the price of meat, making their option more affordable.
Post reply on HN