Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide • Hacker News Board

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#271

Post by mrfusion » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:09 PM UTC

matthewtoast wrote: post #160

chrisco255 wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone raised around cattle ranches, I really don't understand the animal living conditions argument.

My understanding is that the vast majority of cattle (80%?) in the United States is raised in factory farms; the vast majority the meat Americans available to purchase grocery store, served in restaurants, and processed for fast food, is sourced from those same farms. And my understanding is that the conditions would be horrific by almost any standard: the animals are kept confined, in extremely cramped and nasty con…

You kind of have to think of the human toll on those workers too. Granted they are free to leave which helps but still. That’s a lot of weight on ones soul.

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#272

Post by yellowapple » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:09 PM UTC

Baeocystin wrote: post #168

cableshaft wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't want these "Impossible" burgers to eliminate veggie burgers doing their own thing, and I'm a bit worried it might eventually come to the point where everyone thinks they need to be just like beef. Some of the existing veggie burgers are very tasty even though they don't try to trick your taste buds in replicating the 'meat experience' 100%. Like Morningstar Farms Tomato & Basil Pizza burgers are just awesome,…

I agree with you. There are a lot of veggie burger patties out there that are essentially flattened falafel, and it would be a shame to lose them. Falafel is great all on its own.

I feel like they'll be just fine if they just advertise themselves as being falafel patties. I'm pretty thoroughly not vegetarian, so I ain't gonna reach for a veggie patty if the only reason it's being sold is because "well it's not beef!". Sell it to me as falafel and I'll eat it because I happen to like falafel.

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#273

Post by Forbo » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:11 PM UTC

wendyjreichert wrote: post #247

scruple wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I'm working the burger station and I'm cooking an impossible burger at the same station as regular burger patties there will be transfers between one and the other, no? I didn't mean they were _literally_ cooking them in animal grease but rather figuratively.

If you have a care for the environmental impact, would not having an additional grill be a waste of resources and harmful to the planet?

It definitely would increase the friction of adoption. The perfect is the enemy of the good and all that....

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#274

Post by jimmaswell » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:12 PM UTC

Rooster61 wrote: post #240

jimmaswell wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the sense that they're not giving these customers what they want, they're being incompetent, but I think it's totally unreasonable in the first place to demand such total separation. Like caring if the same coffee machine was used for non-free-trade coffee grounds before you used it for your own grounds, or that a non-cage-free egg was made on the same grill earlier in the day when you ordered cage-free.

> but I think it's totally unreasonable in the first place to demand such total separation I can't say I agree with this sentiment. This sort of thing happens in other food service outlets and it's never bothered me. The one that comes to mind is grocery stores having separate slicers for meat and dairy to accommodate those who keep kosher. I'm not Jewish, and neither am I a vegetarian, but I wouldn't call those who…

I did say religious concerns and allergies have more merit for full separation than vegan/vegetarian preference to have no animal matter touch the food. My issue is it's a waste of resources to have two grills just for this.

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#275

Post by monktastic1 » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:15 PM UTC

justin66 wrote: post #268

friedman23 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vegetarians are not common outside of certain metropolitan areas in the US

> Vegetarians are not common outside of certain metropolitan areas in the US There are roughly half a billion vegetarians in India.

From context, the correct reading of your parent comment is:

> In the US, vegetarians are not common outside of certain metropolitan areas

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#276

Post by Forbo » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:15 PM UTC

simion314 wrote: post #262

Forbo wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You most certainly can impregnate a cow that is unwilling. The following article is definitely biased, but the point still stands that the animals aren't exactly consenting to this. https://theirturn.net/2016/06/15/2016061420160613the-rape-ra...

I know about artificial insemination, but you can't do it when you want, it only works when the cow is in heat. When a cow is in heat she behaves differently (she starts ridding other cows) so the farmer notices this and calls a veterinarian to inseminate the cow or bring a bull. I was asking if they can force the cow to be in heat. change the ovulation cycle or whatever explains the thing I quoted.

Typically they're looking for a bull to do that job. Just because a woman is ovulating doesn't mean that she wants some other species to restrain her, anally violate her, and forcibly impregnate her.

This argument only works if you believe that animals are worthy of empathy, but many would rather live with the cognitive dissonance that animals are incapable of emotions than go through the hassle of changing their diet.

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#277

Post by subpixel » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:18 PM UTC

sand500 wrote: post #238

astura wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if there's a big market at Taco Bell, the reason I say that is because Taco Bell has beans, which is a just fine protein for me at least. I personally don't feel like I need anything else if I've got beans. Though, honestly, Chipotle and Moe's both have a tofu option though.

Yeah tacobell has always been super vegetarian friendly because you could just substitute beans for meat in anything

yes and no - there is a certain satisfaction to the meat filling even when it is not meat. we make fake meat tacos at home pretty often, but never bean tacos.

alas existing brands of fake ground beef are actually not all that useful outside of taco territory - gets gummy in bolognese, etc.

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#278

Post by taurath » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:19 PM UTC

cdumler wrote: post #190

sgillen wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically I find that I (vegetarian, not vegan) tend to enjoy meat replacements that don't try replicate meat. I find the ones that DO try to replicate meats taste are just not very good at it, and it ends up tasting pretty bad. The good stuff is still tasty and savory but it's doing its own thing. edit: Not to say the impossible burger can't be good (I've not been able to try one) Just a comment on existing product…

As a fellow vegetarian, I agree with not liking non-meat meat products that are too close. But, my transition was a long one. My family was very much carnosaur. I was told that I need to "expand my horizons," which meant eating new and different types of animals. (I not many that I haven't tried.) When I met my wife to be, who was vegan, that made me rethink my diet. She introduced me to many new cuisines, notably In…

I think of traditional Midwest (German, Scandinavian based) cuisine as a primary driver - it was an eye opening experience to hear vegetarians I’ve met say how much they also hate steamed vegetables. The lack of tasty spices in traditional American vegetable dishes definitely keep a lot of people going back to meat and dairy as primary flavor drivers.

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#279

Post by bifrost » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:21 PM UTC

deanclatworthy wrote: post #139

bifrost wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm referring to the process of cooking it. They don't separate the food and you get cross-contact with meat and dairy proteins - making it non-vegetarian and definately not vegan. This is basically all marketing driven (which is fine) but its not animal-product free, which is what normal people think when they see "plant based" food.

Are you absolutely certain this is the case? The majority of my vegetarian friends would be upset to find their vegetarian dish was contaminated with meat if they ate out in a restaurant. I don't see why it would be any different in BK?

I am 100% certain about this, ask about allergens instead of specific ingredients and you'll get a real answer that isn't spun.

Re: Burger King is rolling out meatless Impossible Whoppers nationwide

#280

Post by simion314 » Mon, Apr 29, 2019, 9:24 PM UTC

Forbo wrote: post #276

simion314 wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know about artificial insemination, but you can't do it when you want, it only works when the cow is in heat. When a cow is in heat she behaves differently (she starts ridding other cows) so the farmer notices this and calls a veterinarian to inseminate the cow or bring a bull. I was asking if they can force the cow to be in heat. change the ovulation cycle or whatever explains the thing I quoted.

Typically they're looking for a bull to do that job. Just because a woman is ovulating doesn't mean that she wants some other species to restrain her, anally violate her, and forcibly impregnate her. This argument only works if you believe that animals are worthy of empathy, but many would rather live with the cognitive dissonance that animals are incapable of emotions than go through the hassle of changing their die…

This are cows not humans, my experience is with real world cows that are raised outside on fields,when the cow is in heat she will start ridding other cows(yes cows become lesbians and "rape" other cows, I know your mind is blown now), a bull will smell her from a distance and will come to the cow, the cow is always wiling because is her nature, she is not a thinking human it is all instinct.

At my grandparents farm artificial insemination was used when there was no old enough bull present(this is on small villages in Romania, and to make you even more outraged animals like horses are still used for work).