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Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

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Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#91
Has any thought been given to the long-term economic consequences of something like this replacing animal products in the market? The price of commodity corn shot up when production of corn-based ethanol became popular as well as other uses of corn.

I'm not sure if the agricultural industry would be ready to support a large shift towards this very easily.

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#92
post #9

I remember reading the original impressions of the Impossible Foods ground meat and thinking it was just media buzz. I promise you it is not. At Momofuku's Ssam Bar in the East Village of NYC, you can order an off menu item called Spicy Pork Sausage and Rice Cakes. It's not really off the menu - the item has simply been around so long and is so well known to regulars that they left it off to make room for new dishes.…

I live literally a block away from Ssam bar--I'll be going in tomorrow for lunch to try this out. Thanks for the tip!

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the goal is more to transition omnivores away from meat. There is a consensus that the meat industry in unsustainable as is. But, there is also a strong belief that trying to convince the world they don't want meat via rational arguments is futile. Thus, we need work-arounds via either plants that mimic meat or changing the meat industry over to vat-brewed meat.

An important component of the pitch to omnivores is price. If the price is low enough, it becomes an easier sell. But very often the prices on these vegetarian meat substitute products is the same or higher than the comparable meat product. I think that's because the food system, and various subsidies to "big meat", make meat unnaturally cheap.

That, and economy of scale. Were omnivores less that 5% of the population, no doubt we'd see higher prices there too.

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#94
post #17

Haven't tried it but certainly a noble cause, I hope they succeed. > “I love VCs and particularly the ones that invested in us,” Brown had said. “But it’s truly astonishing how little diligence they do in terms of the actual science that underlies some tech companies.” Recent headlines on Theranos, Juicero, uBeam really drive this point home

Talking to VC firm who was considering an investment in a quantum computing company, I was also blown away by how little science they attempted to understand. It doesn't make any sense to me. My best explanation is that they think it's simply impossible to become well-informed at a reasonable price, and instead just rely on aligning the interests of the founders with their own.

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#96

I tried a Beyond Burger, which I believe is the main other horse in this "veggie burger" race and I was pretty impressed. It doesn't have the "plant blood" that seems to be Impossible's secret sauce, but on a bun, with ketchup, lettuce and tomato I thought it was pretty great. Great enough that I'd order it instead of a normal burger if it was widely available.

how did the cost compare to meat?

Environmental, ethical, or dollar cost?

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#97

I'm happy to see that fat and protein are the main ingredients. http://impossiblefoods.com/images/faq/nutrition-facts.png A lot of veggie imitation meats are low on fat and protein and extremely high on processed carbs.

I wish they would list the phosphorus contents. I'm on dialysis and require high protein requirements every day but must restrict phosphorus. If I knew this number I could better account for it in my diet. Unfortunately phosphorus is not required in current labeling requirements.

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#98
post #92
post #9

I remember reading the original impressions of the Impossible Foods ground meat and thinking it was just media buzz. I promise you it is not. At Momofuku's Ssam Bar in the East Village of NYC, you can order an off menu item called Spicy Pork Sausage and Rice Cakes. It's not really off the menu - the item has simply been around so long and is so well known to regulars that they left it off to make room for new dishes.…

I live literally a block away from Ssam bar--I'll be going in tomorrow for lunch to try this out. Thanks for the tip!

I'm afraid they've taken the Impossible Foods version off the menu :(

They do they same pork version at both lunch and dinner now. I'll ask why they switched next time I stop by.

Aside: I too live very close to Ssam Bar and would be happy to get a coffee in the neighborhood. If you're interested, contact info is in my profile.

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how did the cost compare to meat?

Environmental, ethical, or dollar cost?

Dollar cost. I'd love to switch away from beef burgers for a health and ethical reason, but can't justify a $15 burger when most burgers at a nice restaurant are $10 where I live.

Re: Impossible Foods has raised $75M for its plant-based burgers

#100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Environmental, ethical, or dollar cost?

Dollar cost. I'd love to switch away from beef burgers for a health and ethical reason, but can't justify a $15 burger when most burgers at a nice restaurant are $10 where I live.

thanks. yes. that's what i was wondering about.
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