Beyond Meat is made entirely from plant-based ingredients designed to replicate the taste, texture, and appearance of animal meat. The key components include:
- Proteins sourced primarily from peas, brown rice, mung beans, and faba beans. These plant proteins provide the fibrous texture similar to muscle tissue found in meat.
- Fats such as coconut oil, canola oil, and rapeseed oil, which contribute to juiciness and mouthfeel.
- Carbohydrates including potato starch and methylcellulose, which help with texture and binding.
- Minerals like calcium and iron, and natural flavors and colors derived from fruits and vegetables (e.g., beet juice for a meat-like color and "bleeding" effect).
- Water as a fundamental component to mimic the moisture content of meat.
The manufacturing process involves applying heat, cooling, and pressure to these plant-based ingredients to create a fibrous, meat-like texture. The mixture is then combined with plant-based fats, minerals, natural flavors, and colors to replicate the appearance, juiciness, and flavor of animal meat. This results in a product that tastes and cooks like meat but contains no cholesterol, hormones, or GMOs
. Beyond Meat products include burgers, sausages, meatballs, and ground meat alternatives, all designed to be cooked and used like traditional meat
