Here are the Beyond Burger ingredients, as of summer 2019, in BC Canada:
Canola oil as a main ingredient is worrisome, and they're using the cheap, pesticide-filled canola oil made with a solvent (not cold pressed).
Refining coconut oil removes the flavour, but involves processing with heat and filters. Should be organic.
Rice protein is a new addition to the ingredient list, and seems to be there to add cheap bulk. I get enough rice already, don't need it as filler in my burgers.
Natural flavour can be anything. And there's a LOT of it in there (5th ingredient).
Dried yeast is essentially MSG (glutamate) and is added to give a salty, unami flavour. Not healthy. Then they also add regular salt.
Sugars are added for flavour, but aren't necessarily adding any nutrition, and they're mostly just empty calories.
Maltodextrin is sugar by another name, as is vegetable glycerine. Lots of different sugars.
B vitamins, potassium, calcium, zinc, and iron compounds - no thanks, I prefer to eat healthy foods, and/or take a supplement, not have companies put minerals into processed foods. I don't like fortified grain products, or fortified dairy products, so why would I want fortified meat alternatives?
Lycopene is an extract from tomatoes and is added to give the reddish flesh/blood colour. It's probably fine. Same with lecithin, an extract from sunflower seeds, and improves food textures.
The pea and bean protein are really what should make up 99% of the burger. The new formulation is less healthy than the previous, with cheaper ingredients and fillers, and a lot of supplements that don't belong there.
I'll have one occasionally but my addiction to Beyond is over.
RE: 🍔Vegans are BEYOND excited for burgers!🍔