We started by extracting heme from the root nodules of soybean plants, but we knew there was a better way. So we took the DNA from these soy plants and inserted it into a genetically engineered yeast. We ferment this yeast (very similar to the way Belgian beer is made) to produce heme.
Can heme be vegan?
But as we mentioned before, heme isn’t just in animals. It’s found in all living things, which includes plants. Impossible Foods started its food-tech journey by extracting heme from leghemoglobin found in the root nodules of soybeans. But over time, its process became more efficient and sophisticated. Now, Impossible Foods takes DNA from soybeans and inserts it into a genetically-engineered yeast, which is then fermented to produce heme.
This means that Impossible Foods’ heme is vegan, but it also means that, unlike many other plant-based brands on the market, its products are not GMO-free.
What is heme? It’s Impossible Foods’ magic ingredient, but it’s also present in every living thing. Here’s the lowdown.
If you’ve ever bitten into an Impossible Burger, you’ve likely been pretty blown away by just how meaty it is. How can a burger made from plants, with zero animal products, taste that close to a real beef patty? Well, according to Impossible Foods, the answer is in one key ingredient: heme. It sounds unfamiliar, and you’re unlikely to see it listed on the back of any other products you can find in the supermarket. But it’s actually pretty common. In fact, heme is in every living thing on the planet. But while it may be Impossible Food’s signature—and the reason its realistically meaty products have been picked up by major chains, like Burger King—it’s also been a source of controversy for the California-based food-tech company. Here’s what you need to know.
All living cells, in plants and animals, contain heme, which is a group of molecules that contain iron. It is a key part of a protein called hemoglobin and helps with many important processes, including oxygen transportation. Because of its color, heme is also the reason that blood from animals and humans is red.
What About the Heme in Impossible Burgers?
FAQ
Where does the heme in impossible burgers come from?
What is the heme lawsuit Impossible Foods?
Is there fake blood in the Impossible Burger?
How do you extract heme from plants?
Is the Impossible Burger safe?
But an issue specific to the Impossible Burger was the heme they add, derived from soybean plants to enhance the product’s meaty flavor and appearance. Safety analyses have failed to find any toxicity risk specific to the soy heme they have yeast churn out. The FDA has agreed, both for use as a flavor and color enhancer: safe.
Why is heme used in the Impossible Burger?
Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images Since heme is ubiquitous and is found in every living organism, the Impossible Foods teams had to isolate a series of proteins from various plants to determine which would work the best for the Impossible Burger based on properties like color, taste and the way the product cooks.
Does Impossible Foods have heme?
Impossible Foods employs heme as the main flavor compound in its burger. Heme is an iron-containing compound found in all living organisms. Plants, animals, bacteria, fungi if it’s alive, it contains heme. In animals, heme is an important part of the protein hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout your body via blood.
What makes Impossible Burger a real Burger?
One of the main Impossible Burger ingredients that makes it so much like real meat is called heme. The Impossible website describes heme as a molecule found in every living plant and animal that people always eat and crave. This iron-rich molecule is mostly in red meat, and it helps the Impossible Burger mimic the “bleeding juices” of real burgers.