Is Beyond Beef® Crumbles Plant-Based Crumbles Feisty Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and dive straight into the label. The base of the Beyond Beef® Crumbles Plant-Based Crumbles Feisty is a blend of water and pea protein isolate, which provides the meaty texture without the meat. The fat source comes from canola and sunflower oil. However, there are two specific ingredients that cause the 'MAYBE' verdict for strict vegans.

The first is sugar. While sugar is a plant-derived product, strict vegans often avoid bone-char filtered sugar. The second is natural flavor. This industry term is a proprietary blend that can be derived from both plant and animal sources. Without explicit certification stating it is 100% plant-derived, some vegans choose to avoid it. Additionally, the caramel color used here is generally plant-based, but historically, some caramel colors were processed with animal products, making the 'natural flavor' the primary flag here.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, these crumbles are designed to mimic the fat content of ground beef. They are relatively high in calories due to the canola and sunflower oil content. The 'Feisty' variety contains added sugar and spices for heat, which contributes to the total carbohydrate count. If you are monitoring your sugar intake, this is a relevant factor. However, it remains a significant source of pea protein isolate, making it a viable option for those looking to build muscle or maintain protein intake on a plant-based diet.