Air New Zealand, an airline better known for addictive bacon brekkie rolls and succulent New Zealand lamb, is to become world’s first carrier to serve the new meatless Impossible Burger.
The New Zealand carrier Tuesday announced it had struck a deal with silicon valley food tech start-up Impossible Foods to serve its plant-based burger as part of its Business Premier menu on Los Angeles flights.
It will be available on flights NZ1 and NZ5 through to October
Impossible Foods caused a stir when it introduced a plant-based burger that looks, sizzles and “bleeds” like a regular burger.
The company says it spent five years to come up with a product that recreates the texture, taste and smell of a traditional beef burger but contains no animal products.
It also argues the burger is better for the environment because it uses 95 percent less land, 74 percent less water and creates 87 fewer greenhouse emissions.
READ: Recycling untouched snacks and beverages pays off for Air New Zealand.
The secret to the burger is an iron-containing molecule called heme which comes from the roots of soy plants and is the same as a molecule found in animal meat.
"The impossible burger tastes like real meat because it actually generates flavor in the same way,'' said Impossible Foods chief science officer David Lipman.
Air New Zealand inflight customer experience manager Niki Chave said the airline had added the Impossible burger to offer customers “a fresh and innovative approach to cuisine” but was quick to reassure carnivores its traditional fare would remain.
“We’re confident vegetarians, flexitarians and dedicated meat lovers alike will enjoy the delicious taste of the Impossible Burger, but for those who want to stay with the tried and true it will sit alongside our regular selection of menu items prepared by our talented culinary team and consultant chefs,” she said.
Impossible Foods chief executive Patrick Brown said the company’s mission was to make the global food system more sustainable and the Impossible burger was now available at 2500 restaurants throughout the US.
Those watching their waistline, something that is admittedly a rare consideration when it comes to burgers, might want to consider an analysis featured in Women’sHealth magazine.
It found the Impossible Burger has about 29 percent more calories than a traditional lean beef patty.
An 85 gm (3oz) serving contained 220 calories and included 13 grams of fat (including 10 grams of saturated fat), 5gms of carbohydrate and 20 grams of protein. There was less than 1gm of sugar.
This compared with 164 calories, 8 grams of fat (3g saturated), no carbohydrates and 22gm of protein in a 93 percent lean beef patty. The beef patty also had no carbohydrates or sugar.
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