Impossible Burger Could Soon Be On Sale In EU After Clearing First Safety Hurdle

The Impossible Burger has cleared its first safety hurdle in the European market, with the European Food Safety Authority deeming the additive soy leghemoglobin used in the burger safe to eat. This brings the plant-based burger one step closer to being available for sale in the EU, pending further checks and approvals.

Heme, the iron-containing molecule that gives the Impossible Burger its realistic taste and appearance, is produced through precision fermentation by genetically engineering yeast with the gene soy leghemoglobin. The company, Impossible Foods, targets vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians with its range of products, providing a meat-like alternative that aims to address environmental and ethical concerns associated with meat consumption. While the Impossible Burger is already available in several countries, its launch in the UK in 2022 does not currently include heme due to approval limitations in the country.