Impossible Foods Closer to EU Approval After Vegan Burger Clears Safety Assessment

Impossible Foods is now one step closer to gaining approval to sell its plant-based beef burger in the European Union, as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has deemed the company's heme ingredient safe for consumption. The use of soy leghemoglobin, derived from genetically modified yeast, in the Impossible Burger has passed the safety assessment, clearing the first hurdle in the regulatory process.

The EFSA's provisional opinion states that the proposed use and levels of inclusion of soy leghemoglobin do not raise safety concerns, paving the way for Impossible Foods to potentially introduce its products in the EU market. While the company still needs to undergo a safety assessment by the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms, this recent development signals progress towards making the Impossible Burger available to European consumers.