Impossible Foods’s plant-based beef and burger have earned NSF’s “gold standard” certification for sports, opening up possibilities to serve MLB and NHL clubs.
Last month, at the Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, competitive eater Joey Chestnut wolfed down 275 vegan nuggets in a fan challenge organised by Impossible Foods.
Soon, the company’s products may no longer be confined to the stands. Its signature plant-based burgers have received a sports nutrition certification that is a requirement for brands to sell food to MLB clubs.
Impossible Foods’s beef and burger have achieved the NSF Certified for Sport mark, validating that the product offers valuable nutrition to athletic lifestyles. The designation isn’t just a first for plant-based meat, but for fresh food products overall.
“NSF Certified for Sport is the gold standard in sports. It’s a huge deal to have Impossible Foods certified as the first plant-based meat available to athletes,” said Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness.
“Americans are more aware than ever about the food they put in their bodies. It’s our responsibility to deliver on delicious, nutrient-dense, high-quality food, like our plant-based beef that’s packed with protein,” he added.
Impossible Foods can now sell to MLB athletes
NSF is an independent organisation dating back over 80 years, has 40,000 clients in 110 countries, and is a collaborating centre of the World Health Organization.
Its sports certification ensures dietary supplements and foods are free from over 290 substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the National Football League (NFL), MLB, and other organisations. NSF inspects manufacturing facilities and suppliers, and makes sure that all products are accurately labelled.
According to Impossible Foods, the programme helps athletes, trainers and dietitians “make more informed decisions about the products they recommend and consume”.
Clubs in the National Hockey League and MLB are only permitted to provide products that carry the certification. It’s also recommended by bodies like the NFL, the Professional Golfers’ Association, and the American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association, among others.
Impossible Foods’s beef alternatives have been recommended by many nutritionists and dietitians, and its Lite Beef carries certifications from the American Health Association and the American Diabetes Association.
They contain 19g of complete protein (on par with conventional beef), nearly twice the amount of iron, and 40% less fat and 33% less saturated fat than 80/20 beef. They also have no cholesterol or trans fat, and are a source of B vitamins and electrolytes like potassium.
“This certification is further proof that we’re holding ourselves accountable, and that athletes, dietitians and all consumers can feel good about our products,” said McGuinness.
Sports dietitian hails Impossible Beef’s nutritional credentials
According to Impossible Foods – whose vegan hot dogs are already available for spectators at certain MLB stadiums – the sports certification for its products was the result of “high demand from sports nutritionists who specifically wanted to serve our plant-based beef to their professional athletes”.
“All athletes need protein, but the type of protein the athlete prefers varies person to person. Providing a fresh and safe food supply for athletes who want to eat more plant-based protein can be a challenge throughout the season,” said Becci Roehl, a veteran sports dietitian and founding board member of the American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association.
“Failure to meet their protein needs can impair their ability to recover over the long season. Having a plant-based protein that is NSF Certified for Sport, like Impossible Beef, will add a new weapon to our arsenal, helping athletes to be resilient, staying available on the field for optimal performance.”
To mark the certification, Impossible Foods will showcase its beef mince and burger at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Nashville (October 11-14), where attendees will sample the products alongside its Lite Beef.
It is also hosting a Protein Bar pop-up in the style of a dive bar at the finish lines of the Chicago Marathon and the Detroit Marathon on October 12 and 19, respectively, where it will serve protein-packed bites to attendees.
Now, its NSF Certified for Sports products can enter foodservice establishments that cater to professional athletes across different sports.
“NSF is committed to protecting and improving human health worldwide. By meeting our rigorous requirements for Certified for Sport, Impossible Foods is demonstrating its commitment to clean sport as well as quality, safety and good manufacturing processes for its plant-based beef products,” said David Trosin, senior director of nutrition and wellness at NSF.
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