Brief: Beyond Meat tweaks its plant-based beef; chicken could be next on the menu

• Available to buy at retail across the US from next week, the latest iteration of the Beyond Burger will be sold in a double pack and a new “value” four-pack. The new formulation will also be available in ground form as one-pound Beyond Beef packs.
• Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Beyond Meat is set to add plant-based chicken substitutes to its permanent product lineup. The Los Angeles-based company has previously trialed chicken analogs on several occasions, including pilots with select KFC outlets in southern California.

Why it matters: The upgraded versions of Beyond Burger and Beyond Beef – first announced last November – contain 35% less fat and saturated fat, as well as fewer calories, than 80% lean-20% fat (80/20) animal-derived beef, Beyond Meat claims. “We are continuously working on understanding beef flavor at a deeper level […] Extensive testing with our consumers validated this new flavor direction with likability scoring on-par with 80/20 ground beef burgers,” said Dariush Ajami, Beyond Meat’s chief innovation officer.

The company didn’t provide extensive details on how its recipe has changed, though the new Beyond Burger reportedly omits the mung bean that is present in existing versions. Beyond Meat is planning to launch another patty with 55% less fat than 80/20 beef later this year.