Trader Joe’s Now Offers ‘Protein Patties,’ Its Own Version of Meatless Meat

January 30, 2020 Admin 0 Comments

Plus, Joe Biden supporters are less likely to enjoy Indian food, and more news to start your day

The meatless trickle-down is here

While Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are the big names in the plant-based meat industry, basically every grocery store has been trying to market its own version. Costco, H-E-B, and Kroger’s have all brought in plant-based brands unique to their stores, and now Trader Joe’s is throwing its hibiscus-print hat in the ring. The store’s new “Protein Patties” are made with pea protein, sunflower oil, and beets, resulting in what’s supposed to be a “meaty texture.” “Folks are increasingly going for meatless burgers for all kinds of reasons, but we like to think that one reason in particular is primarily responsible: plant-based burgers have gotten really, really good recently,” the brand told Food & Wine.

Experts told Grocery Dive that demand for plant-based meat shows no signs of slowing down, even as beef lobbyists are fighting against the industry. According to a reviewer at Popsugar, TJ’s burgers are less textured and “meaty” than Beyond Meat, which might actually be a boon for vegetarians and vegans who don’t eat meat because of the texture. At this point, it’s clear that meatless meat is taking over for the veggie burgers of the world. I still love you, Boca Burger!

And in other news...

• Iowa Democratic caucus-goers who ate at an Indian restaurant in the past 10 years were more likely to support Sanders or Warren for president, and least likely to support Biden. [NY Times]
• Applebee’s is trying to get into the Bowl Bowl with their new Irresist-A-Bowls. Sorry guys, next year!! [Brand Eating]
• Beyond Meat is likely going to be liable for over $628k over unpaid invoices for breaching an agreement with its former co-packer. [Food Dive]
• Starbucks is introducing a plant-based breakfast sandwich. [NRN]
• France is banning “mass shredding of live chicks,” a thing you may not have realized is part of poultry and egg production. [CNN]
• Mike Bloomberg’s pandering plug of Big Gay Ice Cream makes it somehow feel like he has neither eaten ice cream before, nor met a gay person. [Twitter]
• Antitrust officials are investigating a merger between Dean Foods, which filed for bankruptcy in November, and Dairy Farmers of America. [NY Times]
• Scabby the rat has come for Salt Bae, as the chef faces a host of labor issues.

• All AM Intel Coverage [E]