Beyond Meat receives non-GMO-verified status

Beyond Meat, the maker of plant-based “meat” products, announced July 23 that it has received non-GMO-verified status following a one-year review process. “Our goal is to be on the center of the plate for the entire family,” said Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat. “And we believe the best way to serve the family is through a commitment to all-natural, non-GMO ingredients when building meat directly from plants. Though these tough guardrails make it harder for our scientists, we feel it is the right long-run decision for Beyond Meat and our consumers.” The company also recently announced the opening of a new research and development (R&D) facility. Here the company said scientists and engineers are working to crack the code on meat and recreate it directly from plants. Dr. Dariush Ajami, Beyond Meat’s vice president of R&D, said, “Though not easy, we believe it is entirely possible to replicate the taste, texture, and appearance of meat using simple, non-GMO ingredients. To deliver on the hallmark taste, texture and appearance of a beef burger, we employ simple plant-based ingredients in fresh ways: Peas provide the protein, beets provide the meaty red hue, and coconut oil and potato starch ensure mouthwatering juiciness and chew.” — WLJ