Is The New Impossible Whopper Less Healthy Than The Original?

Burger King's new meatless burger, dubbed the Impossible Whopper, has been receiving national acclaim from both the public and even from meat industry lobbyists. Eric Bohl, Director of Public Affairs at the Missouri Farm Bureau, said that farmers would be “kidding” themselves if they dismissed it as another “passing fad,” and claimed that the taste difference between the Impossible and traditional Whoppers were “pretty minor.”

Burger King's Chief Marketing Officer also claimed that none of their employees or customers had been able to tell the difference in test runs. St. Ann's own Burger King was the site for the company's commercial where regular Whoppers were replaced with Impossible patties, which resulted in hilarious, profanity-laced exclamations from surprised customers.

According to Burger King's website, a regular Whopper has 660 calories (over half from fat), 40g of fat, and 28g of protein. The new “beefless” Whopper, in comparison, has 630 calories, 34g of fat, and 25 grams of protein. The prevailing difference between the two sandwiches is the amount of sodium, as the meatless variety has a whopping 1,240 milligrams of sodium and 58 carbs, while a regular whopper has only 980 milligrams and 49 carbs. An additional gram of sugar is also present in the Impossible Whopper.

The burger is also made from soy protein concentrate, potato protein, and a variety of other ingredients that don't have the same nutritional benefits of whole foods. NBC writer Samantha Cassetty also explains that the Impossible Whopper does not meet her five guidelines since the bun is not whole grain, it's not made from whole soy, and nearly meets the American Heart Association's daily recommended saturated fat (13g and an Impossible patty contains 11g).

Burger King hasn't marketed the burger as a healthier option to their regular burgers, but consumers tend to think veggie-based or meatless options mean the dish is healthier and this isn't always the case. According to Consumer Report, veggie burgers can still be highly processed and lack vital nutrition despite the view of vegetables always being a healthier option. It's important to note that a meatless burger from a fast food restaurant is still fast food.