A Vegan Burger That Bleeds Is Causing Controversy In New Zealand

A vegetarian burger that ‘bleeds’ is at the centre of a controversy, having been accused of posing an “existential threat” to New Zealand’s beef industry.

New Zealand Air’s choice to serve an American-made soy-based burger has been criticised by acting Prime Minister Winston Peters, who said that the airline should be supporting the country by using real animal products sourced in New Zealand. Peters stated that he is “utterly opposed to fake beef.”

The burger in question was made famous by chef David Chang. Produced by American company Impossible Foods, it contains a molecule from the roots of soy plants called heme. The molecular structure and iron content of heme means that, when it’s formed into a patty and cooked, it smells, tastes and looks like beef. Heme is the blood-like substance that spills out of the vegan burger when it’s cut. Along with that, the Impossible Foods creation also contains wheat, coconut oil and potatoes.

The ruling New Zealand First party issued a statement saying that the veggie burger could pose “an existential threat to New Zealand’s second biggest export earner” and was a “slap in the face” to the country’s red-meat industry, which is worth NZ$9 billion (£5bn, or $6bn).

The party’s spokesperson, Mark Patterson, said: “We have Air New Zealand actively promoting synthetic proteins which have a genetic modification component to them. This is not a good example of New Zealand Inc working together for the greater good.”

National Party MP Nathan Guy tweeted his displeasure: “Disappointing to see Air NZ promoting a GE substitute meat burger on its flights to the USA,” he wrote. “We produce the most delicious steaks & lamb on the planet – GMO & hormone free. The national carrier should be pushing our premium products and helping sell NZ to the world.”

Air New Zealand responded to the comments saying that their choice to serve the burger posed no threat to New Zealand’s meat industry.

“In the past year alone, we proudly served around 1.3 million New Zealand sourced beef and lamb meals to customers from around the world,” they said. “Air New Zealand makes no apology for offering innovative product choices for its customers and will continue to do so in the future.”

About the author

Alice Johnston

Food Editor

Alice is always planning her next meal. She studied English at the University of Bristol before getting her Master’s in newspaper journalism from City University London. She worked on Femail at Mail Online for 18 months writing about lifestyle and food and has also worked at Metro.co.uk, The Guardian, Mumsnet and The Sun. After starting at Culture Trip as a Social Content Producer writing travel and lifestyle stories, she was promoted to the role of Food Editor and now specialises in culinary culture, trends and social issues around food. When she’s not writing, eating or travelling, she can be found cooking overly elaborate dinners, reading cookbooks in bed or playing with her cat, Orlando. Her favourite foods include fishfinger sandwiches, burnt caramel panna cotta, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and oysters.