Plant-based 'meat' isn't always vegan or even vegetarian, and that's a common misconception that needs to be clarified

Many plant-based "meat" options like Impossible and Beyond aren't vegan or vegetarian when served at chain restaurants, as they're often prepared on the same grill as meat items. But adding a separate grill would be outrageously expensive for most chains and won't happen anytime soon.
Plus, the mission of Impossible and other plant-based "meat" companies isto work toward a meatless future by providing plant-based alternatives that are just as delicious, affordable, and accessible as meat.
That means it's meat eaters, not vegetarians or vegans, that Impossible is trying to impress.
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An outraged vegan just filed a class-action against Burger King, TMZ first reported on Monday.

Phillip Williams claims that Burger King's Impossible Whopper isn't truly vegan, as the plant-based patties are prepared on the same grill as beef patties. But Burger King never claimed that the Impossible Whopper was vegan. In fact, the chain told Insider just as much in August.

"While the Impossible Whopper does not contain meat, it is cooked in the same broiler as our beef and chicken," a spokesperson told Insider. "Guests may ask for the Impossible patty to be prepared in the oven; however, since our restaurants have an open kitchen environment, we don't label the product as vegan."

And on Burger King's website, the nutrition information page for the Impossible lists "egg" as an allergen and notes that, "For guests looking for a meat-free option, a non-broiler method of preparation is available upon request."

Impossible Burgers and other plant-based "meat" alternatives inherently contain no animal products. If cooked at home, they can easily be prepared vegan. And with the Impossible and Beyond burgers both sold at grocery stores around the country, home cooking may be the ideal way for vegans and vegetarians to consume their plant-based "meats."

However, those upset at chains like Burger King for preparing plant-based patties next to meat products shouldn't hold their breath for the implementation of a separate grill for vegan and vegetarian meal preparation. The addition of a separate grill at all restaurants would be an enormously expensive venture for large chains like Burger King, which has over 3,000 US restaurants.

Cooking Impossible burger grounds burger Irene Jiang / Business Insider

Although much of the excitement around plant-based "meat" alternatives has been from the vegan and vegetarian community, the future-oriented mission of Impossible demands more patience than some have now. In an interview with Business Insider, Impossible Foods CFO David Lee reiterated founder Pat Brown's vision:

"We expect eventually for Impossible to become the new normal," he told Business Insider. "Generations from now will look up at their grandmas and say, 'I can't believe you used to eat meat from an animal. How barbaric, how unnecessary.'"

But a meatless future doesn't mean a meatless present. Impossible and Beyond have been strategic in partnering with major chains to spread the plant-based gospel, understanding that their products give consumers the opportunity to consume less meat in a largely meat-eating society.

These companies' missions require disrupting how people think about eating plant-based foods. They need to prove that plant-based food can be just as delicious, affordable, and accessible as meat-based food. It isn't vegetarians that Impossible and Burger King are trying to win over, it's meat eaters .

But before Impossible's meatless future is here, vegetarians and vegans can have their plant-based "meat" and eat it too. All they have to do is go to a grocery store.

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