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> Why would people who enjoy a good burger want to change anything about it If you are eating the burger specifically and solely for the beef, perhaps you don'

> Why would people who enjoy a good burger want to change anything about it If you are eating the burger specifically and solely for the beef, perhaps you don't. But for many people "cheeseburger" is a unit of food all on its own and the patty inside is more of a toppings-and-condiments delivery device. So if there's a plant-based substitute that's mildly healthier (Impossible is not a "low calorie, low sodium, low fat" substitute by any means) and a lot better on the environment, I suspect OP is correct. Many people would switch, or at least not mind the switch as much.

jariel 6y ago
Yes, some people would change, there's no doubt. The point being: why does the author think that 'most' people would feel this way? Because I suspect that the vast majority of people don't. My suspicion is that the vast majority of people would view a 'regular burger' as 'more healthy' than most plant-based alternatives (even if they were roughly the same), and that all even if things were 'equal' or even slightly favourable to the veggie burger for 'health', they would prefer meat. You folks do realize that probably the majority of food in the US is probably unhealthy? And that people aren't really making their choices based on health so much? I believe that 'people like us' mostly live in bubbles and have a hard time grasping what 'most people' like. Every time I visit my 'very normal' family members I am reminded. If there is a dramatic difference in price I can see change, but otherwise, people will want their regular burgers. I would even go a step further: the more 'regular people' can be convinced the meat is 'real' and of 'high quality' - the more they will value it. Not less.
- Alupis 6y ago
  I think the phenomenon you're observing here isn't really to do with health, but more of naturalness - or more specifically, perceived naturalness. Obviously a hamburger isn't literally natural, but it's made from beef and mostly nothing extra. An "Impossible Meat" burger was born out of a lab - researched, developed, tested, and finally manufactured. There's nothing "natural" about it, which can turn a lot of people off.

jariel 6y ago

Yes, some people would change, there's no doubt. The point being: why does the author think that 'most' people would feel this way? Because I suspect that the vast majority of people don't. My suspicion is that the vast majority of people would view a 'regular burger' as 'more healthy' than most plant-based alternatives (even if they were roughly the same), and that all even if things were 'equal' or even slightly favourable to the veggie burger for 'health', they would prefer meat. You folks do realize that probably the majority of food in the US is probably unhealthy? And that people aren't really making their choices based on health so much? I believe that 'people like us' mostly live in bubbles and have a hard time grasping what 'most people' like. Every time I visit my 'very normal' family members I am reminded. If there is a dramatic difference in price I can see change, but otherwise, people will want their regular burgers. I would even go a step further: the more 'regular people' can be convinced the meat is 'real' and of 'high quality' - the more they will value it. Not less.

Alupis 6y ago
I think the phenomenon you're observing here isn't really to do with health, but more of naturalness - or more specifically, perceived naturalness. Obviously a hamburger isn't literally natural, but it's made from beef and mostly nothing extra. An "Impossible Meat" burger was born out of a lab - researched, developed, tested, and finally manufactured. There's nothing "natural" about it, which can turn a lot of people off.