Dallas, Texas-based MorningStar Farms has announced that its total line of frozen food products – from newly launched Cheezeburger to Spicy Black Bean Burger, Grillers Original, Breakfast Sausage Patties and more – will contain 100% plant-based ingredients within the next two years, as it moves to reduce and eliminate the use of over 300 million egg whites annually. Currently the company uses egg whites in about half of its volume output.
In addition to retail SKUs, the planned conversion includes foodservice items distributed to approximately 25,000 restaurants and cafeterias serving meals at K-12 schools, colleges, universities and hospitals.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for us,” said Mel Cash, head of global marketing for plant-based protein at Kellogg, the company’s Battle Creek, Michigan-headquartered parent. “By making this change, MorningStar Farms favorites can be enjoyed by even more people who strive to add plant-based proteins to their plates.”
Roughly 50% of MorningStar’s present portfolio has already been transitioned, and this should increase to about 65% by the end of 2019 as a proprietary plant-based blend replaces eggs. This includes all Chick’n nuggets and patties, and Meat Lovers, Veggie Lovers, Falafel and Tex-Mex burgers.
Cheezeburger Joins Menu
The newest 100% plant-based innovation, MorningStar Farms Cheezeburger, will launch March 7 at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California. Distributed in units of two per 227-gram package that will see for $3.99, the quarter-pound patties are topped with gooey plant-based faux cheddar “cheese.” The result is a tasty veggie burger that features 23 grams of plant-based protein.
While results from a recent Gallup poll suggest that only 3% of American strictly follow vegan diets completely devoid of meat, eggs and dairy products, it is estimated by Nielsen that the US retail market for plant-based meat replacement products grew by 17% and was valued at $3.7 billion in 2018. The total market is reportedly worth more than $4.1 billion.
