Veggie Burgers

The word “burger” is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as originating in American English in 1939 and specifically pertaining to a “fried cake of minced meat.” Nonetheless, in contemporary usage, it has come to mean a patty of some combination of ingredients served with side dishes. Increasingly popular are vegetarian/vegetable/veggie/meatless burgers, which are often perceived as healthier in addition to being the choice for individuals who would like to minimize animal products. It should not be assumed that veggie burgers are vegan because some contain egg whites as a binder. A controversy over the presence of small amounts of hexane in veggie burgers has led some consumers to avoid “processed soy” versus natural soy. Hexane is a byproduct of gasoline distillation and is used to separate soybeans into soy oil and soy protein. Those products bearing the U.S. Department of Agriculture organic designation do not contain hexane-processed soy. Many veggie burgers are sold fully cooked, although that does not preclude contamination, as illustrated by a recall of burgers with listeria in December 2012.
Source: Journal of Renal Nutrition - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Product Update Source Type: research