Vivera Steaks and Such Are Not Whole Food Plant-Based.

Vivera Steaks and Such Are Not Whole Food Plant-Based.

The Plant Based News web site recently proclaimed; “Almost 40,000 Vegan Steaks Sold at Tescos ‘Within Days’”. Tesco is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer.  Vivera is the Dutch company that makes the vegan steaks as well as an assortment of other plant-based products designed for vegans and vegetarians who miss the tastes and textures of meat.

I went on the Vivera web site to see if I could find the list of ingredients in the steak, but I was unsuccessful.  However, I did find the list on the “My Vegan Supermarket” web site.

I have to say I’m not a fan.  The main protein is soy, but unlike soy curls, Vivera does not use the whole bean.  In his April, 2005 newsletter, Dr. John McDougall  shares the research that suggests that isolated/concentrated soy protein  is likely to have long-term adverse effects on our bones and cancer risk. The other protein Vivera uses in its steak is wheat protein, not the whole wheat kernel. These are the first two ingredients listed, followed by coconut and sunflower oils.   You don’t have to read any further to conclude that these steaks are highly processed junk.  Here is the entire list of ingredients:

Rehydrated Soya and Wheat Protein [81%], Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Thickener [Methyl Cellulose], Natural Flavourings, Colours [Beetroot Red, Safflower], Vegetable Fibers, Wheat Starch, Maltodextrin, Sea Salt, Potato Protein, Herbs and Spices, Barley Malt Extract, Acidity Regulator [Citric Acid], Vitamins and Minerals [Iron, Vitamin B12]

Vivera’s Remaining Product Line

Vivera divides their product line into four categories:

• Vegetarian Vegetarian
• 100% Vegetable-Based
• Lupine Vegetarian
• Organic Vegetarian

Vivera’s Vegetarian Vegetarian Line

Vivera Balls – 71% rehydrated SOY- and WHEAT PROTEIN, potato starch, sunflower oil, onion, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), flavourings, herbs and spices, WHEAT FIBRE, salt, potato fibre, onion powder, dextrose, maltodextrin, iron, vitamin B12.

Vivera BBQ Package – 54% rehydrated SOY- and WHEAT protein, 9% vegetables (carrot, peas, red pepper, onions, sweet corn, tomato), rapeseed oil, potato starch, sun flower oil, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), dextrose, red onion, inverted sugar syrup, salt, flavourings, WHEAT FIBRES, onion powder, herbs and spices, yeast extract, colouring (caramel), hydrolysed corn protein, potato fibre, rice flour, maltodextrin, spice extract, WHEAT STARCH, garlic powder, tomato powder, antioxidant (E330), dried glucose syrup, iron, vitamin B12

Vivera Burger – 72% rehydrated SOY and WHEAT PROTEIN, potato starch, sunflower oil, red onion, onion, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), natural flavouring, dextrose, flavouring, onion powder, WHEAT FIBRE, salt, herbs and spices, garlic powder, tomato powder, maltodextrin, iron and vitamin B12.

Vivera Cordon Bleu – 46% rehydrated SOY- and WHEAT PROTEIN, sunflower oil, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), WHEAT PROTEIN, processed CHEESE with vegetarian ham (water, 5% CHEESE, 5% vegetarian ham, water, sunflower oil, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range)), WHEAT STARCH, dried corn syrup, SOY PROTEIN, salt, flavouring, bamboo fibres, thickening agent (carrageenan, xanthan gum), spices, smoke, herbs, fermented rice, modified tapioca starch, potato starch, salt, antioxidants (sodium phosphates, calcium phosphates), stabilisers (diphosphates, polyphosphates), bread crumbs (WHEATMEAL, MALTED YEAST, WHEAT, white vinegar, sunflower oil, salt, yeast, emulsifier mono and diglycerides of fatty acids), stabiliser (diphosphates), leavening agent (sodium carbonates), sunflower oil, potato starch, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), water, WHEAT FIBRE, flavourings, pea fibre, spices, WHEAT FLOUR, WHEAT STARCH, onion, garlic, salt, maltodextrin, corn starch, iron and vitamin B12.

Vivera’s 100% Vegetable-Based Line

Vivera Oriental Slice – 56% rehydrated SOY- and WHEAT PROTEIN, bread crumbs (WHEAT FLOUR, salt, yeast, water, colouring (annatto)), sunflower oil, water, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), KETJAP SAUCE (sugar, molasses, water), SOY SAUCE (water, SOY BEANS, WHEAT, salt), salt, white vinegar, WHEAT STARCH, WHEAT GLUTEN, WHEAT FLOUR, coconut milk powder (coconut milk, maltodextrin, CASEIN), onion, salt, flavouring, herbs and spices, modified potato starch, minerals (calcium, iron), sugar, LACTOSE, thickening agent (guar gum), onion powder, corn starch, YEAST EXTRACT, garlic powder, carrot powder, spice extracts, WHEATMEAL, vitamins (C, B6, B1, B12)

Vivera Zigeuner Schnitzel – 66% rehydrated SOY- and WHEAT PROTEIN, WHEAT FLOUR, water, sunflower oil, thickener (methylcellulose), salt, flavourings, potato protein, herbs and spices, WHEAT STARCH, onion, green paprika, red pepper, maize starch, paprika powder, onion, garlic, maltodextrin, yeast, iron, colour (annatto), garlic powder, vitamin B12.

Vivera Crumbly Mince – 94% rehydrated SOY PROTEIN, spice extract, flavouring, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT, maltodextrin, iron, vitamin B12.

Vivera Falafel – 77% chick peas, rapeseed oil, WHEAT FLOUR, spinach, onion, parsley, garlic, herbs and spices, salt, acidulant (citric acid), preservative (E200), iron and vitamin B12.

Vivera Lupine Vegetarian Line

Vivera Lupine Schnitzel – 58% rehydrated LUPINE and pea protein, bread crumbs, (WHEAT FLOUR, water, quinoa seed, yeast, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, salt), sunflower oil, water, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), natural flavouring, pea fibres, WHEAT FLOUR, spices, psyllium, WHEAT STARCH, salt, onion, garlic, corn starch, maltodextrin, iron, vitamin B12.

Vivera Fresh Lupine Sausages – 57% rehydrated LUPINE and pea protein, 12% CHEESE, sunflower oil, potato starch, water, CHICKEN EGG PROTEIN (free range), dextrose, salt, potato fibre, red pepper, rice flour, potato protein, onion, herbs and spices, flavouring (contains SOY), red beetroot powder, maltodextrin, onion powder, WHEAT FIBRE, yeast extract, dried glucose syrup, tomato, garlic powder, sugar, chilli powder, garlic, tomato powder, carrot powder, iron, vitamin B12.

Vivera Organic Vegetarian Line

Vivera Organic Balls – 55 % rehydrated SOY- and WHEAT PROTEIN, onions, organic breadcrumbs (organic WHEAT FLOUR, salt, yeast), organic palm oil, EGG WHITE (free range), organic OAT BRAN, organic potato, organic sunflower oil, dextrose, biological WHEAT FLOUR, salt, dried glucose syrup, spices, organic rice flour, organic burnt sugar, organic carrot, thickener (guar gum).

Final Verdict?

I give ten thumbs down. (one thumb down for each product)  However, Dennis Moore gives a thumbs up to the Lupine Line. J

Stay Healthy and Strong!