MorningStar Farms commits to complete plant-based portfolio, introduces vegan cheezeburger

MorningStar Farms will offer only vegan foods by 2021, increasing the accessibility of great-tasting plant-based offerings, the company has announced. 

The conversion will include products available to 25,000 restaurants and eating establishments within K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and hospitals.

In addition to expanding the availability of plant-based foods, the move will eliminate the company’s use of more than 300 million egg whites annually.

“By making this change, MorningStar Farms favorites can be enjoyed by even more people at home and on-the-go who strive to add plant-based proteins to their plate,” said Mel Cash, head of global marketing, plantbased protein at Kellogg Company, which owns MorningStar Farms. “This will also help us further our commitment to a greener world by helping to reduce the water waste, land usage and carbon emissions associated with egg production.”

All MorningStar Farms favorites, from the spicy black bean burger to the breakfast sausage patties, will be 100 percent plant-based by 2021. Roughly 50 percent of the portfolio has already been transitioned, and that should increase to about 65 percent by the end of 2019. This includes all chick’n nuggets and patties, and the meat lovers, veggie lovers, falafel and Tex-Mex burgers.

“MorningStar Farms’ decision to make their entire product portfolio 100 percent plant-based is a huge win for both consumers and the planet,” said Bruce Friedrich, co-founder and executive director of The Good Food Institute. “MorningStar Farms continues to raise the bar for making delicious plant-based meat accessible to everyone. We commend their leadership and are thrilled to partner with them on this important, forward-thinking commitment.” The Good Food Institute supports companies and entrepreneurs who create clean meat and plant-based alternatives to animal products.  

The company also has rolled out its newest 100 percent plant-based innovation, MorningStar Farms cheezeburger, a new vegan burger adds ooey-gooey, plant-based cheddar “cheeze” to the vegan meat lovers quarter pound patty. The new burger features 23 grams of plant-based protein.

Source: MorningStar Farms