Skip to main content

Comparison · Protein

Ground Beef vs Impossible Burger

The starkest processing contrast in the protein aisle: ground beef is 1 ingredient (beef). Impossible Burger is 21 ingredients including soy leghemoglobin produced via genetically engineered yeast.

Subject A

Ground Beef

683 products →
2.3
L1 · Minimal
Avg processing score
Nutrition4.5/10
86% · 3% · 4% · 7%L1→L4
Difference6.7 pts
Subject B

Impossible Burger

22 products →
9.0
L4 · Ultra-Proc.
Avg processing score
Nutrition6.0/10
0% · 0% · 45% · 55%L1→L4
The verdictGround Beef is less processed

Ground Beef scores lower in our analysis.

Ground Beef averages 2.3 (Level 1) across 683 products; Impossible Burger averages 9.0 (Level 4) across 22.

Ground Beef · 2.3Impossible Burger · 9.0
L1 · MinL2 · ProcL3 · HighL4 · Ultra
Scale: 0 → 15+ (uncapped)6.7 point gap

Written by UPFL Editorial Team

Editorial standards

Quick answer

Ground beef (Level 1, 1 ingredient) vs Impossible Burger (Level 4, 21 ingredients). The processing gap is enormous.

Worth knowing

Processing levels can vary significantly between brands and specific products within each category. Always check the ingredient list of the specific product you are considering. Use our product search to look up exact processing scores. These comparisons evaluate processing level and ingredient composition only. They do not account for taste, price, convenience, cultural significance, or individual dietary needs.

How do they compare by the numbers?

Avg Processing Score
Ground Beef
2.3
Minimal
Impossible Burger
9.0
Ultra-Proc.
Dominant Level
Ground Beef
L1 · Minimal
Impossible Burger
L4 · Ultra-Proc.
Avg Nutrition Score
Ground Beef
4.5
of 10
Impossible Burger
6.0
of 10
Avg Ingredient Count
Ground Beef
6.0
Impossible Burger
35.2
Products in Database
Ground Beef
683
Impossible Burger
22
Level Distribution
Ground Beef
86%3%4%7%
Impossible Burger
0%0%45%55%

Sample products from each

Ketzal for iPhone

Have One Of These At Home?

Scan it in Ketzal to see how your exact product scores, and what to swap it for.

Scan It Free
A product in Ketzal with a Processing Score and a Nutrition Score

Frequently asked questions

Is ground beef less processed than Impossible Burger?

From a processing standpoint, ground beef (1 ingredient, Level 1) is dramatically simpler. The health question depends on what matters most to you.

Something wrong on this page? Let me know. If it's a product, you can also submit photos of its label using our mobile app, Ketzal.