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KEY POINTS As U.S. consumers look to cut down their meat consumption, plant-based meats from Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have become popular.

Dietitians, however, are not completely sold on the plant-based burger trend.

Instead, they recommend eating less processed options and choosing more whole foods.

Adam Berry | Getty Images

Beyond Meat's sales pitch to customers has focused on the benefits of abstaining from meat: a healthier planet and a healthier lifestyle. But dietitians are not completely sold on the plant-based burger trend. Vegan patties from Beyond and its rival Impossible Foods have offered Americans a new way to reduce their meat consumption. Mintel found that nearly 60% of U.S. consumers have expressed interested in eating less meat. These so-called flexitarians are driving restaurant chains like Burger King and Carl's Jr. to add meatless burgers to their menus. The growing market for meat alternatives has also attracted interest from investors. Beyond's stock, which began trading publicly May 2, has soared more than six times above its initial public offering price of $25 per share. Impossible raised $300 million in its latest funding round as it waits to go public.

The healthier option?

Scientific research has linked frequent consumption of red meat to heart disease and cancer. Beyond's website claims that animal-based meats lead to a 16% increased risk of cancer and 21% increased risk of heart disease. In theory, then, eating plant-based imitations of red meat is healthier.

"I'm all for products that are helping us find a more moderate approach for our diet," Jessica Cording, a New York City-based registered dietitian, said. Meatless burgers are a step in the right direction, she said. For consumers who are just starting to cut out meat, options that taste familiar can make the transition easier. Like Cording, Alissa Rumsey, owner of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness, believes that we benefit from eating more plants — but she isn't sold on these plant-based options. "They are not necessarily healthier than beef burgers," Rumsey, a registered dietitian, said. "They're totally fine to eat, but there's no need to replace your beef burger if you don't enjoy these." Rumsey pointed to the amounts of sodium and saturated fat in plant-based burgers, which is roughly the same as that in a traditional beef burger. And public perception that the Beyond and Impossible burgers are healthier than red meat options can lead to a "health halo" around them, she said. As a result, consumers may over-indulge after eating a plant-based burger.

Processed ingredients