For the first time ever, a plant-based meat product has been certified as safe for professional football, basketball, and golf players in the US. Impossible Foods has received the NSF Certified for Sport seal of approval. The program is recognized by the NFL, MLB, PGA, LPGA, and the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport. This certification ensures that products are safe for athletes to consume, free from banned substances, and nutritionally sound.
Impossible Foods
Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness described the program as “the gold standard in sports.” The NSF conducts rigorous, independent testing on new products and supplements before they reach athletes, confirming that they meet high standards for safety, quality, and nutrition.
“It’s a huge deal to have Impossible certified as the first plant-based meat available to athletes,” McGuinness continued. “Americans are more aware than ever about the food they put in their bodies. It’s our responsibility to deliver on delicious, nutrient-dense, high-quality food, like our plant-based beef.”
Safe, nutritious, and athlete-approved
The certification arrives amid growing consumer scrutiny of ultra-processed foods and concerns about their health impacts. As plant-based meat brands face criticism for being overly processed, many are striving to distinguish their products from traditional “junk” foods, such as potato chips and candy.
More recently, both brands and dietitians have emphasized that not all ultra-processed foods are the same. Certain options, such as plant-based meats, can provide meaningful nutritional value.
“This certification is proof that we’re holding ourselves accountable, and that athletes, dietitians, and all consumers can feel good about our products,” added McGuinness.
Impossible Foods
Impossible Foods’ plant-based meats are a good source of high-quality protein, potassium, carbohydrates, and B vitamins, while being low in saturated fat and free from cholesterol.
“NSF welcomes Impossible Foods to the Certified for Sport program as the first and only fresh food to reach our highest level of certification for athletes and active consumers,” David Trosin, Senior Director of Nutrition and Wellness at the NSF, said in a statement.
Other vegan-friendly brands with NSF Certified for Sport products include supplement makers Garden of Life and AG1.
“NSF is committed to protecting and improving human health worldwide,” Trosin continued. “By meeting our rigorous requirements for Certified for Sport, Impossible Foods is demonstrating its commitment to clean sport as well as quality, safety, and good manufacturing processes for its plant-based beef products.”
The new certification means Impossible Foods’ burgers and beef products will soon be available in foodservice operations across the NFL, MLB, PGA, and LPGA.
“Athletes need protein, and we’ve been wanting more access to plant-based proteins like Impossible,” said Becci Roehl, a veteran sports dietitian and a founding board member of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association. She added: “It’s packed with protein, it tastes like meat, and it helps our players diversify their intake. It’ll be a real value for teams.”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
