Our Take On The "Impossible Burger"? Would You Eat It?

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August 2, 2019

I feel like I'm in good company here.

Most of you are very informed customers. You do your research and you carefully chose what to feed your family.

The reason that we started selling our meat to people like you is because we are informed people as well and we struggle to find good food for our family.

That's why the "Impossible Burger" is pretty scary to me.If you haven't heard it all over the news, the Impossible Burger is a plant based, meat replacement that apparently tastes and looks exactly like meat.

Impossible Burger also claims that they use significantly less resources to make their "burger" compared to the conventional beef system.

My 2 biggest concerns are:

1. The ingredients that they use in the Impossible Burger

2. Is the Impossible Burger really having less of an environmental impact compared to the beef industry?

Let's start with the obvious question everyone always has when a new product hits the marketplace:

1. What ingredients are in the Impossible Burger and what are the possible long-term effects?

The key ingredient in the Impossible Burger is a protein called soy leghemoglobin (SLH), derived from genetically modified (GM) yeast.First red-flag is that most of the burger is comprised of genetically modified materials. Which according to this article by GMO Science that very little if any long-term testing has been done on the safety of Impossible Burger on humans. Not to mention that since GMO soy is the main ingredient in the Impossible Burger it is testing very high for glyphosate residue.No thank you. No "testing" on me or my family.

2. Is the Impossible Burger really having less of an environmental impact compared to the beef industry?The Impossible Burger has put out the claim that they apparently use waaay less water, less greenhouse gas emissions and less aquatic pollutants compared to conventional beef production, but I think they would be hard pressed to really prove their claims in the end.

If all their ingredients are coming from conventional agriculture farming practices (which is where GMO crops mainly come from) then they are certainly not improving the planet like they claim to be.

Conventional agriculture is stripping our nation's topsoil and nutrients at an alarming rate and not to mention the health risk potentials as I listed above.

Don't get me wrong, both conventional agriculture and the conventional beef industry are both detrimental to the environment, so I'm not trying to compare the two, but the Impossible Burger would like you to believe that ALL cattle ranchers are responsible for this problem and are causing massive harm to the planet.

This is completely false and gives no credit to those who are making a solid effort to practice regenerative agriculture and seeking to heal the landscape, reduce carbon and improve the health of the land and the water.

I really like this quote from the Savory Institute in response to the Impossible Burger belittling their work:

"In a world where current agricultural practices have eroded soils to the point of having less than 60 harvests left (according to the UN FAO), the solution is not to maximize efficiencies in the broken, extractive, industrial model. These antiquated systems have no place in a civilization facing the enormous threats of climate change.

Rather, as environmentally-conscious businesses and individuals, we must address the root cause and adopt land management practices that honor the symbiotic relationships of plants and animals. One cannot exist without the other, so we must reevaluate our preconceived notions and return to farming in nature’s image.

Only then will we create a lasting and regenerative agricultural model for a livable planet.

"Boom. That is what we are here to do.

So the final question is... Would you eat an Impossible Burger?

I think you know what my answer is...

P.S. You might be wondering: "Do you believe that the Impossible Burger could affect the cattle industry?"

Yes, I believe that if the Impossible Burger does grow in popularity over time that there will be an affect on cattle prices and demand. However, that falls much further down my line of concerns than what I have listed above. I fear for people's health and the health of the land more than whether the Impossible Burger is going to impact the cattle industry long-term.

Impossible Burger

Burger

Beef

GMO

Genetically Modified

Cattle Industry

Full 2026: Series on The Big Grass Fire "It Starts with a Spark!"

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Standing Together During the Big Grass Fire July 25th-27th 2026. When wildfires threaten our communities, they don’t stop to ask whose land they’re on. They move quickly, changing lives in a matter of hours. But in rural communities like ours, something else moves just as quickly—neighbors stepping up to help neighbors. As the Big Grass Fire continues to impact parts of Idaho and Oregon, Sean Cunningham of Cunningham Pastured Meats has joined countless ranchers, volunteers, firefighters, and first responders working tirelessly to support those directly affected. But, in spite of the effort to mitigate the damages, the devastation is real to life and property. While the Cunningham ranch has not been directly impacted by the fire, Sean has been spending long days assisting neighboring ranchers whose grazing lands, livestock, fences, and livelihoods have been threatened. Whether helping protect cattle, building fire lines, moving equipment, or supporting firefighting efforts wherever needed, the work reflects something deeply rooted in ranching culture: when one neighbor is hurting, everyone shows up. With but a brief reunion with Sean after his 3 days of fire service. As you can imagine, while Sean is all smiles to finally be home for some much-needed rest, tears were shed by the littles in his reunion with the family! As many of you know, Liz and Sean, while still only in their late 30s, have seven children and one on the way. To date, Liz and Sean have spent days apart, each taking on the role in their own capacity against the fires. Sean on the dozer in the field and Liz capturing the story in a digital war to garner the attention of news agencies like KTVB7, the Lt. Governor's office, the White House, electric company CEOs and others for much needed assistance and support for the communities who are now at the mercy of a rogue grass fire, The Big Grass Fire and simultaneous fires stretching thousands of acres throughout the Jordan Valley and beyond. That spirit of service and capitalizing on each person's strengths to wage the war against the fires is nothing new to ranchers. Across the West, ranchers have long been among the first to respond when wildfire strikes. Their knowledge of the land, equipment, water sources, and terrain often makes them invaluable partners alongside local, state, and federal fire crews. Many volunteer through Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, organizations that have become an essential part of wildfire response throughout Oregon and Idaho. These partnerships help firefighters respond more quickly while protecting communities, grazing lands, wildlife habitat, and homes. For ranching families, these fires aren’t simply headlines—they’re deeply personal. A single fire can erase years of stewardship, destroy fencing, eliminate forage needed to feed cattle, and disrupt generations of hard work. Yet even in the face of tremendous loss, ranchers continue helping one another because that’s simply what neighbors do. We are incredibly grateful to every firefighter, volunteer, dispatcher, law enforcement officer, ranch family, and community member working around the clock to protect lives and property. Their courage and commitment remind us that the strength of rural communities isn’t measured only by the land we steward—it’s measured by the people willing to stand together when it matters most. Please continue keeping the families directly affected by these fires in your thoughts and prayers. Recovery will take time, but our communities have always been built on resilience, compassion, and a willingness to lend a hand. As of Wednesday July 29, 2026 at 8 am the non-official update includes official agencies holding the line with the yellow circles area in the image below a wild card. With potential winds pushing north again, critical barriers may not be enough to hold the fire from encroaching on Silver City. The blue circled area on a post seen here with images is the most difficult to manage, with juniper trees, canyons, and rock formations making it difficult terrain to navigate intervention and support. See more details and images here From all of us at Cunningham Pastured Meats and Cliff’s Country Market, thank you to everyone serving on the front lines and behind the scenes. We are honored to stand alongside a community that continues to embody the very best of what it means to be neighbors helping neighbors. We continue to remain steadfast in prayer in the midst of a very active and devastating fire season.🔥Behind the Fire Line July 28 Yesterday, Sean came home long enough to grab a few hours of sleep. By sunrise, he was headed back to the fire. As the Big Grass Fire continued to spread across the rugged country surrounding Jordan Valley, every hour mattered. While air tankers and helicopters often grab the headlines, much of the work happens on the ground—behind the controls of heavy equipment. This time, Sean's office wasn't a pickup. It was a bulldozer. 🔥Farmers Wear Many Hats A donated dozer has become one of the most valuable tools on this fire, helping create what firefighters call fire lines—strips of bare ground that give crews a fighting chance to stop the flames before they race into new country. Out here, there aren't many roads. The canyons are steep. The terrain is unforgiving. So before firefighters can defend the land, someone has to build the path they'll fight from. That's where ranchers like Sean step in.🔥Dusty, Demaninding work! Many of the local Jordan Valley ranchers wear more than one hat. One day they're moving cattle. The next, they're climbing into unfamiliar heavy equipment, figuring out the controls in minutes, and working alongside firefighters to protect neighbors, livestock, wildlife, and open rangeland. It's demanding work. It's dusty. It's dangerous. And it's often done without anyone ever seeing it. Thankfully, this bulldozer has an enclosed cab with air conditioning—a welcome upgrade from many of the older machines that leave operators exposed to smoke, heat, and flying debris during long shifts.🔥Communities don't face disasters alone! One thing has become incredibly clear throughout this fire: Communities don't face disasters alone, they come together! Neighbors have donated equipment. Volunteers have stepped forward. Local ranchers have answered the call. Everyone is doing whatever they can to help. Now, we wait for the calvary to come to our assistance. My role as a digital warriror, is a continued effort to push emails to the governor's office, spread the word of our mayor of Jordan Valley as she makes herself heard on social media in a plea for help. I make posts that are intentional and tagged to the White House seeking attention to what looks to be a dangerous situation brewing in the fires that surround us. And, I share our neighboring rancher's stories as the fire consumes the land and much needed grazing property. 🔥🔥🔥 While Sean continues serving on the fire line, our team back at the Cunningham Pastured Meats continues packing every order from our warehouse at Cliff's Country Market in Caldwell, Idaho. Every order you place helps keep our family business moving while our ranch family helps serve the community. Thank you for standing with us. It means more than you know. Watch Sean's interview with KTVB news.

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Our Take On The "Impossible Burger"? Would You Eat It?

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