Boca Burger
Encyclopedia
Boca Burger is a veggie burger
made chiefly from soy protein
and wheat gluten
; it is a registered trademark of the Boca Foods Company, a subsidiary of Kraft Foods
. Like all of Boca Foods' products, Boca Burgers serve as a meat analogue
. Although most of Boca products are vegetarian and may include animal-derived ingredients such as dairy
products, some of them are vegan. As of summer 2008, Boca Burgers are not available outside North America
, and there are no current plans to offer them internationally.
, in 1979 with the vegetarian "Sun Burger". Over the next decade, more burgers were introduced, as well as meat
less versions of ground beef
, chicken nuggets, various toppings on pizza
, chili, lasagne, and sausage
s. Organic
versions of some Boca products appeared in 2001.
Kraft Foods
, the nation's largest packaged foods company, announced in early 2000 that it had reached agreement to purchase Boca Burger, Inc., a privately held manufacturer and marketer of soy-based meat alternatives
. The announcement was made when Kraft Foods
was represented by Gordon James and Clifford A. Wolff
. The products are sold nationally through retail grocery and club stores, natural foods stores and food service channels nationwide. Boca Burger, based in Chicago, IL
, had 1999 revenues of about $40 million, almost double the previous year.
and reduced risk of coronary heart disease
. Most of Boca Burger's products are eligible to make a heart
-healthy claim authorized by the FDA.
s which come from hens confined in battery cage
s in its product line. In February of 2009, animal protection groups Compassion Over Killing
, Mercy for Animals
, and Animal Protection and Rescue League
launched a campaign urging consumers to ask Boca to remove the egg
s from its product recipes. On March 18th, 2009, a spokesperson from Boca Foods e-mailed Compassion Over Killing and confirmed that all Boca products will be completely egg-free by the year 2010.
As of early 2011, all Boca products are egg-free.
Veggie burger
A veggie burger is a hamburger-style patty that does not contain meat. The patty of a veggie burger may be made, for example, from vegetables, textured vegetable protein , legumes, nuts, dairy products, mushrooms, wheat, or eggs....
made chiefly from soy protein
Soy protein
Soy protein is a protein that is isolated from soybean. It is made from dehulled, defatted soybean meal. Dehulled and defatted soybeans are processed into three kinds of high protein commercial products : soy flour, concentrates, and isolates. Soy protein isolate has been used since 1959 in foods ...
and wheat gluten
Wheat gluten
Wheat gluten can refer to:* The gluten found in wheat, a sticky substance composed of the proteins gliadin and glutenin* Wheat gluten , a food prepared from these proteins, such as seitan or wheatmeat...
; it is a registered trademark of the Boca Foods Company, a subsidiary of Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
. Like all of Boca Foods' products, Boca Burgers serve as a meat analogue
Meat analogue
A meat analogue, also called a meat substitute, mock meat, faux meat, or imitation meat, approximates the aesthetic qualities and/or chemical characteristics of specific types of meat...
. Although most of Boca products are vegetarian and may include animal-derived ingredients such as dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
products, some of them are vegan. As of summer 2008, Boca Burgers are not available outside North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and there are no current plans to offer them internationally.
History
The Boca Foods Company began in Boca Raton, FloridaBoca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
, in 1979 with the vegetarian "Sun Burger". Over the next decade, more burgers were introduced, as well as meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
less versions of ground beef
Ground beef
Beef mince, ground beef, hamburger meat , hamburg or minced meat is a minced meat food, made of beef finely chopped by a mincer. It is used in many recipes including hamburgers and cottage pie...
, chicken nuggets, various toppings on pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
, chili, lasagne, and sausage
Sausage
A sausage is a food usually made from ground meat , mixed with salt, herbs, and other spices, although vegetarian sausages are available. The word sausage is derived from Old French saussiche, from the Latin word salsus, meaning salted.Typically, a sausage is formed in a casing traditionally made...
s. Organic
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
versions of some Boca products appeared in 2001.
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
, the nation's largest packaged foods company, announced in early 2000 that it had reached agreement to purchase Boca Burger, Inc., a privately held manufacturer and marketer of soy-based meat alternatives
Meat analogue
A meat analogue, also called a meat substitute, mock meat, faux meat, or imitation meat, approximates the aesthetic qualities and/or chemical characteristics of specific types of meat...
. The announcement was made when Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
was represented by Gordon James and Clifford A. Wolff
Clifford A. Wolff
-Biographical and Historical Background:Clifford A. Wolff was born in New York City, New York on April 7, 1970. Mr. Wolff is the son of Judy Wolff and Malcolm Wolff. Malcolm Wolff was a Vice President for CBS in New York City, New York from 1980 to 1987...
. The products are sold nationally through retail grocery and club stores, natural foods stores and food service channels nationwide. Boca Burger, based in Chicago, IL
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, had 1999 revenues of about $40 million, almost double the previous year.
Health benefits
Based on the scientific evidence in more than 50 studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the relationship between the consumption of soy proteinSoy protein
Soy protein is a protein that is isolated from soybean. It is made from dehulled, defatted soybean meal. Dehulled and defatted soybeans are processed into three kinds of high protein commercial products : soy flour, concentrates, and isolates. Soy protein isolate has been used since 1959 in foods ...
and reduced risk of coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease
Coronary artery disease is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium with oxygen and nutrients. It is sometimes also called coronary heart disease...
. Most of Boca Burger's products are eligible to make a heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
-healthy claim authorized by the FDA.
Awards
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | PETA: The Golden Bun Awards People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights... |
|
Criticisms
Boca Foods has been criticized for using eggEgg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
s which come from hens confined in battery cage
Battery cage
In poultry farming, battery cages are an industrial agricultural confinement system used primarily for egg-laying hens...
s in its product line. In February of 2009, animal protection groups Compassion Over Killing
Compassion Over Killing
Compassion Over Killing is a nonprofit animal protection organization based in Washington, D.C., founded by Paul Shapiro and currently led by Erica Meier. Formed in 1995, COK's primary campaigns are to advocate against factory farms and promote vegetarian eating...
, Mercy for Animals
Mercy for Animals
Mercy for Animals is an animal rights group based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in October 1999, it is a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501 organization with more than 25,000 members. Nathan Runkle is the group's executive director and founder...
, and Animal Protection and Rescue League
Animal Protection and Rescue League
The Animal Protection and Rescue League is an American 501 non-profit organization that works to document and expose cruelty inflicted on animals behind closed doors, particularly in factory farms....
launched a campaign urging consumers to ask Boca to remove the egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
s from its product recipes. On March 18th, 2009, a spokesperson from Boca Foods e-mailed Compassion Over Killing and confirmed that all Boca products will be completely egg-free by the year 2010.
As of early 2011, all Boca products are egg-free.