For athletes looking to get their protein from plant-based beef, there is now an option that is NSF Certified for Sport®. In fact, this certification is a result of high demand from sports nutritionists who specifically wanted to serve plant-based beef to their professional athletes.
Impossible Beef and Impossible Burger are the first plant-based meats– and first fresh foods overall– to beNSF Certified for Sport®. This certification helps athletes, dietitians, coaches, and consumers around the world make safer decisions when choosing sport supplements, functional foods, and personal care products—and now, plant-based beef.
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The Certified for Sport® certification is the only independent third-party certification program recognized by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and the Canadian Football League. Certified for Sport® is also recommended by the NFL, NBA, PGA, LPGA, CCES, CPSDA, iNADO, Ironman, NASCAR, Taylor Hooton Foundation, and many other organizations seeking to mitigate the risks of contaminated dietary supplements and now, plant-based beef.
Nutrition Stats
A quick rundown of the nutritional info for Impossible Beef and Burger include:
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19 grams of high-quality, complete protein (38% DV) – comparable to animal meat protein
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40% less total fat and 33% less saturated fat compared to conventional 80/20 animal beef
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Cholesterol and trans fat free
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A source of energy-producing carbohydrates, B vitamins, and electrolytes like potassium
Why the High Demand from Sports Dietitians?
Becci Roehl, veteran sports dietitian for various professional and college athletics programs, founding board member to the American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association, and President of the Professional Baseball Dietitian Society explains that “All athletes need protein, but the type of protein the athlete prefers varies person to person. Providing a fresh and safe food supply for athletes who want to eat more plant-based protein can be a challenge throughout the season.”
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Roehl adds that if athletes fail to meet their protein needs, it can impair their ability to recover over the long season. As such, “having a plant-based protein that is NSF Certified for Sport, like Impossible Beef, will add a new weapon to our arsenal, helping athletes to be resilient; staying available on the field for optimal performance,” says Roehl.
Further, this milestone achievement allows plant-based beef to be served in foodservice establishments to be offered to athletes across professional sports organizations (like the MLB, which requires the certification).
Bottom Line: The NSF Certified for Sport® means that athletes of any type can be sure of exactly what is in Impossible beef and burger. This allows for an additional protein source to be included in your protein repertoire to help support muscle building and repair.
This story was originally published by Men’s Fitness on Nov 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Fitness as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
