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Product review: Quorn - an innovative new meat replacement

Guest review by dietitian Emma Stirling APD from The Scoop on Nutrition

quorn_mince_packAre you a vegetarian? Or perhaps experimenting with more meat-free meals due to the growing green scene? Well, we've got great news for you. There's a brand new player in town, so I was thrilled when Catherine asked me to write this guest review. Quorn has certainly raised the bar in ‘mock meats' and demonstrates how today's food technology can be instrumental in our future food solutions. You'll just never guess where it originates from ...


What is Quorn?

Described as a mycoprotein, Quorn is a high-quality protein grown, harvested and fermented from a member of the fungi family. Think morels and truffles, not mould and spores and you'll be able to stomach it. The idea was first sparked way back in the 1960's by British nutritionists, due to concerns about feeding the growing world population. After years of development, Quorn is now enjoyed by one in five households in the United Kingdom. You can read more on the Quorn story and obtain further info here.

For colleagues and health professionals, there is a Mycoprotein and Health article here by the British Nutrition Foundation.


Rating:

quorn_bolognese_cs The product we chose to review was Quorn Mince (300g pack) in a Chili Con Quorn recipe supplied by the manufacturer. Catherine was also impressed with the mince made into a Bolognese sauce as well as the Quorn Southern Style Burgers she road tested at home.

The range (all frozen) also includes plenty of family dinner and party time alternatives for those vegetarian guests: Quorn Lasagne, Cottage Pie, Sausages, Schnitzels, Sausage Rolls, Dippers, Pieces and Pasties.

After reading our review jump on over to The Scoop on Nutrition and check out the Chili Con Quorn recipe for further hints and tips.




Taste:  7/10

  • Compared with minced beef, lamb or pork, Quorn Mince has a very mild, almost neutral flavour that allowed the spices in the Chilli Con Quorn, particularly the ground cumin and cinnamon, to shine through.
  • The appearance and texture of Quorn Mince closely resembles minced beef and my hubby didn't realise until the big reveal, half way through the meal.

 

Nutrition:  8/10

  • Compared with minced meat, Quorn Mince is significantly lower in saturated fat at only 0.5g per 100g but a comparable source of protein quorn_southern_style_burgers at 15.9g per 100g (lean beef mince is around 20g protein per 100g).
  • Additional ingredients include "rehydrated egg white and barley malt extract" so the product is not gluten free nor suitable for vegans, but it is soy free.
  • Unlike mince from lean red meat, which is a rich source of absorbable iron, zinc and other essential nutrients, quorn is not as high. There are no vitamins and minerals listed on the Quorn Mince nutrition information panel but the Australian manufacturer told us the iron and zinc is only as high as for chicken and there's no B12 so it's not a complete substitute for meat. Sodium is naturally very low at 48mg per 100g.
    • quorn_burgers_read_to_cook
  • Instead of the serving suggestions of rice or jacket potatoes and low fat sour cream, we boosted the dietary fibre and wholegrain intake using wholegrain tortillas.  We also switched to low fat Greek style yogurt swirled with cumin for the sour cream. And added extra coriander and a squeeze of zesty lime for added tang.
  • The Quorn range is imported by Simplot Australia. However it is made in the United Kingdom, so there are food miles to consider as part of the tricky sustainable food debate.

 

Convenience:  8/10

Unlike frozen beef mince, Quorn Mince does not freeze in a ‘clump', so it can be added straight to the cooking process without defrosting or browning and is easily worked into the sauce. A handy surprise.

 

The final word
quorn_quick-bolognese As I enjoy eating and feeding my family (and man) the essential nutrients in red meat, I can't see Quorn being a major player in our mealtime repertoire. But I will certainly keep a couple of items on standby for those times when our vegetarian friends call in with their kids or for one of our birthday parties or BBQ's. And for a quick family dinner, I'll keep Quorn Mince in the freezer as it's so easy to work with. But if you are a vegetarian, I think you will soon fall in love with the Quorn range.

We'd love to hear once you give it a try. Or perhaps you are already a Quorn convert? Please drop us a comment or question below:

 

 


Quorn in the news

Natural food colours from fungus
Pigments from fungus could be used as a source of natural food colourings, according to a new review from Denmark. Food manufacturers' interest in fungus has been "revived" after one ingredient supplier gained EU approval for using fungi to synthesise beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A). Many fungi and lichens are known to naturally produce and secrete a wide range of pigments, with a considerable range of colours. Read more.

Food Standards statement Feb 2011
Food Standards Aust New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a position statement saying quorn is NOT classified as a novel food due to its long usage in the UK and US. It is not aware of any medical reactions to quorn in Australia at present.  Read more.

 

 

 

 

Comments (19)

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It sounds like a good alternative to add some variety to a vegetarain diet. I was really excited when i heard it was coming to australia. However i have been dissapointed as a live in a regional area (wollongong) and niether safeways or coles stock anything but the shepherds pie and lasange- Iprefer to cook from scatch and was looking foward to trying the mince and strips. As it is a forzen product i can;t buy it further afield which is a dissapointment. Niether supermarket are willing to stock it as i have enquired in both stores.
Clare , September 22, 2010
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Sorry to hear you've had such trouble locating the mince and the strips as they are way more versatile than the lasagne or shepherds pie. I will make contact with the manufacturer Simplot for you but I suspect it's out of their hands and with the individual supermarkets. Let's hope it sells so well that they're forced to stock it! Catherine
Catherine Saxelby , September 22, 2010
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Yummy! My sister who emigrated from the UK last year was very disappointed when she found out that there were no Quorn products in Australia in 2009. Then when they finally came out here this year she kept telling me to try the Quorn sausages. They are great. A nice cup of tea and a sausage sandwich that is guilt free! My children have tried the 'nuggets' and they were all wolfed down. A great, meat free alternative and particularly good for me as I have to watch my cholesterol levels.
Jule , October 01, 2010
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We have contacted a leading Australian allergist following isolated reports of gastrointestinal problems after eating Quorn. He advises that allergens have not been identified in Quorn and the reactions are likely to be intolerances, not true allergies. The amino acid glutamate is naturally occurring in Quorn (along with other foods) and certain people with food intolerances are sensitive to glutamate. If you have a food intolerance to MSG (another source of glutamate) or other food sensitivities it is recommended you speak with your health professional about the appropriateness of including Quorn in your diet.
Emma Stirling , October 01, 2010 | url
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We bought some Quorn mince to try not long ago, and it was quite nice in a bolognaise. Even my son who is a picky eater liked it! But there are two factors stopping us from buying it regularly. 1) the price. It's a lot cheaper to buy in the UK than it is here. And 2) Only Coles seem to stock it around here, and Coles is too far away for a regular shop. I wish more supermarkets stocked it!
Astrogirl , November 07, 2010
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this is all lies! quorn will poison you just like it did to me and has done to many others! Canada has band all quorn product and the USA is soon to follow. there are many reasons for its banning and it is not suitable for pregnant women. thius is not the long lost love of any vegetarian nor should it get the "paid reviews" such as this. this food is a poison and should be treated as such!
santa claws , December 13, 2010
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Dear Santa
We beg to differ. We have tested and tasted the product, checked its credentials and written what we see fit. Neither Catherine nor myself has received any payment for this (or any other) review on the Foodwatch website. Not even a free product. We bought it at the supermarket just like you.

While it’s hardly a whole food, it’s not a poison nor will it kill people. It’s been consumed for almost 20 years by many people in the UK.

It was launched into the U.S. market in 2002 to rave reviews, but was quickly met with a anti-Quorn campaign by an influential consumer group, the Centre for Science in the Public Interest which is calling for a ban. It’s NOT about to be banned.

As far as we can tell, it’s never been launched into Canada.

Quorn can be viewed as a manufactured “processed” product but then so can many other foods vegetarians eat today eg soy sausages, hummus, canned soups.

Yes there have been intolerance reactions recorded but then there are much worse allergic reactions to simple everyday foods like peanuts or fish. Would you have these banned because a small percentage of people have an anaphylactic reaction to them?

Thank you for your interest and we hope you’re not too tired over Christmas.

Catherine Saxelby , December 15, 2010 | url
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I found the Quorn products in our local supermarket recently and they're great! I actually had to go and recheck the ingredients on the packaging of the Dippers( Chicken nuggets)smilies/kiss.gif So nice to have a product that doesn't have all the texture and flavor of processed cardboard.
Janine , January 24, 2011
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I'm vegetarian and was thrilled that Quorn arrived in Australia recently, as my brother in law who is from UK had raved about it. I enjoyed my first meal, but after the second time I became violently ill and vomited throughout the night. Hoping that the reaction was due to some other cause, I waited a month and then tried again, last night. Again I was ill within hours of eating the product. I have now googled and found that I am not at all alone in my reaction. Pity, as it would have been great if I could have included this delicious product in my diet.
Kim Bishop , January 29, 2011
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My husband brought the Schnitzels home and I thought they were divine. Tasty, nice texture. I bought them the next time I went shopping and we ate them again and neither of us had any problems. I wish they would stock a bigger range in our supermarket (Coles).
Nella Mitchell , March 16, 2011
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Hi there,
Like most vegetarians I was so excited to have found this product but unfortunately after thoroughly enjoying the mince which I had with quinoa, the next day I was violently ill. To be fair, my friend ate the same meal as myself and she wasn't affected at all but was so concerned about me that she was going to take me to hospital.
It was brought to my attention by my husband that I had the product previously and I had the same reaction. Now I really do have to put two & two together! I am someone that can not have this product. I do not have allergies to anything but this product. It's a shame because it's delicious.
Gillian KOOREY , March 30, 2011
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Its the best - I eat it 3 or so times a week !
Anastasia Lipapis , May 16, 2011
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TOTAL POISON - AVOID
Mel , September 03, 2011
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I love Quorn. I have been eating for about the past 6 months. I am a vegetarian but I can be pretty fussy with eating, so this helped massively. Although, the price is a bit much in Australia for what you yet. 4 small southern burgers $6. For me, living on a student budget, it's a luxury lol!
Chloe , October 30, 2011
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I just tried the meat free, soy free lasagne and I was so dissapointed. It was discusting. I have been a vegetarian all my life and was hoping I had found a quick alternative to a wholesome meal when in a hurry. I threw it out after one mouthfull. When are people going to learn to cook decent vegetarian food
Lynette Barden , March 23, 2012
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Thanks Anastastia & Chloe. Interesting to have your positive comments which are in stark contrast to Mel and Lynette who dislike the Quorn product. Funny how the same product can elicit such extreme taste reactions! I personally find quorn a little on the bland side but I know how busy people are looking for quick, health & tasty short cuts so it's a shame it doesn't live up to all expectations. Appreciate the feedback so everyone else can read and make up their own minds. Cheers Catherine
Catherine Saxelby , March 28, 2012
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The gluten in it rules it out for me. It seems like such an unnecessary ingredient - why do companies insist on putting gluten in everything?
M , March 30, 2012
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sounds easier to grow some vegetables... never really liked eating soil mould that has been heavily tampered with.
justin , April 15, 2012
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This product almost killed me- I threw up for 4 hours, heaving, throwing up water, could not call for help I was so sick- I collapsed and woke up in my own vomit- have never been so sick and scared in my life! Am disgusted and so angry that this is still being sold in Australia- especially with the reports flooding into the FDA in the states about people's adverse reactions.
Keeta , April 26, 2012

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