Gardenburger facts for kids
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| Owner | Kellanova |
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| Introduced | c. 1981 |
Gardenburger is a popular brand of veggie burgers sold in the United States. A veggie burger is a burger patty made without meat. It's a great choice for people who prefer not to eat meat or want to try something different.
This brand was created in the early 1980s by Paul Wenner. He owned a vegetarian restaurant called The Gardenhouse in Gresham, Oregon. Today, the Gardenburger brand is owned by a company called Kellanova.
The Story of Gardenburger
The first Gardenburger was created by Paul Wenner around 1981 or 1982. He made it in his vegetarian restaurant, The Gardenhouse, located in Gresham, Oregon. People loved his veggie burgers!
In March 1985, Paul Wenner and Allyn Smaaland officially started a company called Wholesome & Hearty Foods, Inc. They received money from a company called Louisiana-Pacific Corp. to help them get started. This company even took a controlling share in the new business. About a year later, they received more funding to help the company grow.
In 2005, the Gardenburger company faced some financial challenges. It filed for bankruptcy, which means it needed help to manage its debts. However, the company kept operating and became privately owned.
Good news for those with allergies or special diets! In 2006, Gardenburger announced a big change. They removed eggs from almost all of their products. The only product that still had eggs used organic, cage-free eggs.
Later in 2006, the company changed its name back to Wholesome & Hearty Foods. Then, in 2007, a very large food company, the Kellogg Company, bought Wholesome & Hearty Foods. This meant Gardenburger became part of the Kellogg's family of brands.
What Are Gardenburgers Made Of?
Gardenburger makes many different vegetarian and vegan products. These are often used as meat substitutes. Vegan products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients like eggs or dairy products (milk, cheese). Vegetarian products might include some of these.
The original Gardenburger patty was made from a mix of tasty ingredients. These included mushrooms, onions, brown rice, rolled oats, cheese, eggs, garlic, and various spices. It sounds like a delicious combination!
Even though all Gardenburger products are vegetarian, some of them are not vegan. This is because they might contain ingredients like eggs or dairy products such as milk and cheese. Always check the label if you are looking for a vegan option!
In 2012, Gardenburger offered five different kinds of veggie burgers. These included:
- Veggie Medley (which is vegan)
- The Original (vegetarian)
- Black Bean Chipotle Veggie Burger (vegan)
- Sun-Dried Tomato Basil (vegetarian)
- Portabella (vegetarian)
Gardenburger is a registered trademark. This means the name and logo are legally protected and belong to the Wholesome and Hearty Foods Company, which is now part of the Kellogg Company.
See also
