Beyond Meat®, First in the Plant-Based Meat Category to Achieve Clean Label Project Certification, Expands its Certified Portfolio

Rhea-AI Summary

Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) expanded its Clean Label Project Certified portfolio to more than 20 products as of March 19, 2026. Newly certified items include Beyond Steak Filet, Beyond Ground Original, and three Beyond Immerse ready-to-drink protein flavors.

The Clean Label Project designation follows independent testing for contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides and plasticizers, and signals the company’s emphasis on ingredient transparency and third-party validation.

News Market Reaction – BYND

+1.56%

1 alert

+1.56% News Effect

On the day this news was published, BYND gained 1.56%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Certified products: more than 20 products

1 metrics

Certified products more than 20 products Clean Label Project Certified portfolio across Beyond Meat offerings

Market Reality Check

Price: $0.6956 Vol: Volume 31,718,853 vs 20-d...

normal vol

$0.6956 Last Close

Volume Volume 31,718,853 vs 20-day avg 35,120,103 (relative volume 0.9). normal

Technical Price at 0.70, trading below 200-day MA of 1.93 and 90.9% below 52-week high 7.69.

Peers on Argus

Sector peers in Packaged Foods mostly showed declines (e.g., HAIN -5.04%, FTLF -...

1 Up

Sector peers in Packaged Foods mostly showed declines (e.g., HAIN -5.04%, FTLF -4.93%, BHST -4.6%), while LFVN appeared in momentum scans up 3.44%. Moves appear more stock-specific than broad sector-driven.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 16 (Negative)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 16	10-K filing delay	Negative	-7.4%	Delay of 10-K and disclosure of material weakness in inventory controls.
Feb 26	Product expansion	Positive	+2.9%	Added four limited-time flavors to Beyond Immerse beverage line.
Jan 15	New product launch	Positive	+8.1%	Launch of Beyond Immerse protein drinks with new pea-protein formulations.
Dec 23	ESG report & LCA	Positive	-2.3%	Corporate responsibility report and LCA showing environmental impact benefits.
Nov 14	Convertible notes terms	Negative	+6.9%	Set conversion rate for 7.00% convertible PIK notes and outlined share impact.

Pattern Detected

Across recent news, price reactions often aligned with the underlying tone, but there were notable divergences on a corporate responsibility report and a convertible notes update, indicating that positive headlines do not always translate into gains.

Recent Company History

In the last six months, BYND has balanced product innovation with financial and governance pressures. Launches and expansions of its Beyond Immerse drinks in Jan 2026 and Feb 2026 drew positive reactions of 8.12% and 2.92%. By contrast, a delayed 10-K and inventory review disclosed on Mar 16, 2026 saw shares fall 7.37%. Earlier, a 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report and an LCA study in Dec 2025 and a convertible notes conversion-rate determination in Nov 2025 produced mixed reactions. Today’s certification news fits the ongoing focus on product quality and transparency.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-09-29

The company has an active S-3 shelf filed on 2025-09-29, not yet effective, highlighting risks such as potential inventory write-offs, impairment charges, workforce reductions, and suspension of China operations. It also discloses a selling securityholder position of 9,558,635 shares representing 11.1% of the class.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Beyond Meat’s push to differentiate on safety and ingredient transparen...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Beyond Meat’s push to differentiate on safety and ingredient transparency, with more than 20 products achieving Clean Label Project Certification, including core meats and new protein drinks. In recent months the company has also launched and extended its Beyond Immerse line while managing regulatory and filing challenges. Investors may track how certifications influence brand perception, volumes, and future disclosures around inventory and controls.

Key Terms

clean label project certification, environmental contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides, +1 more

5 terms

clean label project certification regulatory

"have earned Clean Label Project Certification — a designation awarded following"

Clean Label Project Certification is an independent testing and labeling program that verifies food, supplements and personal-care products for ingredient transparency and for common contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides and industrial chemicals. For investors, the certification signals higher product safety and transparency, which can boost consumer trust, reduce regulatory and reputational risk, and potentially increase sales — like a third-party report card on product cleanliness.

environmental contaminants medical

"testing for environmental contaminants and harmful substances, including heavy metals"

Substances or agents—such as chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, or radioactive material—that are present in air, water, soil, food or products where they are not supposed to be and can harm people, ecosystems or property. Investors care because contamination can trigger cleanup costs, legal liability, regulatory fines, product recalls or reputational damage that reduce revenue and asset values; think of it like an unexpected leak that can require costly repairs and slow operations.

heavy metals medical

"harmful substances, including heavy metals and pesticides, and validation in line"

Heavy metals are dense metallic elements—such as lead, mercury and cadmium—that can build up in soil, water, people or products and cause harm at low concentrations, similar to how salt left on metal corrodes it over time. They matter to investors because contamination or presence in goods can lead to expensive cleanups, regulatory limits, product recalls, liability claims or supply restrictions, all of which can reduce a company’s cash flow and market value.

pesticides medical

"harmful substances, including heavy metals and pesticides, and validation in line"

Pesticides are chemicals or biological agents used to prevent, repel or kill pests such as insects, weeds, fungi and rodents in agriculture, forestry and other settings. Investors watch pesticide use and regulation because it affects crop yields, production costs, product safety and brand reputation—like a tool that can protect a harvest but also create legal, environmental or market risks if restrictions, contamination or public concern arise.

plasticizers medical

"including heavy metals, pesticides, plasticizers and other toxins — and are measured"

Plasticizers are chemicals added to plastic and rubber to make them softer, bendable and less likely to crack—think of them as a softening agent like oil added to a stiff dough to make it pliable. They matter to investors because health concerns, safety rules or shifting consumer preferences can force manufacturers to change ingredients, creating regulatory risk, higher costs, supply-chain disruption or demand shifts for alternative materials that affect company earnings.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

With more than 20 products now Clean Label Project Certified, the company continues to expand its leadership in clean, simple ingredients and rigorous third-party standards

Newly certified products include Beyond Steak® Filet, Beyond Ground™ Original and Beyond Immerse™ in Peach Mango, Orange Tangerine and Lemon Lime — the first ready-to-drink protein drinks to earn this distinction

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND), otherwise known as Beyond The Plant Protein Company™, today announced that more than 20 products across its portfolio have earned Clean Label Project Certification — a designation awarded following rigorous third-party testing for environmental contaminants and harmful substances, including heavy metals and pesticides, and validation in line with strict purity standards. The milestone reinforces the company’s mission to create clean, simple products made with quality ingredients and backed by transparency and accountability.

As the first company to earn Clean Label Project Certification for plant-based meat products — including Beyond Burger®, Beyond Beef®, Beyond Steak® and Beyond Chicken® Pieces — the brand sets a new benchmark for transparency and purity. With today’s announcement, the company expands its Clean Label Project Certified portfolio to include Beyond Steak Filet, Beyond Ground Original and Beyond Immerse protein drinks in Peach Mango, Orange Tangerine and Lemon Lime – the first ready-to-drink protein drinks to earn this recognition.

“Third-party certifications like Clean Label Project validate the standards we hold ourselves to every day as we deliver the power of plants to the consumer. Our commitment to clean and healthful ingredients defines us, and we are pleased to see this external recognition,” said Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat.

“Earning Clean Label Project Certification across more than 20 products demonstrates Beyond Meat’s continued focus on transparency and product quality,” said Molly Hamilton, Executive Director of Clean Label Project. “Our program is designed to recognize brands that take proactive steps to evaluate and address contaminants in the products consumers rely on every day. These certifications underscore Beyond Meat’s commitment to accountability and exceeding the status quo.”

The Clean Label Project awards certification to products that meet its rigorous standards for purity and safety through comprehensive, independent testing. Products are evaluated for environmental contaminants and harmful substances — including heavy metals, pesticides, plasticizers and other toxins — and are measured against strict health-based benchmarks that often exceed minimum regulatory requirements. Only those products that meet these elevated standards for contaminant safety, ingredient integrity and transparency earn Clean Label Project Certification. For more information about Beyond Meat and its Clean Label Project Certified products, visit www.beyondmeat.com.

About Clean Label Project
Clean Label Project is a national nonprofit focused on health and transparency in consumer products. Through independent testing for environmental contaminants and public education, Clean Label Project aims to bring truth and transparency to food and consumer product labeling.

About Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND), otherwise known as Beyond The Plant Protein Company™, is a plant protein company offering a portfolio of plant-based products made from simple ingredients without GMOs, no added hormones or antibiotics, and 0mg of cholesterol per serving. Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat’s core products are designed to have the same taste and texture as animal-based meat while being better for people and the planet. The company’s brand promise, Eat What You Love®, represents a strong belief that there is a better way to feed our future and that the positive choices we all make, no matter how small, can have a great impact on our personal health and the health of our planet. By shifting from animal-based protein to plant-based protein, we can positively impact four growing global issues: human health, climate change, constraints on natural resources and animal welfare. Visit www.BeyondMeat.com and follow @BeyondMeat on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.

Beyond Meat Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements are based on management’s current opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, not historical fact, and involve certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions. Actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events could differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. While Beyond Meat believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements made herein including, most prominently, the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Beyond Meat's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 5, 2025, Beyond Meat’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 29, 2025 filed with the SEC on May 8, 2025, Beyond Meat’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 28, 2025 filed with the SEC on August 8, 2025, and Beyond Meat’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2025 filed with the SEC on November 12, 2025, as well as other factors described from time to time in Beyond Meat’s filings with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. Beyond Meat undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If Beyond Meat does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that Beyond Meat will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Media Contact
Shira Zackai
shira.zackai@beyondmeat.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/116de5d2-6721-4786-94e5-17f8eb5caada

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0b42e22a-395f-4f73-b18a-becac9f22d17

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c46abee3-5cce-4603-87cd-6b2fd5ebb80d

FAQ

Which Beyond Meat products became Clean Label Project Certified on March 19, 2026 (BYND)?

Beyond Steak Filet, Beyond Ground Original and three Beyond Immerse RTD protein flavors earned certification. According to the company, those RTD flavors are Peach Mango, Orange Tangerine and Lemon Lime, expanding the certified portfolio to over 20 products.

What does Clean Label Project Certification mean for Beyond Meat (BYND) products?

It indicates independent testing for contaminants and strict purity benchmarks. According to the company, certification involves third-party screening for heavy metals, pesticides, plasticizers and other toxins against elevated health-based standards.

How many Beyond Meat (BYND) products are Clean Label Project Certified as of March 19, 2026?

More than 20 products across the portfolio are certified as of that date. According to the company, the milestone reflects an expanded set of certified plant-based meat and ready-to-drink protein items.

Are Beyond Immerse ready-to-drink protein drinks the first RTD products to be certified for BYND?

Yes, the Peach Mango, Orange Tangerine and Lemon Lime Beyond Immerse drinks are the first certified RTD protein drinks. According to the company, they are the first ready-to-drink protein beverages to earn Clean Label Project Certification.

How does Clean Label Project testing validate Beyond Meat (BYND) product safety and transparency?

Certification requires comprehensive, independent laboratory testing against strict health-based contaminant benchmarks. According to the company, the program measures contaminants and ingredient integrity often exceeding minimum regulatory requirements.