leghemoglobin

[ leg-hee-muh-gloh-bin, -hem-uh- ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a hemoglobinlike red pigment in the root nodules of leguminous plants, as soybean, that is essential for nitrogen fixation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of leghemoglobin¹

First recorded in 1965–70; leg(ume) + hemoglobin

Example Sentences

It’s been only six years since Impossible Foods introduced a patty made with soy leghemoglobin to mimic beef blood.

From New York Times

Soy leghemoglobin, or heme for short, is what Impossible Foods describes as the "magic ingredient" in its plant-based burgers.

From Fox News

In 2019, the FDA said heme doesn’t require the same certification process as color additives in food, agreeing with Impossible Foods that "there is a reasonable certainty of no harm from this use of soy leghemoglobin as a color additive."

From Fox News

"FDA approved soy leghemoglobin even though it conducted none of the long-term animal studies that are needed to determine whether or not it harms human health," Freese said.

From Fox News

They say "blood is thicker than water," but what about soy leghemoglobin?

From Fox News