REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – The Impossible Burger, Impossible Foods’ plant-based burger, is available in 5,000 restaurants in all 50 states, according to a company announcement. Since the burger was introduced in July 2016, 13 million Impossible Burgers have been consumed, the company added. And starting in 2019, the burger will be available in grocery stores around the country.

“By far the No. 1 message from fans on social media is, ‘When will I be able to buy and cook the Impossible Burger at home?’” said Impossible Foods’ CEO and Founder Patrick Brown MD. “We can’t wait until home chefs experience the magic and delight of the first plant-based meat that actually cooks and tastes like meat from animals – without any compromise.”

The company did not provide details on the rollout to retail stores.

According to Impossible Foods, the Impossible Burger is the world's first and only burger that handles, cooks and tastes like ground beef from cows – but is made entirely from plants. The burger’s crucial ingredient is leghemoglobin, or “heme.” Heme gives the Impossible Burger its bleeding attribute and creates the flavor in raw and cooked product. Heme reacts with the proteins, amino acids, sugars and vitamins in the blend.

The company also claims the Impossible Burger generates about 87 percent fewer greenhouse gases, uses 75 percent less water and requires about 95 percent less land than conventional ground beef.