The times are a changing! McDonald’s recently announced “The McVegan,” a soy-based patty topped with vegan fixings. The all-vegan burger is currently being tested at a McDonald’s location in Tampere, Finland, from October 4th through November 21st, so you might want to grab your plane ticket soon!
Of course, if you’re avoiding all animal products, then you’ll want to skip the fries. Unfortunately, McDonald’s fries contain “natural beef flavors,” an ingredient that is made from wheat and milk derivatives. Don’t worry, though — you can pick up an order of vegan fries to-go at Wendy’s.
We’re glad to see McDonald’s get on board with the plant-based trend, also just recently released an all-vegetarian burger in France. For all of us who are stateside, don’t worry, you can still get your meat-free burger fix at fast food establishments. The plant-based Beyond Burger is being tested in T.G.I. Friday’s locations and White Castle offers two different vegan burgers.
According to the 2017 Protein Alternatives Report by global market research firm Mintel, Millennials are especially open to meat alternatives; 64 percent have tried meatless burgers. Meanwhile, only one in five Millennials has tried a Big Mac. Whether one is gravitating towards meatless options due to diet, environmental concerns, health, or animal welfare concerns, veggie burgers are no longer a fringe trend!
We’ll see how the McVegan does in Finland and will anxiously await its move to the U.S.!
To learn more about trends and developments in the plant-based food space, check out our podcast #EatForThePlanet with Nil Zacharias.
Image source: mcdonaldssuomi/Instagram
I have very mixed feelings about Mcdonalds selling a vegan burger.
Yes it is potentially putting another food option on the high street for veges/vegans, but in all honesty I would not go into a McDonalds and buy one simply because their primary products are meat, and they make their billions from the abuse and slaughter of animals.
It smells more of creating a vege option to encourge parties of potential customers who have a vege/vegan present, to buy their meat burgers with the poor vege getting a "well, they have a vegan burger so you can eat too", rather than going elsewhere.
We live our lives surrounded by people eating meat and this is something we have to accept, but sitting in a McDonalds eating a vegan burger while those around you are stuffing greasy meat burgers in their faces would not give me an appetite.
In Portugal we already have an Mc veggie and Burguer King has a Beanburger for vegetarians. They are not wonderfull, but yes! It\’s great to have an option and it\’s also great to see that companies and people are changing their behaviours. Hope you get your Mcveggie soon because it\’s not only about the free-meat option it\’s about the little steps like this that will change something in the future.