McDonald’s Announces The Launch of Vegan Burger ‘McPlant’ In The U.S.

10th November 2020

McDonald's will be launching a plant-based burger called 'McPlant' in the United States to compete with its prime contender Burger King’s Impossible Whopper. McDonald’s is one of the largest fast-food restaurant chains globally, holding the power to influence tastes and preferences of a large customer base due to its convenient food options. McDonald’s has taken it a step further and has planned to roll out an entire plant-based range starting with the plant-based burger. The range will include faux chicken and plant-based sandwiches.

In the U.S, even the McDonald’s fries are not vegan, as they are cooked in beef fat. McDonald’s was never the restaurant catering food for vegans, but the trends are changing. In a recent study by Nielsen, there has been a growing demand for plant-based meat alternatives among retailers by 128.5% in the year 2019-20.

Experts claim that lack of plant-based meat alternatives at McDonald’s has resulted in the enterprise losing customers. Although McDonald's isn’t perceived as a meaty brand like its competitor KFC, but as a convenience food restaurant, this move reiterates the need for convenient and affordable plant-based meats.

Sustainability is an important consideration in the 21st century. Consumers are concerned about the environmental footprint of meat-based foods as the animal agriculture industry is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases like methane and carbon. McDonald's is one of 42 of the top 100 fast-food chains in the U.S. that did not offer plant-based meat options, according to the Washington, D.C. based Good Food Institute.

However, there is no official confirmation on who will supply the fast-food chain with its new plant-based ingredients. Alt meat giant Impossible Foods has already introduced the Impossible Whooper last year.

Nonetheless, plant-based meat will be the future of meat. It is the most promising category of the food industry as was evidenced by the enormous success of KFC’s Vegan Burger which sold out within days. McDonald’s McPlant will be a huge success story as its launch revolutionizes plant-based food options with its convenience!