The infamous fast food chain McDonalds plans to release a new meatless burger option called the McPlant. McDonalds plans to test the McPlant burger in select markets in 2021. McDonald’s representitive Ian Borden states:
In the future, McPlant could extend across a line of plant-based products including burgers, chicken-substitutes and breakfast sandwiches. And, we expect some markets will test the burger next year. We are excited about the opportunity because we believe we have a proven, delicious-tasting product. When customers are ready for it, we are ready for them. (Source)
The McPlant will feature the Beyond Burger patty made by Beyond Meat.
UPDATE – Beyond says it is involved in this.
“Beyond Meat and McDonald’s co-created the plant-based patty which will be available as part of their McPlant platform,” a Beyond Meat spokesperson said.— Richard Southern (@richard680news) November 9, 2020
When will the McPlant be in restaurants?
Today McDonald’s announced plans to test the new plant-based burger next year in key markets.
Is the default McPlant burger vegan?
Bun options and condiments offered on the default burger are unknown at this time. Also, I have not seen information about available cooking options (separate grills or other heating options).
The default option might not be vegan if the burger resemples the P.L.T. released in Canada late 2019 and early 2020. This burger had mayo and cheese, and grilled on the same surface as meat. When released, you may need to request special adjustments to make this burger vegan.
But is it healthy?
Of course not. The Beyond Burger and most food at McDonalds are not healthy choices. The Beyond Meat patties include a lot of oil and sodium in addition to heavily processed ingredients. However, we welcome a new mainstream plant-based or vegan option that can introduce people to this way of eating and lifestyle.
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Alaina
Does this new mcplant burger contain soy?
Jen @ PlantBasedRecipe
The Beyond Burger patty doesn’t contain soy in their current product. Whether they do a special patty with McDonalds however is unknown, and there hasn’t been an announcement about what else will be in the burger. They will list ingredients on their website. For example, it could be similar to the PLT (needs revisions to be plant based by default), https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/product/plt.html
John Stellon
That’s great. What’s the purpose of introducing something, meat or meatless, that is just as unhealthy as any other meat burger can be. Fact: there is a big difference between an unhealthy vegan diet and a healthy vegan diet. Getting people on a meatless diet says nothing because as a vegan myself I know for a fact that there are vegan diets that contain little nutrients with other than calories and inflammatory ingredients ( just to sucker the person on taste) while there are healthier diets – some that even contain animal products – without all of the junk put into it. Some “vegan” diets are all to much about just making a senseless “MEATLESS” statement rather than promoting the healthy beneficial reasons for being on a whole plant food based diet. Let’s face it, both, the food industry’s realization of cashing in on the vegan surge, and the politics of “saving the animals” and global climate concerns are both used to push us down this meatless path without paying any mind to the most important reason for being on a whole plant based food diet and that is health of the individual, and more particularly, the health of those who are ill because of having been on a mainstream food diet (meat or meatless) for most of their lives. And I’ll add this, for those sick people who are ill because of failing organs, vascular, cardiac issues, type 2 diabetes, cancers and so on, foods like the “Beyond Burger” will do nothing at best if not hasten their path to further suffering and death. If there was a gun to my head forcing me to make a choice in eating either a “Beyond Burger” or a healthfully prepared broiled lean burger sandwiched inside of a whole grain burger bun, I’d choose the later.
Jen @ Plant Based Recipe
Of course. This whole site is WFPB oil free recipes, I did grad studies in nutrition, and run a veganic farm. This is a NEWS article about a new product that is available, and could be something to help people maintain a cruelty free life when traveling or in a pinch. Or may be of interest since it’s a mainstream acceptance of veganism.
At any rate, it’s just a news report.
Rachel
It is Chipotle, I believe, that has also introduced a vegan-“meat” option in its offerings. Chipotle is using Impossible Burger for its offering. Impossible burger is made with so much coconut oil, filled with saturated fat, that it’s also not healthy to eat, in my opinion. I have already contacted Chipotle to tell them that while I appreciate their offering a vegan option, I, as a long-time vegan, will not purchase their products because there are better meat-substitute options. Lightlife offers a much healthier meat replacement product that I suggested to them that, if they were to offer it, I would consider consuming.
As healthy vegan individuals, it is our job – still – to educate others about better products to consume. And Impossible Burger is not a healthy option.
I encourage vegans to write McDonalds, Chipotle and other restaurants and let them know what we will and will not consume. Our best tool is to speak up. 🙂
Jen @ PlantBasedRecipe
So glad you are writing them for healthier selections! As mentioned in the article, these and other products like them are definitely not healthy at all. The intent behind adding articles like this was exactly for the reason you mention – educating others about the health by maybe showing up in a search. They’re, after all, landing on a WFPB-NO site and might look further once here and read the bit about unhealthy. Maybe. These products are so many people’s entry point, reduce death and environment impact, and for that reason I’m appreciative. But a huge caveat with the health and even moreso for some of the industry powers behind it and politics, which is even worse than the health or production issues… but I won’t hop on that soapbox.. 🙂 We’re still just sticking with our batch-made then frozen homemade patties and avoid the whole lot. Hopefully after trying healthy processed and getting situated with plant-based or vegan, people move in this direction. Why the site is here anyway. *shrug* Great comment.