Introduction
If you’re a fan of fast-food burgers, you may have heard the news that one of the biggest fast-food burger chains is planning to go 50% meatless. This is a major shift in the fast-food industry, and it could have a huge impact on the way we eat. In this article, we’ll take a look at what this means for the fast-food industry, and how it could affect your diet. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make sure you’re still getting the nutrition you need while eating meatless burgers. So, if you’re looking for a healthier way to enjoy your favorite fast-food burgers, read on to find out more about this major shift in the fast-food industry.
This Major Fast-Food Burger Chain Is Planning to Go 50% Meatless
Fast-food giant Burger King is making a major move towards sustainability. The company recently announced that it plans to reduce its reliance on meat by 50% by the end of 2021. The move is part of Burger King’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact and making its menu more sustainable.
The company plans to achieve this goal by introducing more plant-based options to its menu. Burger King already offers the Impossible Whopper, a plant-based version of its classic Whopper sandwich. The company plans to expand its plant-based offerings to include more vegan and vegetarian options.
Burger King is also looking to reduce its reliance on beef by introducing more plant-based proteins. The company is currently testing a new plant-based patty made from pea protein. The patty is being tested in select locations in the United States and Canada.
The move is part of Burger King’s larger sustainability initiative, which includes reducing its carbon footprint, water usage, and waste. The company is also looking to reduce its reliance on single-use plastics and packaging.
Burger King’s move towards sustainability is part of a larger trend in the fast-food industry. Many other fast-food chains, such as McDonald’s and KFC, are also introducing more plant-based options to their menus. As more consumers become aware of the environmental impact of their food choices, fast-food companies are responding by offering more sustainable options.
Burger King’s move towards sustainability is a positive step in the right direction. By reducing its reliance on meat and introducing more plant-based options, the company is helping to reduce its environmental impact and make its menu more sustainable.
We’ve seen our fair share of meatless menu items (both successful and short-lived) from our favorite fast-food restaurants. KFC recently debuted plant-based “chicken” nuggets, Taco Bell tested plant-based meat made from peas and chickpeas, and McDonald’s unveiled the McPlant to a lukewarm reception.
But the fast-food brand that has seemingly had the most success going plant-based is Burger King. The chain was one of the earlier adopters of vegan meat. It launched the Impossible Whopper in 2019 and saw same-store sales jump 6% in the quarter that followed. This veggie success inspired “The King” to launch Impossible nuggets last fall, but only in select U.S. cities without plans for a nationwide rollout.
While there may be growing critiques of BK’s vegan burger from U.S. customers, the chain saw “stunning success” with their most daring foray into veganism to date—a month-long 100% vegan menu at one of their high-traffic storefronts in London. The success has spurned Burger King to set a new goal for itself: a 50% meat-free menu by 2030.
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“We’ve been pleased with the results, including a doubling of plant-based product incidents in Europe in the quarter and we are looking for new market opportunities in Europe and around the world to expand the platform,” said José Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International (which owns Burger King) in a recent earnings call.
A spokesperson for Burger King UK told Insider that the most popular items from the 100% vegan menu will likely make it onto other Burger King menus soon. They included things like a crispy vegan chicken sandwich, onion rings, and vegan nuggets.
But while BK is calling its month-long London trial a success, not everyone is happy. One commentator for right-wing broadcaster GB News accused BK of skewing its results with its choice of location.
“It’s right where all of the clubs are and hungry drunk people, for example, won’t have many options,” said Dominique Samuels. “Burger King has been there for as long as I can remember. So it’s basically trying to force people into consuming chemically enhanced fake meat.”
Considering that Burger King painted the store green for the duration of this experiment with large signs that say “100% plant-based,” we’re not sure how valid this assessment is, but we can certainly see Americans having the same negative reaction to BK going meat-free.
In addition to potential naysaying from American meat-eaters, there’s also the lobbying that’s already been happening from big meat brands, notes Lillian Stone for The Takeout.
Watchdog agency Open Secrets disclosed that Tyson (the world’s second-largest processor of chicken, beef, and pork) spent $1,954,176 on lobbying in 2021, while Koch Foods (a poultry company) spent $12,178,000—all in the hopes of holding on to their big fast-food business.
We’ve also seen Big Dairy put lots of money where your mouth is, as their lobbying efforts caused the FDA to crack down on plant-based brands using the word “milk.”
While we admire Burger King’s meat-free aspirations, we’re not sure we see BK launching a 50% meat-free menu in the U.S. without a fight.
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Ashley Uzer