GERMANY – Vegans and vegetarians, we’re looking at you! The popular fast food chain McDonald’s is introducing a new plant-based line of food – but only in Germany, for now. Starting February 22, McDonald’s locations across Germany will be serving up McPlant nuggets, a first for McDonald’s locations worldwide. They will also introduce the McPlant Burger, a veggie burger already sold in several European countries, including England and Austria.
Partnering with Beyond Meat, McDonald’s will be bringing the new menu items to approximately 1,450 restaurants. For the first time, these plant-based options will be available in Happy Meals for kids as well.
“With the two new products, McDonald’s, together with the manufacturer Beyond Meat, aims to appeal primarily to flexitarians. This is because their share is growing steadily in the population,” reads a release.
The term “flexitarian” refers to a diet that is primarily vegetarian but sees people eat meat occasionally.
Based on wheat and pea protein, the nuggets and burgers are made from plant-based ingredients and officials claim they taste similar to McDonald’s signature food.
Plant-Based McNuggets: McDonald’s Fans & Vegetarians React
Many vegetarians have been calling for McDonald’s to roll out a plant-based menu for quite some time. While some countries have locations that offer veggie burgers, the veggie McNuggets are a first!
A lot of people are excited to hear that there will soon be more plant-based options in Germany, with some hoping this will soon expand to other countries.
“I’m slightly jealous of even having the option of a veggie burger or veggie option at McDonald’s, not that I eat there at all but just having the option is nice.. in the United States, I don’t think there will ever be that option…” one Reddit user said.
“Glad to see it. I hope they do well. Tim Hortons had Beyond Meat sausage patties in one of their breakfast wraps and it was unbelievably delicious. Sadly they discontinued it,” one Canadian said online.
“I went to India recently and it was amazing. McDonald[‘s] was literally half vegetarian.”
Some people, however, are not as impressed with the announcement.
“I’m so sick of otherwise unsustainable fast food corporations doing small limited rollouts of plant-based food and then immediately stopping them and never being in my area.”
While others claim that the fast food chain should do more to broaden menu options.
“I would rather some gluten free options. Why can’t fast food places offer gluten free buns?” one person asked.
Would you like to see these plant-based menu options roll out in Canada? Let us know in the comments!
