McDonald’s, people want a vegan burger, and they want it now. A Care2 petition calling for the fast food chain to bring vegan burgers to U.S. McDonald’s locations has almost reached its 65,000-signature goal. In response to White Castle’s 2018 decision to begin serving the vegetarian “Impossible Burger,” the Care2 petition asks for McDonald’s to supply American customers with a vegan burger option that’s not only cruelty-free, but is also a better choice for the environment.
“Vegan and vegetarian burgers like the one on the menu at White Castle don’t just save animals; they also use much less land and water, which means they are far better for the environment than animal-based burgers,” the petition reads. “In fact choosing a burger like the Impossible Slider, over a regular beef patty, is like saving 20 gallons of water.”
Food & Wine spoke to best-selling author Kathy Freston, who started a similar Change.org petition in 2014. “A petition articulates a feeling in the culture and names the issue,” Freston said.
“In this case, consumers want healthier and more ethical choices in their favorite restaurants; we are tired of being handed old-school choices and we want cleaner options,” she continued. “Our knowledge of what goes into meat is evolving, and thus our tastes are changing along with that.”
Freston’s Change.org petition is still live and collecting signatures. Currently, just under 163,000 people have signed.
Over 63,000 of you have signed a Care2 petition calling on @McDonaldsCorp to add a #vegan 🍔 to its menu. So is it going to happen? Find out more, via this great piece by @pomranz for @foodandwine https://t.co/5OKT0WkC3X #plantbased
— Care2.com (@Care2) April 10, 2019
Burger King has also hopped on the vegan bandwagon and is now testing the “Impossible Whopper” in 59 stores around St. Louis, Missouri. B.K. plans to expand their vegetarian burger option to 7,000 stores in the near future.
Fast food fans are now anxiously tapping their foot, waiting for McDonald’s to take the hint. “McDonald’s is by far the largest fast food chain in the U.S. with a whopping 14,000 locations,” the Care2 petition reads. “If they were to start serving a vegan option imagine the amount of land, water and animal lives they could save.”
Introducing a vegan burger to their American chains would be an easy thing for McDonald’s to do, the petition states. The company already offers vegan burgers in Sweden and Finland, according to NPR.
McDonald’s head of food and menu strategy in Sweden, Staffan Ekstam, told NPR their vegan patty is soy-based. They also offer a McFeast sauce — a vegan version of the iconic Mickey D’s “special sauce.”
I just got me a #McVegan burger with additional #bacon. The taste is very good. @McDonalds pic.twitter.com/ubkErfkmua
— Jonas Papathemelis (@jonasthepapa) February 6, 2018
It already exists in the McDonald’s universe. So, why not bring the vegan burger to the states and the rest of the world?
Where you at @McDonalds? Kind of slacking in the vegan fast food race. #ImpossibleWhopper #carlsjrbeyondmeat pic.twitter.com/K5ab7ZjSNy
— Beau Garrett Schneider (@BeauGarrettSch1) April 4, 2019
As NPR reported in February 2018, “So far McDonald’s is mum on [the McVegan] plans for the U.S. market.” However, the burger is going gangbusters in Sweden — 150,000 were sold in the month of January 2018 alone.
@JohnLegere the #McVegan would sell big in The U.S. or #McDonalds can always bring back the #McVLT
— Heather M Westgate (@shannonmacmanus) December 19, 2017
Of course, even if the petitions make a difference, and the McVegan does come to the U.S., there are still some ethical hurdles vegans will have to jump over or avoid. For instance, will these vegan patties be cooked on the same griddles as the beef and chicken patties?
And despite offering a McVegan, McDonald’s will still be making a huge dent in the meat industry. Morals will definitely be challenged.
Obviously, everyone has an opinion about a McDonald’s vegan burger. Some hate the idea:
— Alan Astro ⚾🌠🚀🐂🐾 (@BryanAlan57) December 19, 2017
And others wanted a McVegan, like, yesterday. What the McHeck is the hold up, McDonald’s?
What’s taken you so long! I WANT #MCVEGAN NOW!!!! https://t.co/Hs8b59hZna
— Grant Hinds (@GrantHinds) October 6, 2017
Some don’t care either way. They still won’t eat at McDonald’s. Fair enough.
and still I will not purchase anything from this company
— arielle waters (@bench_kendra) December 15, 2017
What are your thoughts on the matter? Should McDonald’s follow suit, or does their production of beefy patties make their attempt to “go vegan” null and void?
If you’re team McVegan, head over to both the Care2 and Change.org petitions ro sign your name. Remember — your vote counts!
McDonald’s may simply be lagging behind their vegan-friendly competitors for a reason. Perhaps they have a great vegan idea up their sleeve and they’re waiting to drop it at the right time.
The only way to know is to patiently wait. Our fingers are crossed that the McVegan will appear on U.S. menus sooner than later.
