Does McDonald's Have A Veggie Burger?
McDonald's is known for its Big Macs and Quarter Pounders, but can you grab a veggie burger at the golden arches? The best answer is — yes, but only if you want to go to Europe.
McDonald's has long been called out by those who don't eat meat for not having more options. Women's Health notes that while the company is great at avoiding cross-contamination, that doesn't leave a lot of options left for vegans and vegetarians since even the french fries and hashbrowns contain "natural beef flavor."
Fortunately, it seems the company is finally listening to consumer requests and has launched multiple different veggie and vegan options in Europe over the last year. Forbes describes the Le Grande Veggie burger available currently in France, made of carrots and other root vegetables, as well as the McVegan in Finland. Surprisingly popular, the McVegan has been described by some as, "the 'best vegetarian burger' they've ever had." This popularity has prompted U.S. fans to create a petition, hoping to get the McVegan stateside soon. The Change.org petition currently has over 230,000 signatures.
Veggie burgers are becoming widespread
While we may have to wait for the McDonald's veggie and vegan options, if you're craving a plant-based burger in the states, you're still in luck. Fast food and quick-serve restaurants across the nation are launching their own meatless patties. One of the most well-known options would be the Impossible Whopper from Burger King. Women's Health details this option is a juicy vegan burger made by the popular brand Impossible Foods (although be warned, the Impossible Whopper may not be vegetarian after all, depending on how it's cooked). The burger brand is known for its similarity in taste and texture to meat-based burgers. Other fast foods adding their own Impossible Burger twist include White Castle, Bareburger, and Applebee's.
And the plant-based craze doesn't end there. Taco Bell recently launched its first vegetarian menu, and at a glance, it looks like cheese is the biggest non-vegan addition to this meat-free menu. The company has introduced a Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme, 7-Layer Burrito, and Vegetarian Quesarito.