A new vegan burger is coming to UK McDonald's stores after being perfected after "years of research", the fast food chain announced today.
The McPlant burger will be trialled at 10 McDonald's restaurants in Coventry from September 29 before expanding to a further 250 restaurants across the UK from October 13. A list of restaurants can be found on the McDonald's website. The new menu, priced at £3.49, is modeled after McDonald's Quarter Pounder Deluxe burger.
As mentioned, the chain has been working on this burger for a while. In fact, they reportedly try "hundreds" of options to make sure their plant-based products are the best and contain high-quality ingredients.
With the help of Irish dairy supplier Kerry Foods, the McDonald's team ultimately settled on a vegan cheese made from pea protein. The burger will also feature a "customized" vegan patty made by Beyond Meat, served with plant-based sandwich spread, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickles. The burger is cooked in the oven rather than on the grill, which makes it slightly different from other McDonald's burgers, and it's certified by the Vegan Society.
"We wanted to create the perfect burger with the same flavor, texture, tenderness and juiciness as a traditional meat burger," a McDonald's spokesperson said. "We took longer [than other brands] because we needed Get the consistency right. Customers expect a certain taste when they visit McDonald's."
If you want to get your hands on one, you don’t have to wait too long. The McPlant burger will be launched in a few stores in Coventry later this month before launching nationwide in October. It will be generally available in all McDonald’s locations in January 2022. A full list of store offerings can be found online.
On Twitter, reactions to the news of the vegan burger were mixed. Many sounded excited, with one user writing: "It's about time. BK One looks really good! Can't wait to try this." However, others were keen to see McDonald's take action for people with dietary restrictions further measures.
"But still no gluten-free bread? Come on @McDonaldsUK, it's 2021. If you can eat vegan you can definitely make gluten-free bread," one said.
