McDonald’s finally goes vegan with new ‘McPlant’ burger

It seems that McDonald’s has finally embraced the vegan burger trend, with the fast food giant announcing the release of its new McPlant burger this week.

It all began in early 2019 with a sausage roll. Now, it seems like everyone’s at the vegan fast-food game – with big brands from KFC to Burger King getting in on the action.

Better late than never, McDonald’s has caught up to the trend at last with the release of this new menu addition – and we expect there’s going to be some very excited vegans as a result.

Developed in partnership with vegan brand Beyond Meat, the ‘McPlant’ burger has reportedly been in the works for three years now and has just been certified as vegan by the Vegetarian Society.

The new menu addition mimicks McDonald’s popular Quarter Pounder, coming filled with a Beyond Meat patty, ketchup, mustard, vegan special sauce, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato and vegan cheese on a vegan sesame-seed bun.

The chain has assured customers that the vegan burgers will be kept separate from its meat and dairy products, and will be cooked on a separate grill to ensure that the vegan meal isn’t contaminated with meat.

Staff will also use dedicated utensils for the new plant-based offerings.

McDonald’s signed a three-year partnership with Beyond Meat earlier this year, and it is expected that the McPlant burger is just the first product to come of a range of plant-based offerings – such as plant-based chicken burgers and vegan egg breakfast sandwiches.

Previously only available to try in European countries like Sweden, Denmark and Austria, it’s finally landing in Leeds next month as part of a UK-wide rollout.

It will first launch in 10 select McDonald’s locations in Coventry on 29 September, before expanding out to over 250 UK locations on 13 October – with some Leeds sites expected to be included.

It will roll out to all McDonald’s restaurants in the UK fully next year.