Anyone tried the McDonald's McPlant?

[Legodout]

Interested in anyone's views before I try at the weekend! I am a big fan of fake-meat burgers (the only category of fake meat I think is indistinguishable from/superior to the original) and usually have Linda McCartney's or Co-Ops own brand, so looking forward to trying this!

On a side note, anyone have a good fake-meat sausage recommendations? None I've tried have hit the mark.

Thanks!

Ah, here we go. They don't have to legally declare all the nasty stuff they put in the meat one (this is US regulations anyway)

'the fact they market their beef as “100% pure” actually means nothing. It’s like claiming their pickles are made out of 100% pickle! It may or may not be pure and legally doesn’t need to include the chemicals/toxins used in the processing of the meat. All smoke and mirrors!'

I think it's great they're offering a vegan option, I don't think any/many people go to mcdonalds for a healthy meal- it's weird how vegan diets seem to be much more heavily scrutinised than any other.

@BIWI

OK - to make the point further - here are the ingredients for an equivalent quarterpounder beef patty:

Quarter Beef Patty
100% Pure Beef.
No additives, fillers, binders, preservatives or flavour enhancers. Just pure forequarter and flank. A little salt and pepper is added to season after cooking.

If you want to be vegan, it's your prerogative, obviously. But I wonder how many people realise just how processed these foods are?

You do realise that beef is a listed carcinogen. Also 100% beef is made up from commercial cuts. I’ll leave you to google what constitutes a commercial cut of meat.

Additionally if anyone eats at McDonald’s I don’t think health food is at the forefront of their mind.

You're all very welcome to join the low carb threads

Processed shit.

Had one today. I'm not veggie or vegan but DD1 is so I was testing on her behalf, I'm such a martyr . Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from the lack of meaty aftertaste I really couldn't fault it. If you are a vegan with a Maccies burger craving it's pretty spot on.

[quote ineedsun]@NeverDropYourMoonCup you thought a fake meat burger sold in McDonalds might have been a healthy option?

Well I’m always willing to be surprised by people![/quote]
No - but it might have been an opportunity to not eat meat, though.

@BIWI

These are the ingredients:

Sesame Bun
EITHER:Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamine), Water, Sugar, Allergen Ingredient: SESAME Seeds, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Yeast, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Gluten, Preservative (Calcium Propionate), De-activated Yeast, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. May contain traces of milk, barley and rye.
OR:Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour, Water, Sugar, Yeast, Allergen Ingredient: SESAME Seeds, Vegetable Oil (Rapeseed), Salt, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. May contain traces of milk, barley and rye.
OR: Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour, Water, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Allergen Ingredient: SESAME Seeds, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Yeast, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. All the above may contain traces of milk, barley and rye.
Plant Based Burger
Water, Pea Protein (16%), Rapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil, Flavouring, Rice Protein, Stabiliser (Methyl Cellulose), Potato Starch, Apple Extract, Salt, Pomegranate Extract, Potassium Chloride, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Maize Vinegar, Yeast Extract, Carrot Powder, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Colour (Beetroot Red), Maltodextrin.
Lettuce (Iceberg)
100% Iceberg Lettuce.
Tomato Slice
100% Tomato
Tomato Ketchup
60% Tomato Puree (equivalent to 168g Tomatoes per 100g Ketchup), Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Spirit Vinegar, Salt, Spice Extracts.
Vegan Sandwich Sauce
Water, Rapeseed Oil, Sugar, Spirit Vinegar, Modified Maize Starch, Salt, Thickener (Xanthan Gum), Spices (contain Allergen Ingredient: MUSTARD), Lemon Juice Concentrate, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Natural Onion Flavouring, Dried Garlic, Natural Turmeric Flavouring, Colour (Paprika Extract).
Vegan Cheese Alternative
Water, Coconut Oil (23%), Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein, Modified Potato Starch, Salt, Stabiliser (Carrageenan), Natural Flavourings, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Preservative (Sorbic Acid), Colours (Paprika Extract, Carotenes), Anti-caking Agent (Sunflower Lecithins).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. May contain traces of milk.
Dill Pickle Slices
Gherkins, Water, Spirit Vinegar, Salt, Firming Agent (Calcium Chloride), Natural Flavouring , Preservative (Potassium Sorbate).
Onions
100% White Onions.
Mustard
Water, Spirit Vinegar, Allergen Ingredient: MUSTARD Seed (14%), Salt, Spices, Spice Extract.

If you take out all the natural ingredients, what are you left with?

Sesame Bun
Emulsifier (Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Preservative (calcium propionate)
Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid).

Plant Based Burger
Stabiliser (Methyl Cellulose), Potassium Chloride,

Lettuce (Iceberg)
100% Iceberg Lettuce.

Tomato Slice
100% Tomato

Tomato Ketchup

Vegan Sandwich Sauce
Thickener (Xanthan Gum), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate),

Vegan Cheese Alternative
Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Preservative (Sorbic Acid), Firming Agent (Calcium Chloride), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate).

So mostly all natural ingredients.

God that’s a lot of ingredients!! I do wonder how/why these processed vegan alternatives are being badged as healthy/virtuous when in many cases they are MORE over processed than the alternative

I don't think many people do claim that individual vegan foods are always healthier though do they? Are mc donalds marketing this one as so? Most people who are vegan choose to be because they don't want to eat dead animals or contribute to their suffering. Red meat does have many terrible affects though, so it's not like just because it's not necessarily filled with loads of different ingredients it's better overall for you. People get weirdly defensive though if someone decides they don't want to feast on rotting flesh, weird.

If you are a vegan with a Maccies burger craving it's pretty spot on which I think is what they are aiming for.

@Sparklingbrook

If you are a vegan with a Maccies burger craving it's pretty spot on which I think is what they are aiming for.

And there's a clear market for it

@BIWI

OK - to make the point further - here are the ingredients for an equivalent quarterpounder beef patty:

Quarter Beef Patty
100% Pure Beef.
No additives, fillers, binders, preservatives or flavour enhancers. Just pure forequarter and flank. A little salt and pepper is added to season after cooking.

If you want to be vegan, it's your prerogative, obviously. But I wonder how many people realise just how processed these foods are?

That’s not equivalent! This is:

Bun
EITHER:Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamine), Water, Sugar, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Yeast, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Gluten, Preservative (Calcium Propionate), De-activated Yeast, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. May contain traces of sesame seeds*, milk, barley and rye.
OR:Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour, Water, Sugar, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Yeast, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. May contain traces of sesame seeds*, milk, barley and rye.
OR: Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour, Water, Sugar, Yeast, Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Gluten, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Baking Improver (Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. May contain traces of sesame seeds*, milk, barley and rye.
OR:Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour, Water, Glucose Fructose Syrup, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Yeast, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid).
Potential Allergen Ingredient: N.B. All the above may contain traces of sesame seeds*, milk, barley and rye.
*Please note all our buns, rolls, bagels, tortilla wraps and flatbreads are toasted in the same toaster as buns topped with sesame seeds.
Beef Patty
100% Pure Beef.
No additives, fillers, binders, preservatives or flavour enhancers. Just pure forequarter and flank. A little salt and pepper is added to season after cooking.
Tomato Ketchup
60% Tomato Puree (equivalent to 168g tomatoes per 100g ketchup), Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Spirit Vinegar, Salt, Spice Extracts.
Dill Pickle Slices
Gherkins, Water, Spirit Vinegar, Salt, Firming Agent (Calcium Chloride), Natural Flavouring, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate).
Onions
100% Onion.
Mustard
Water, Spirit Vinegar, Allergen Ingredient: MUSTARD Seed (14%), Salt, Spices, Spice Extract

@BiWI do you have nothing better to do with you life? A Maccies once in a blue moon isn’t going to harm anyone and to answer the OPs question yes I’ve tried it and it was delicious, I was very pleasantly surprised!

For all the people banging on about processed shit, do you never eat crisps then? Or anything that comes in a packet? Have you ever had any super noodles? Do you ever eat anything other than fresh whole vegetables and fresh whole cuts of meat?

If you do, then it's mighty hypocritical don't you think, to only start shouting about the processed nature when there's a vegan option that comes along?

It's a McDonald's burger, it's hardly going to be thought of as virtuous, by the majority of people. It's a naughty treat for every so often. And as @Soontobe60 pointed out, you've been fairly selective with your comparison of ingredients, it's a bit misleading tbh.

@Rockbird

Had one today. I'm not veggie or vegan but DD1 is so I was testing on her behalf, I'm such a martyr . Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from the lack of meaty aftertaste I really couldn't fault it. If you are a vegan with a Maccies burger craving it's pretty spot on.

The things we have to do for our kids.

The patty was delicious but would have preferred it with either the big Mac or quarter pounder toppings

I love it and the dc did too, once in a while it’s fine and no sentient creatures were killed.

Is the mcplant equivalent to the Big Mac or quarter pounder? I might have to go get one of each just to properly compare

@HadEnough798

For all the people banging on about processed shit, do you never eat crisps then? Or anything that comes in a packet? Have you ever had any super noodles? Do you ever eat anything other than fresh whole vegetables and fresh whole cuts of meat?

If you do, then it's mighty hypocritical don't you think, to only start shouting about the processed nature when there's a vegan option that comes along?

It's a McDonald's burger, it's hardly going to be thought of as virtuous, by the majority of people. It's a naughty treat for every so often. And as @Soontobe60 pointed out, you've been fairly selective with your comparison of ingredients, it's a bit misleading tbh.

Some people get really triggered by others choosing not to eat meat.

@BIWI

You're all very welcome to join the low carb threads

Good God no! Carbs are foods of the gods.

I tried it at the weekend, it was good texture wise but a bit bland.

For sausages I usually get Linda McCartney but the ones closest to meat sausage flavour is definitely Richmond

I'm bloody craving one now

I tired it and was surprised how much I liked it (I like vegetarian sausages/bean burgers but not keen on the fake meats I have had this was the best)

If I am having a McDonalds I am not concerning myself with processed food at that point in time if I was I wouldn’t be eating at McDonalds

@HadEnough798

For all the people banging on about processed shit, do you never eat crisps then? Or anything that comes in a packet? Have you ever had any super noodles? Do you ever eat anything other than fresh whole vegetables and fresh whole cuts of meat?

If you do, then it's mighty hypocritical don't you think, to only start shouting about the processed nature when there's a vegan option that comes along?

It's a McDonald's burger, it's hardly going to be thought of as virtuous, by the majority of people. It's a naughty treat for every so often. And as @Soontobe60 pointed out, you've been fairly selective with your comparison of ingredients, it's a bit misleading tbh.

Some people get really triggered by others choosing not to eat meat.

No, they really aren't. Some people think the hypocrisy is fucking hilarious, that so many idiots are being encouraged to go veggie and vegan to 'save the planet' and then they go out and eat this processed crap and think they are so much more virtuous than omnivores who only eat fresh food they cook themselves.

(Crisps are just crisps btw, they aren't pretending to be something else)

No way is that list of ingredients "good for animals".

The only local ingredient will be the meat. The bun flour is likely Canadian, possibly French.

The rest is flown in from many different countries and some processed food ie 'out of season' animals habitats will have made way for cash crops;

Sugar (unless 100% British beets)
Sesame
Rye
Milk (Denmark?)
Sunflower oil
Tomatoes (probably Spain or Sicily)
Spices
Gherkins
Onions
Mustard (will be French or US)

Not all vegan or vegetarian food is good for animals. Nor is it better for the planet. It is more complicated than that.