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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think that McDonalds need to up their vegan game

513 replies

Hiphopopotamus · 02/01/2020 19:36

As a vegan the start of veganuary is always really exciting when all the new companies bring out their vegan stuff - this year seems to be particularly great - Greggs have brought the vegan steak bake, kfc have their vegan burger and McDonald’s....well they’ve taken the horrible goujon things they have in their veggie burger, sold them separately and marketed them as a new vegan meal! Grin AIBU to think that they need to seriously up their game?

OP posts:
elmosducks · 03/01/2020 13:24

I know @Shhhhh223

It's quite ridiculous how some people get completely up in arms over this.

Ps: a judge just ruled that veganism is protected by law! Hurrah!

UndertheCedartree · 03/01/2020 13:27

@eeriesilence - you say in your post you can afford to buy locally grown etc. Yet, a vegan who can't is ignorant?

misscockerspaniel · 03/01/2020 13:37

Elmosduck "Ethical veganism" not "veganism". Can you imagine the argument "but she ate at McDonald's M'Lud" Grin

UndertheCedartree · 03/01/2020 13:41

@eeriesilence - the point is vegans are not all one homogeneous group. Some like eating super healthy, some eat locally sourced, some like junk food, some don't have much headspace for the ins and outs of what they eat just need something cheap. The same as omnivores.

elmosducks · 03/01/2020 13:51

@misscockerspaniel GrinGrin

joffreyscoffees · 03/01/2020 13:51

I completely agree OP.. I'm vegetarian but am doing Veganuary.

McDonalds have made a big song and dance about having a new vegan option but it is literally the same smushed up veggies in breadcrumbs they've always had.

It really wouldn't be hard to get a plant based burger. Other McDonalds in other countries have them.

UndertheCedartree · 03/01/2020 13:58

@thefaerie - but that's not exclusive to vegans. I don't think anyone considers Mcdonalds fabulous food!

MintyMabel · 03/01/2020 13:59

@UndertheCedartree

But clearly doesn't actually cater for vegans or the OP wouldn't exist.

UndertheCedartree · 03/01/2020 14:02

@misscockerspaniel - 'ethical veganism' is just what most people call veganism - the person thinks it is wrong to eat meat/dairy. It has nothing to do with the ethics of Mcdonalds!

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 03/01/2020 14:03

@EerieSilence I personally believe that veganism will become mainstream because it’s the cheaper option and gives big companies more space to play around with the quality of food while real meat and dairy will become the food of the rich.

I absolutely agree this is the future and it's being driven by a lot of ignorance around healthy eating. Food companies are rubbing their hands with glee and the planet will be fucked.

UndertheCedartree · 03/01/2020 14:04

@MintyMabel - the OP is about how the vegan offerings at McDonalds aren't very nice.

WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 03/01/2020 14:07

@Shhhhh223
The OP only asked if McDonald’s was letting the side down on it’s vegan offerings lol

Yeah but vegan threads always gets the militants out on both sides Grin
Quite amusing really lol

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 03/01/2020 14:11

should they not shop in supermarkets either?

Totally not the same thing. The supermarket merely serves as a convenient place for the acquisition of food and unless you have a small holding, or farms you can go to direct, or pick your own, or live off grid then by necessity you have to purchase from it.

No necessity at all to buy from Mcdonalds or Gregs for that matter. It's a bit like being a member of an anti-war movement but occasionally pitching some money into the 'help the war effort' collection tin.

daisychain01 · 03/01/2020 14:14

A small, privileged minority in either camp can afford to eat only the best, organic, locally sourced food, and have the time and stability in life to prepare it well. The rest grab whatever they like and can afford off the supermarket shelf without much thought

Oh dear. What a patronising generalisation, that The Privileged are the discerning ones and everyone else "The Rest" are people you've labelled as incapable of thought who grab stuff off the shelves.

The fact is, all the heavily processed crap people are being conned as healthy and ethical, is as expensive as the mythical "best, organic, locally sourced food" but without any flavour or goodness.

As far as I'm concerned anything labelled as Vegan whether in a supermarket or restaurant I avoid like the plague. We check restaurant menus on their websites in advance and if they don't give a proper veggie option we don't bother darkening their door.

That's nothing to do with privilege or how much "time and stability" I have in life!

I also can't stand the twee 'labels' they add to Vegan food - as manufactured and artificial as the food itself. Fake Bakes, no-pork cocktail sausoyges. Give me strength.

Please can I join the #vegancheeseisnotcheese movement please Grin

@gingersausage
@Lordfrontpaw

#veggieswithnothingtoprove

UndertheCedartree · 03/01/2020 14:17

@catherineofarragon - I really don't agree. Veganism entails not eating meat/dairy. It doesn't mean you have to eat healthily, it doesn't mean you can't eat junk food, it doesn't mean you have to be held to a higher standard than others. Of course it's not a necessity to eat at McDonald's but lots of people do and many of the reasons they do (convenience, kids' parties) are reasons vegans eat there too.

RollingOutOfBed · 03/01/2020 14:17

Interesting to see the dismissive insulting way that so many vegetarians in here speak of vegans. Not so long ago it would have been vegetarians that would have been spoken about as annoying, entitled and ruining things for others. I dare say that some still do.

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 03/01/2020 14:46

Wow daisy chain do you want some salt & vinegar to go with that chip on your shoulder?

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 03/01/2020 14:46

Veganism entails not eating meat/dairy. It doesn't mean you have to eat healthily, it doesn't mean you can't eat junk food, it doesn't mean you have to be held to a higher standard than others.

No one's saying you can't eat 'junk' vegan food. Of course you can. What some are saying is that it seems a bit unethical for a professed vegan to actively support to the profits of a massive meat food chain like McDonalds.

It doesn't mean you have to eat healthily

But this is what is often pushed as a reason to switch to a vegan diet.

it doesn't mean you have to be held to a higher standard than others

But it does. Because this is the only reason you can sell it to me. You cannot sell it to me on health grounds. You have no way of proving that veganism is superior to even a high fat low carb diet, or the Cave Man/paleo or blood type diet. Taking a brief look at the healthiest countries in terms of diet you see plenty of fish, some meat, veg, dairy, complex carbs and - paradoxically in some - quite a lot of saturated fat.

So the only way you can sell it to be is if you take it all the way, you hate the exploitation of animals and won't support anything that does. Ok fine. I disagree for now, but I can buy that because it makes sense.

This half-foot-in-half-out approach as far as the philosophy is concerned doesn't persuade me.

Put it this way, I don't agree with wearing real fur. Would I shop at a chain that produces apparel made from real fur, even if they also sell clothes made from man made fibres, even clothes I really like?

No.

PurpleDaisies · 03/01/2020 14:53

Because this is the only reason you can sell it to me.

Why do vegans need to sell their diet to anyone? It’s a personal choice. Everyone else can eat what they like.

PurpleDaisies · 03/01/2020 14:55

Would I shop at a chain that produces apparel made from real fur, even if they also sell clothes made from man made fibres, even clothes I really like?

That’s not comparable. How many good shops do you know that don’t serve any meat or dairy? I’m guessing it’s either none or very, very few.

WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 03/01/2020 14:55

What some are saying is that it seems a bit unethical for a professed vegan to actively support to the profits of a massive meat food chain like McDonalds

Why can't some people want to be vegan for health reasons, though?
Why do some hold every vegan to some sort of higher standard, that they have to be doing it to be morally superior or something?
Vegans are allowed to want "junk" food from fast food restaurants too.
Vegans get moaned at if they are seen to be "preaching" about restaurants and the meat trade.
Vegans get moaned at if they're NOT preaching about restaurants and the meat trade and are more relaxed, still eating vegan food but minding their own business.
Just shows they can't bloody win lol

squeekums · 03/01/2020 14:57

what has obligation got to do with it? Do restaurants sell meat because they are 'obligated' to? If Mcdonalds sold a chicken burger that people thought wasn't very nice, would people not be able to talk about it because Mcdonalds isn't 'obligated' to sell chicken?

They sell meat cos the majority eat it and it sells well
Complaining about chicken burgers is more logical complaining to them about crap vegan food. But if they also wanted to not sell chicken they could, they known for beef burgers

I wouldnt expect a beef burger at KFC and wouldnt be shocked if they tried and it was crap

nowaypose · 03/01/2020 14:58

Nobody expects healthy vegan food from McDonald’s... It has always been meat orientated. They have a veggie burger and wrap which is good enough for a meaty fast food place imo.

PurpleDaisies · 03/01/2020 15:01

They have a veggie burger and wrap which is good enough for a meaty fast food place imo.

The point of the thread is that the veggie burger is grim.

MaggieAndHopey · 03/01/2020 15:01

"This half-foot-in-half-out approach as far as the philosophy is concerned doesn't persuade me."

Interesting. I just wondered whether you have an issue with wearing leather, as well as fur? If you're happy to wear leather, isn't that a bit 'half foot in, half foot out", morally speaking?