AIBU to think that McDonalds need to up their vegan game

[Hiphopopotamus]

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! AIBU to think that they need to seriously up their game?

"pretend meat"

A vegan or vegetarian burger isn't "pretend meat". You don't own round shaped food! Why aren't you just noshing down on the full cow? Why has it got to be shaped into pretend round patties before you'll eat it? Do you own sausage shaped food too, coz last time I checked that isn't exactly...pig shaped. Is it just the word burger you feel you own as carnivores? Oh so confusing for us.

And I’m not going to @RollingOutOfBed

But in the meantime it’ll be all over the news and GMB etc

Perhaps we should have extra meaty March!!

It's quite odd, this reaction.

As a vegan, also for environmental reasons OP I would never choose to eat in a fast food restaurant and have no desire to eat a fake burger, steak slice or sausage roll either. A tub of hummus and an apple are available on any high street these days and fit much better into a whole food plant based diet than anything highly processed, deep fried or dished up in disposable containers.

For anyone wanting to care more for the environment and choosing a vegan whole food, plant based diet as part of that lifestyle choice, we need to do a little bit of forward planning when we leave the house, take a thermos of coffee, some fruit or a picnic meal prepared at home, travelling for business and being unsure about the availability of food is the same it needs some forward planning and organisation, It's not difficult just a different mindset. It might mean that sometimes you don't eat a perfectly balanced meal but going to Greggs, McD's or KFC is hardly that either.

Heaven forbid that you have to hear about other diets and foods beside meat. It must be terribly traumatic for you.

This is like when idiots complain about gay people being seen on TV programmes having pride parades or being shown in adverts. Or men complaining about anything aimed at supporting women or making the issues that affect them known. Every day is meat eating day. It's still very much the norm in the U.K just as every day is white heterosexual man day.

Just terribly boring tbh.

They sell salads with no meat in there. And packets of fruit and carrot batons. Those are vegan.

I can't bear to read all the vegan/veggie bashing posts... But just to say, McD's has a vegan Bic Mac in some other countries (Sweden and Finland at least, maybe others), it's very disappointing they don't bring it to the UK.

Your whiny, self centred and infantile attitude towards veganism is boring me. I'm sure we'll both survive though.

Not everyone wants to be a wholefoods plant based vegan. They might want to enjoy some fast food and it makes sense for companies to cater for them, and the increasing number of meat eaters who want to eat less meat. If it didn't make sense then I doubt so many restaurants, cafes and supermarkets would be increasing their options. A quick look and I can see that Aldi, Asda, Caffe Nero, Pizza Hut, Asda, Co-OP, M&S, Greggs and Aldi have announced new vegan products in the past 24-48 hours so clearly these products are selling.

A tub of hummus and an apple are available on any high street these days and fit much better into a whole food plant based diet than anything highly processed, deep fried or dished up in disposable containers.

Most people don’t want to eat hummus and celery though. Not everyone wants to be a hardcore vegan but a lot of people do genuinely want to eat less meat. Maybe this would be a good start?

To answer a PP you get dietary vegans - those who eat a plant based diet but don't subscribe to or follow every single ethic of the vegan lifestyle. Then there are vegans - those who do not have anything animal based at all, including in their clothing, makeup, furniture and so on.

I honestly think true vegans (as of old) are the silent minority and they wouldn't be seen dead inside a Mac Donalds, let alone support it financially.

But veganism has been high jacked by the wellness and eco industry. Now every illness on earth (including the planet) can be reversed and healed with a vegan diet. Veganism also suits everyone.

So as far as food (and beauty companies, great sell to slap vegan on a product that would be vegan anyway) are concerned, it's a win and a lot of the fast convenient vegan options are not aimed at ethical vegans, they're aimed at wellness vegans and people who want an occasional alternative to meat and don't particularly care about how the company ethics, provided they can grab what they need.

There was an AMA on here not too long ago from someone who worked at McDonald's, she said there just wasn't the demand for vegetarian/vegan food.

Wow well done in telling so many people you’re a vegan!

I assume those who do it for environmental reasons only eat local in season ingredients? Chick peas, lentils, avocados, jackfruit all do thousands of food miles damaging the environment as they go!

Omni whining about how vegans shouldn't enjoy "pretend meat" always remind me of men whining about lesbians not wanting cock when every porn addict one knows we all love a dildo.

The simulacrum provides a certain amount of sensory satisfaction for those of us who are revolted by the original.

Whilst mcDs isn't my bag, it is the height of sophistication according to my ASD DC. Greggs is a close second.

It would be nice to have the option eat a family junk food meal together from time to time whilst at the shopping center or before the cinema, for example.

Plus, it's causing quite a stir and more people are talking about it. Which means people are thinking about it, whatever their views are, it's creating a debate.

So, I'm all for it.

Yes @Likethebattle that was my plan. To tell as many anonymous people on Mumsnet that I’m a vegan and feel basked in the warm glow of their affirmations 😂

This clearly isn’t the thread for an actual debate on veganism but the air miles involved in food are actually a small proportion of their overall environmental impact

Pretend meat is not a dead animal. That's all that matters in the end.

I find it fascinating that these threads always generate a lot of hostility and scorn. I have always wondered why.

I don’t see the point. Why would you want a “steak” bake if you’re vegan? Surely if you don’t want to eat eat you don’t want to eat fake meat?

There was an AMA on here not too long ago from someone who worked at McDonald's, she said there just wasn't the demand for vegetarian/vegan food.

I'd be very surprised if that's the case considering the number of vegan products practically every large food related company is launching. If it is, it's unique to McDonalds because even KFC and Burger King have or are producing new vegan fast food options.

Everyone is being a bit ridiculous saying that vegans shouldn't eat in McDonald's because they sell poor quality meat. So do all supermarkets? And most chain restaurants? Are vegans only supposed to shop in wholefoods?

I wouldn't generally go there because I don't eat much fast food, but I'm not going to judge other people who still want to. I have been since going vegan because I was with friends who wanted to. It's nice to have options when that happens.

I don’t see the point. Why would you want a “steak” bake if you’re vegan? Surely if you don’t want to eat eat you don’t want to eat fake meat?

Fuck me. I see this argument over and over again. Is it really so difficult to comprehend that people have an ethical objection to the fact that it comes from an animal and not the taste or texture?

Why do people think their burgers are highly processed? It’s 100% British beef. Is it the snob in you that thinks that?