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?

A few years ago it was very difficult to find vegan options in restaurants/cafes, let alone trying to find exclusively vegan places to exclusively eat at. It’s not that odd if a vegan buys food somewhere that sells animal products, such as supermarkets

@namestranger - we found the Beyond meat burgers to be pretty much exactly the same as a Linda Mcartney burger but loads more expensive!

Wandering slightly off-topic, but can any fast food aficionados tell me if the Burger King bean burger is as flinging-flanging delicious as it was in the 90s, when it was one long bean burger? I note it’s now two round patties and I am unwilling to make a special trip to Burger King from the back of fucking beyond and be disappointed.

(Am not bothered if it’s vegan, I just want it to be gorgeous.)

A lot of quorn isn't vegan. Plus a lot of vegans and vegetarians (ime) are not bothered about fake meat.

But we would like to be able to have some options that fit with the plant based diet. A huge percentage of the world population are vegetarians or plant based. It isn't a fad, nor a phase. Western diets are not the best, this is not news. But even those who don't eat animal products crave junk food or a treat from time to time.

I currently carry a supply of nuts in the event of getting 'caught out' (ie: every one else goes for something to eat and I am also hungry). Salad doesn't carry as well, sadly.

Of course, people can be offended about my diet choices, or my rights as a consumer but I don't see the point at all. What a waste of energy. Being plant based isn't contagious. It doesn't hurt anyone, in fact quite the opposite. IME, thé people who seem to object to someone's moral choices are those who feel inferior or threatened, for whatever reason. If they educated themselves, then they would understand that inclusion isn't a bad thing.

It's just food, people. And for the most part, good food at that.

I am plant based rather than a strict vegan, but I do it for health reasons, environmental impact and concerns over the dairy trade. Our plastic consumption goes down tremendously when we are not buying meat and cheese (which my family do eat). And yes, we are a crunchy family. We can't save the world ourselves, but we can make the best choices for us, based on the options available to us, in accordance with our circumstances, and we do use our consumer power where possible. And we are lucky enough to be able to make the choices that we can.

And it’s a little annoying to be told that certain places are off limits for you

I eat meat. There’s a whole heap of places that are off limits to me for various reasons. I can’t eat in Waga or Nando’s they just don’t cater for me, neither to Chiquitos.

Instead of whinging about it, I just pick somewhere which does cater for me. It’s really easy.

@silverysurfer - McDonalds do sell vegan burgers

Beyond mega burgers are fine. They’re basically the same as the coop ultimate burger or the Iceland no bull burgers you San buy frozen.

@SilverySurfer

perhaps you would let me know where the vegan restaurants are where I, as a meat eater, can get a fat, juicy steak?

Yes!!! In a restaurant. An all inclusive restaurant! A one that serves food for carnivores and plant based clients.

That's what we would all hope for, and the whole point of threads like this.

They also want more vegan options available to the general public so that the whole thing is more mainstream and people are more likely to try it, hopefully like it and perhaps support the more vegan friendly businesses in future.

And there you have it. That's what pisses people off. It's not that you're vegan, it's that you want everyone else to be like you. This discussion isn't about your own personal choice - clearly, when eating at McDonald's isn't compulsory so if you don't like their menu it doesn't affect you - but about other people's choices. This is the attitude that puts people's backs up and also why it's disengenuous to bleat about "why does my being a vegan make you so hostile?"

YANBU, the McD's Veggie Deluxe is as far removed from luxe as it's possible to be. BK's Spicy Bean Burger is much better.

@TimeAfterTimeAfter why is your back up? That post didn't say anything about forcing people to be vegan.

@QuestionableMouse, as others have said the reason there’s “no demand” for the goujons is that they are gross. If McDs would just give in and start using Quorn/Beyond/other fake meat type burgers, demand would increase no end, as evidenced just by this thread.

The other thing to remember is that your store is just one outlet; it’s not representative of the country (or the McDs eating public) as a whole.

Neither did mine. You're the only one talking about force. I get a bit prickly whenever I see proselytism though, as do lots of others. It just makes me want to do the opposite of what the preacher says.

They need to up their gluten free game. I miss pancakes.
A GF veggie burger would get my repeat custom too.

I'm vegan and I enjoy a mcD's!
I don't like Greggs with their pretend meat crap.

*I eat meat. There’s a whole heap of places that are off limits to me for various reasons. I can’t eat in Waga or Nando’s they just don’t cater for me, neither to Chiquitos.

Instead of whinging about it, I just pick somewhere which does cater for me. It’s really easy.*

Are you being purposely obtuse or are you just dim? As a meat eater there are significantly more restaurants that do cater to you, so unlike vegans you can boycott these restaurants without it impacting the already small pool of restaurants that you have on offer?

This thread is full of hysterics.
Nobody is forcing the vegan diet down your throats. It's good that there are now more options available for this dietary choice.
It's all well and good stating you find somewhere that caters for you but that's not always an option when your diet is limited.
All well and good that Lauren doesn't fancy fried chicken today so opts for a beef burger but the choice needs to be there for Alan, our resident vegan, to have other options too.

Anyway, I'm a meat eater and agree McDonalds vegan option is piss poor, I was hoping they'd bring out an actual burger because those crap sticks on a bun taste like shit. I like the choice to try vegan too.

Myself and three (also veggie) chums popped into a McD’s while away last weekend - we were really hungry and it was quick. That’s what fast food is for, after all. Four Big Vegan burgers were devoured, and we were delighted. If German McD can offer it, UK can too, surely?

Oh god, I bought a gluten free pizza, which had vegan cheese on, it was truly horrible ( the cheese part)
I’ve previously bought vegan cheese and been unable to eat it.
I can’t understand why people think eating more highly processed food is good for you ?
Id rather McD had gluten free bread rolls than vegan 😀 stuff

@Sagradafamiliar that is the great division isn’t it; those of us who like fake meat and those who don’t. I love the Greggs stuff but then I loved actual meat. My mum and MIL (both vegetarians) hated real meat and therefore don’t like the pretend stuff. Ideally places would offer a choice.

Yes yabu. It’s McDonald’s and just because lots of others places have jumped on the bandwagon, I wouldn’t expect too much of this place.

It’s multi billion pound empire has been built on meat eaters and I’m sure this will continue. Vegans are not their priority, therefore don’t expect too much

@TimeAfterTimeAfter

You said in your post your want everyone to be like you' or words to that effect. I don't. I don't care what anyone else eats, I just want to be able to eat something vegan wherever I am. The MacDonalds offering is a bit rubbish after numerous visits. I'm really excited about the KFC vegan burger!

As a meat eater there are significantly more restaurants that do cater to you, so unlike vegans you can boycott these restaurants without it impacting the already small pool of restaurants that you have on offer?

No ones forcing you to be a vegan. It’s bad for human bodies and bad for the planet. I hardly think more restaurants not encouraging it is a basic rights issue.

Just go somewhere else, or widen your diet choices.

I only eat high welfare meat, which rules out loads of convenience food. But no point moaning about it, I just have something else.

I'm a vegetarian and think the McDonald's offering is shit. Also, why have KFC brought the vegan burger out when their chips are cooked in the same oil as some chicken products? 🧐 if I was having a burger I'd want some chips or something on the side.

I also agree with a pp, if someone has such beliefs about not eating meat, I’m surprised they’d want to eat in a chain that makes billions an the back of meat consumption