Burger King stupidity over its meat-free whopper

[Lycidas]

Why go to the effort of creating a meat-free burger only to cook it on the same grill as the others? Why limit your market to ‘people who are choosing a meatless option but don’t mind if it’s covered in meat juices?’ Seems incredibly shortsighted to me to overlook a large segment of the vegetarian/vegan markets.

www.burgerking.co.uk/menu-item/rebel-whopper

I’m a vegetarian and no I wouldn’t buy this.

I’m a veggie and I wouldn’t eat at Burger King and never have.
This is definitely aimed at those short term, doing it for the fad veganuary ones who’ll be back to their normal in Feb,it just makes them feel better that’s all.

I'm a pretty lax mostly veggie / occasional fish eater and even I wouldn't eat this! Which is a shame because there is a real gap in the market for a plant based 'proper' burger (as opposed to a bean burger style thing) from the fast food outlets. I think they are really missing a trick here.

@Oliversmumsarmy They would because they wouldn’t actually care what it’s been cooked in

In McDonalds , the veggie burgers are cooked in a separate deep fat fryer that is kept for the purpose. Much more difficult to do that with this as it has to be grilled. The grills are usually large and it probably wouldnt be worth it.

I did scoff at the advert though, it's ridiculous to offer it but not make it actually vegetarian. You're cutting out a large proportion of the people who would buy it.

The few Burger Kings I’ve visited the last few years look like they’ve not been renovated since the 90s, it’s like stepping back in time.

It’s not really for vegans or veggies - just those doing veganary or cutting down on meat. At least they admitted it.

It’s not really for vegans or veggies - just those doing veganary

Someone doing veganuary won’t eat it. It had meat in it.

"But there accidentally is a vegetarian group which eat meat!"

Don't talk bollox

I'm vegan for ethical reasons and wouldn't necessarily have a massive issue with something that had been flame grilled on the same grill as meat. It's not as though it's swimming in juices, it's cooked at a high heat.

For many it isn't like avoiding an allergen, it's about reducing demand for animal products and increasing the demand for alternatives. I'm sure many of the vegan options in other omni restaurants I've eaten at have probably come into contact with cooking surfaces and utensils that have been used for non vegan food.

Other people may feel different and that's fine.

I still wouldn't eat at Burger King though because I don't like their practices as a company, the food is total junk and I value my health. But that's another issue.

Not everyone doing veganary is actually vegan if you know what I mean - just cutting out the meat and ‘trying to be good.

As a veggie I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve heard ‘it’s only got chicken stock’ ‘I’ve picked out the meat’ ‘it’s just flavoured but meat - it’s not actually got meat in it’ ‘theres only a small bit of anchovy in the sauce’ ‘oysters are veggie aren’t they’ or the classic ‘but the lamb has been minced really small’ so I suppose plenty of regular meat eaters won’t really care about the fat.

Honestly? If you're that serious about your vegan/vegetarianism Burger King would probably be way down your list of acceptable eateries.

So, no, It's not stupid.

It’s down to cost. They’d have to devise new sections and have completely separate grills in all of their stores which would cost ££££
KFC have done this after a very successful trial.

And if people say things like that Frontpaw, they're idiots. I believe that may have happened, but regularly? Really? Because if people are that stupid on a regular basis we may as well all give up because we're completely doomed.

Not so much these day but yes - all of the above and more! I suppose they think ‘it doesn’t matter’ to them so assume you aren’t that bothered. But then I don’t bang on about it or try to convert anyone so maybe they think I’m not fussed. Also ‘you can pick the ham out and just eat the salad’.

Honestly? If you're that serious about your vegan/vegetarianism Burger King would probably be way down your list of acceptable eateries.

The reality is, most fast food places, cafes and restaurants aren’t vegetarian or vegan. You’re not any less of a vegan for eating in Burger King now and again (assuming they’ve got something suitable).

Its interesting how many non vegans have decided that vegans wouldn’t ever go to fast food places.

I've been a vegetarian for most of my life. The thought of eating a veggie burger covered in meat juices makes me feel sick. I couldn't eat it. I would if it was cooked separately, and BK would get themselves a new customer as I haven't eaten in there in years. Admittedly, I'd only eat there once in a blue moon - I don't eat fast food regularly. I cook meat for my family, but I don't eat it. I'm happy to use the same frying pan, but only if it has been thoroughly washed. I am reducing the dairy I eat too. Not quite sure how but I'm starting with a reduction in quantity and going from there. I will still eat eggs though - but I buy them from a farmer who has free range hens running around a field so there is no cruelty involved. The hens would lay the eggs anyway and they have a nice life.

"but it is meat" no it's not. It's not vegetarian, but it's certainly not meat, any more than my roast potatoes cooked with goose fat are!

It enables meat eaters who don't want to eat meat to choose an alternative, whether that's for that month, that day or even just that meal. If it sells well maybe they will look at making it vegetarian or vegan friendly, but Until then, why the hostility, they're not pretending it's anything other than what it is.

Rosehip345

But then they are not doing veganuary

If BK was advertising this as part of veganuary then surely even they must realise as it isn’t vegan then it can’t be part of their veganuary promotion

I imagine all these people with their degrees and qualifications in food science and advertising sat round a table missing the point of veganuary

‘Just cutting down the meat’ ‘choosing plant based food’. They just forgot the ‘vegan’ bit.

Still cross with them for getting rid of the old spicy bean burger!

but it is meat. no it's not. It's not vegetarian, but it's certainly not meat, any more than my roast potatoes cooked with goose fat are

I actually would classify roast potatoes cooked in goose fat as meat.

Things are either meat, vegetarian or vegan

In my eyes the goose fat makes the potatoes come under the meat category
If I have a macaroni cheese with bacon bits in, it makes the dish a meat dish not a vegetarian one.

Not meat - but meaty and definitely not vegetarian!

@ItsGoingTibiaK I suspect thats a new thing then. I've been advised by BK staff in every branch I've ever gone in that the veggie stuff is cooked with the meat. As a result I've not been in a while so perhaps things have changed (for the better!)

People “doing Veganuary” don’t go out and buy a whole new set of shoes. Most of them probably don’t even buy a replacement bottle of veggie Worcester sauce, and I’m sure a fair number of them would be perfectly happy to eat burgers cooked on a meat grill as long as they personally are doing their but for their health/the environment/not killing animals. DH is doing “vegan til 6pm” and would absolutely try this burger - it’s not a big change, but it means that c.15 meals which would have contained meat/fish/dairy now won’t - and he may well stick to it permanently. Surely that’s a win?

At the end of the day isn’t the key thing is that no animals were harmed to make this meal?

I might have the not-meat burger. I'm not a fan of meat so usually prefer other savouries. Little lard juice fine, though. But if REALLY tasted like meat I wouldn't want a whole fake burger. I don't like meat that much.