Vegan fast food that looks like meat

[veganlookslikemeat]

E.g. all the new vegan options that chains have been coming out with recently. All the vegan fake meat burgers/subs/pastries etc (Burger King, Subway, KFC, Greggs etc)
They all look like the real thing they are trying to mimic so how can you actually tell you've been given the vegan option and not meat by accident?!
AIBU to want a vegan option that you can clearly tell is vegan... or can someone share how to differentiate these vegan items with the non vegan counterparts?

I don't understand why you'd want to eat something that looks like meat, if vegan/vegetarian. Never made sense to me.

All you can do is ask them when they hand it over 'this is the vegan one, yeah?' and check the label. Beyond that there's always the risk wherever you go that you'll be given something you believe is vegan that turns out not to be.

They all look like the real thing they are trying to mimic so how can you actually tell you've been given the vegan option and not meat by accident?!

You can taste it instantly.

I don't understand why you'd want to eat something that looks like meat, if vegan/vegetarian. Never made sense to me

I hear this all the time, and the stupidity never dies. How can you not understand that a lot of vegans/vegetarians like meat, but choose not to eat it for other reasons? Or understand that a lot of non vegan/vegetarians want to eat vegan and vegetarian food?

And if you're too nervous to take the risk, then it's probably for the best you don't eat takeout stuff :)

There are endless vegan and veggie foods out there that don't look like meat, but it stands to reason a chain specialising in meat products would create a product for the veggie market that aligns with the rest of their offerings. Not many vegans who prefer lentil dhal are going to head to Burger King for a meal. Plenty of vegans who like meat substitutes will.

@myBumJuiceSmellsLikeRoses

I don't understand why you'd want to eat something that looks like meat, if vegan/vegetarian. Never made sense to me.

Because I like the taste and texture of meat. I just don't like the torture and murder of animals.

@myBumJuiceSmellsLikeRoses possibly because it isn’t the taste of meat that is the problem but the animal welfare issues? I’m vegetarian but I like the taste of meat; I just don’t want to eat something that was previously alive. To me that’s weird.

@veganlookslikemeat although vegan ‘meat’ emulates the real thing, they are not the same. You would definitely know if you accidentally ate real meat.

Most of them you can tell, I'd say a lot of them taste nice but just aren't the same. I have to say I was worried with the new BK whooper as it tastes so so similar though (used to love chicken)- but DH who eats meat still had a bite and said to him it was definitely not meat but not sure I'd order again as didn't enjoy it as i was a bit worried.

I don't think it matters if the vegan product is indistinguishable from the real thing, the worst that can happen is that someone gets a real burger. If they notice, they can complain, if they don't notice then what's the harm?

I agree with the PP that vegan options should not try to imitate meat though. "Burgers" and "sausages" and, above all, "chicken" are by default meat. If a vegan wants to eat something that looks and tastes like meat that is an admission that meat is a perfectly acceptable thing to eat. The closest thing to a vegan "sausage" would be a carrot.

I don't understand why you'd want to eat something that looks like meat, if vegan/vegetarian. Never made sense to me I became a vegetarian at 12.
These foods are high protein..which I need. Not my fault food manufacturers make these foods in the shape and texture of meat 🤷‍♀️

I've always been able to tell when something wasn't the vegan version. They look and smell slightly different. The meatballs at subway are very similar to the meat I think but meat is very distinctive.
Usually it's the strands that give meat away easily, there aren't many alternatives that get the strands right.

I had the meatless meatball sub from subway yesterday and it was unbelievable. I'm not veggie but I am particular about meat and the thought of eating actual meatballs and maybe getting a bit of gristle or something makes me feel ill so it's just peace of mind. I don't know if the subway meatless meatballs could be told apart from the meat ones tbh.

I was worried with the new BK whooper as it tastes so so similar though
Yea turns out they're not veggie or vegan. Cooked on the same grill and in the same juices as the meat burgers.

Why support multinational companies that support the torture and murder of animals?

Nando's accidentally sent me real chicken instead of their great imitator. I knew instantly it was real meat by the smell.

I agree with the PP that vegan options should not try to imitate meat though. "Burgers" and "sausages" and, above all, "chicken" are by default meat. If a vegan wants to eat something that looks and tastes like meat that is an admission that meat is a perfectly acceptable thing to eat. The closest thing to a vegan "sausage" would be a carrot.

@skirk64 seriously? So if someone discovered that human flesh was tasty that would be an admission that it was an acceptable thing to eat?

Why do things like veggie sausages & burgers bother you?

@Notimeforaname

I was worried with the new BK whooper as it tastes so so similar though Yea turns out they're not veggie or vegan. Cooked on the same grill and in the same juices as the meat burgers.

I think that poster is talking about the new vegan royale which is cooked seperatley and is vegan society approved.

toocoldforsno "I hear this all the time, and the stupidity never dies".

Well thanks, sno, for the not so subtle insult.

To me, I wouldn't want to be reminded of an animal while eating one.
Everyone has their own reasons for eating/not eating things - doesn't make any of us stupid. But thanks.

You can tell. I don't get why it's such a big thing. We like the taste of meat. We don't like killing animals. Hey let's make stuff out of plants that looks and tastes like meat. Winner.

I have been veggie since birth so I wouldn't be able to tell real meat and fake meat apart. It could make me very ill if I was given real meat! But unfortunately many places now don't do obvious vegan/veggie options like a bean burger for example.

I agree with the PP that vegan options should not try to imitate meat though. "Burgers" and "sausages" and, above all, "chicken" are by default meat. If a vegan wants to eat something that looks and tastes like meat that is an admission that meat is a perfectly acceptable thing to eat. The closest thing to a vegan "sausage" would be a carrot.

Do burgers and sausages actually taste like meat though? Surely they are both heavily processed products that taste more like seasoning and salt than the animal it came from?

I don’t understand the ‘why would you want to eat something that looks/tastes like meat if you don’t eat meat’ question.

My sister is a vegetarian, she gave up meat for animal/environmental reasons. She still likes the taste of meat though and misses tucking into cheeseburgers and chicken Kievs, so if she can eat veggie alternatives that taste the same surely it’s not a head scratcher to figure out why she’d do that.

I don't understand why you'd want to eat something that looks like meat, if vegan/vegetarian. Never made sense to me.

Most of the meat people eat doesn't look like meat- it is prepared in a way that is convenient to eat such as mince, sausage, burger, nuggets etc. There's literally no reason not to prepare meat substitutes in the same way - a sausage roll is a handy way to eat pastry and protein - there's nothing inherently pig - like about it so why not make a meat alternative just as convenient?

@Notimeforaname

I was worried with the new BK whooper as it tastes so so similar though Yea turns out they're not veggie or vegan. Cooked on the same grill and in the same juices as the meat burgers.

I am aware, I don't mind that to be honest but I know some have issue with it. I don't see how that would alter the texture and infiltrate the entire burger though, still tastes extremely similar!

@myBumJuiceSmellsLikeRoses

toocoldforsno "I hear this all the time, and the stupidity never dies".

Well thanks, sno, for the not so subtle insult.

To me, I wouldn't want to be reminded of an animal while eating one.
Everyone has their own reasons for eating/not eating things - doesn't make any of us stupid. But thanks.

But how exactly would a burger or a sausage remind you of an animal? It's not as if those products fall off the cow or pig looking like that .

ithink that poster is talking about the new vegan royale which is cooked seperatley and is vegan society approved.

I have actually had both (I know they haven't been out long oopsie), really liked the royale but wasn't as close in taste to me, but that will appeal to some of course!