McDonald’s Announces Its Going Vegan

Fast food giant McDonald’s said it will start selling its new McVegan burger across hundreds of its locations in Finland and Sweden beginning December 28.

The new sandwich, which already has been tested at several McDonald’s restaurants in Finland, is a soy patty with bun, tomato, pickles, lettuce, onion, mustard, ketchup, oil, and sandwich sauce that does not contain egg.

Like the other burgers we offer, the new McVegan has great taste and good texture, said a spokesperson for McDonald’s.

The meatless burger was developed with a Norwegian specialty food company known as Orkla in partnership with McDonald’s and could help the burger chain based in the U.S. capitalize on higher demand for vegan and vegetarian foods.

McDonald’s said that the new burger would be on is menu permanently in both Finland and Sweden, a response to an increasing number of people who want “plant-based food” that helps the environment.

McDonald’s said that since the item is plant-based, the new McVegan has less climate impact. Livestock farming is estimated to be responsible for close to 14.5% of all global greenhouse emissions, according to a report by the UN.

A student, who is 24, tried the new McVegan in Finland when it was being tested, said the he was impressed with its taste.

The student added that it tasted like any regular, normal hamburger. He added he would try the burger again because the difference between other burgers and the new McVegan was minimal.

McDonald’s is not the only company that has jumped on the vegan bandwagon. The vegan diet is one where all meat, eggs, milk and animal products are not eaten.

Close to 10% of new food items launched during 2017 in Sweden were vegan, according to an online research company. That figure was up close to eight-fold from just five years ago.

Nestle announced during September it was acquiring Sweet Earth the specialty food company that makes vegan as well as vegetarian burgers and burritos.

CEO at Nestle USA Paul Grimwood said that up to 50% of all consumers are now seeking more foods that are plant-based in diets and over 40% are willing to lower their normal meat consumption.

Worldwide sales of foods that are vegan-labeled increased close to 8% in 2016 to more than $12.8 billion.

McDonald’s did not say when the McVegan would be coming to other McDonald’s in Europe, the U.S. or elsewhere.