Fast-food giant McDonald’s announced that they’ve created a new plant-based platform dubbed “McPlant” and plans to start testing a plant-based burger in markets as early as 2021.
The move comes after years of activism by activists pushing McDonald’s to add a plant-based burger to their menu. Author Kathy Freston has helmed one of the largest online petitions targeting McDonald’s, signed by more than 230,000 people on Change.org pushing McDonald’s to add a plant-based burger. Freston welcomed the news from McDonald’s this morning.
“For years now consumers have been asking McDonald’s to add a plant-based burger to their menu in the United States. This development is extremely good news for the millions of people looking for healthier alternatives when they eat at McDonald’s, and a testament to the people power of those who’ve been asking McDonald’s executives for this change for years,” says Freston. “Now the hope is that this becomes bigger than just a few test markets, but a truly revolutionary change to McDonald’s menu all across the country and the globe.”
According to an exclusive statement from McDonald’s provided to USA Today, McDonald’s international president Ian Border said: “McPlant is crafted exclusively for McDonald’s, by McDonald’s. In the future, McPlant could extend across a line of plant-based products including burgers, chicken-substitutes and breakfast sandwiches.”
McDonald’s entry into the plant-based menu world comes after competitors like Burger King, White Castle, Hardee’s and more have added plant-based burgers to their menus. Freston says McDonald’s is finally catching on that millions of people are turning to plant-based alternatives instead of meat.
“70 percent of the world’s population is reducing their meat consumption or avoiding it altogether, so it’s great to see one of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world finally evolving with the times,” said Freston.
You can view Freston’s petition at: change.org/McVegan