UK fast food giant Burger King has launched its first ever plant-based burger, but it has been revealed that the dish is not actually suitable for vegans.
Despite being made entirely of plant-based ingredients, the new burger is not fit for vegan consumption because of the way it is cooked. The soy-based version of the chain’s Whopper beef burger is cooked on the same grill as meat products, which means many people following a vegan diet would refuse to eat it.
To combat this, Burger King is aiming the new burger, which it has christened the Rebel Whopper, at “flexitarians” – a buzzword for people who try to reduce their meat intake but still include it as part of their diet (otherwise known as omnivores).
Speaking about the launch of the Rebel Whopper, Burger King’s marketing director Katie Evans said: “We wanted our first plant-based Whopper to replicate the indulgence and flame-grilled taste of the real thing as closely as possible, and we’re thrilled with the result. We’re delighted to satisfy the demand for this highly-anticipated product and finally bring the Rebel to the UK.”
The soy-based patty is at the core of the Rebel Whopper, but it is otherwise a regular burger, finished off with toppings of tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise, pickles and ketchup, and served in a seeded bun.
The burger has also been giving the green light by the Veganuary movement, an annual initiative which encourages people to ditch animal products from their diet throughout the month of January. Veganuary’s international head of communications and marketing Toni Vernelli said the cooking method “makes absolutely no difference” to diners who are only looking to cut down on their meat consumption, rather than remove it altogether.
The Rebel Whopper is available now across Burger King’s UK stores.
Taking part in Veganuary? Check out our pick of the best vegan restaurants in London.