The Beyond Meat Burger’s success shows a growing trend in meat alternative options
A&W’s new Beyond Meat Burger, featuring a meatless patty, has become a permanent menu item after selling out across the country following an increasingly popular trend of plant-based protein consumption.
A&W released their meatless burger on July 9, and the product was met with success as the plant-based product quickly sold out in stores across Canada, leaving consumers wanting more.
The vegetarian-friendly option is now a permanent menu item as of Oct. 1 in all stores nationwide.
Approximately 6.4 million Canadians have dietary preferences that reduce or eliminate meat consumption in, according to a 2018 study conducted by Dalhousie University.
With an increasing population of vegetarians and vegans throughout Canada, and the world, many fast food companies have been offering a plant-based option.
According to a survey conducted by Cint in 2018, 38.4 per cent of respondents in Canada stated they eat fast food one to three times per week.
Fourth-year journalism student, Sarah Krichel, said the burger was “honestly great” and that she would choose it over a regular burger.
“I was vegetarian for five years, for one year I was vegan and that was a lot tougher,” Krichel said. “It was definitely really hard to get vegan options, I find now though, that I’m seeing at least one vegan option in a lot of fast food restaurants.”
One twitter user shared his experience with the Beyond Meat Burger and the popularity of the item.
The burger is mainly comprised of yellow peas, making up 16 grams of its protein, as well as mung beans, rice, potatoes, apples, coconut oil and beets to give it the raw meat colour that likens it to beef.
It’s topped with all the classic trimmings of a regular beef burger and can easily be made completely vegan if the mayo and cheese is left off.
Although [the Beyond Meat Burger] is a great option for vegetarians and vegans, it’s not necessarily healthier, nutritionist Amy Goodson told Women’s Health Magazine.
“Fat and calorie-wise, the Beyond Burger is about on-par with a beef burger,” she says. “It doesn’t exactly have vegetables. So despite being a ‘veggie burger’, it’s not getting you any closer to your five to seven servings of vegetables a day.”
Speak Visually. Create an infographic with Visme
Not everyone is enthusiastic about A&W’s burger; second-year business management student, Shaan Grewal, says, “I mean it’s a good thing and a bad thing cause honestly if I want a meat burger, you go for a burger to get meat. It’s not for me, I wouldn’t spend the extra 2 dollars to grab that burger just to taste something that’s not (meat).”
Although this burger is new for A&W, it’s not a new concept for a few other fast food joints that have joined the plant-based protein wave by offering their own fake meat options. Hero Burger has offered its plant-based Soul Burger for years now, featuring a soy patty designed by Sol Cuisine.
Chipotle has also hopped on the trend with their meat-alternative option Sofritas, made with shredded tofu, roasted peppers and spices.
Leave a Reply