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McDonald’s (MCD) It is the latest company to admit that the once thriving trend is no longer working in its favor.
After the fast-food chain recently revealed the success of its new $5 menu, which launched on June 25 and offers customers a $5 meal that includes a McChicken, a four-piece chicken tender or a McDouble, along with fries and a drink, it also revealed that some key vegetarian menu items will not be returning to U.S. restaurants due to weak demand.
Related: McDonald’s Considers Major Menu Change to Attract Frugal Customers
McDonald’s President Joe Erlinger said during the World Food Conference organized by the Wall Street Journal: forum He said the authorities would not return to the menu due to low demand. He also said the plant-based McPlant burger would be discontinued after failing to attract customer interest.
“I don’t think the American consumer is coming to McDonald’s looking for McPlant or any other plant proteins,” Erlinger said during the forum.
In 2016, plant-based meat became a hot topic when the Impossible burger and Beyond burger were launched. Both burgers are made to look and taste the same as real beef and contain ingredients like beans, soy, artificial flavors, coconut oil, etc.
In 2021, McDonald’s partnered with Beyond Meat. (link) To develop the McPlant Burger, it was tested at multiple locations in Louisiana, California, Texas and Iowa.
Over the next few years, consumer interest in plant-based meat declined. a report A study by market research firm Mintel showed that the plant-based meat market shrank in 2023 by 3.6% year over year in the United States. The report stated that the decline in sales may be due to the difficult economy as consumers are attracted to “more affordable food options” and “are reluctant to invest in unfamiliar products amid financial instability.”
Plant-based meat raises health concerns
There have also been some concerns about how healthy plant-based meats are for consumers. The meat has been criticized for being “ultra-processed” and not containing enough vitamins such as zinc, potassium, magnesium, and others, when compared to real meat.
Related: Beyond Meat Responds to Declining Sales, and Customers May Not Like It
In 2019, Frank Hu, a professor at Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health, said Harvard Gazette Some plant-based products may contain “unhealthy ingredients.”
“Although some of these products contain large amounts of plant protein, they may also contain unhealthy ingredients, such as high amounts of sodium or unhealthy fats,” Ho said. “Being vegan doesn’t necessarily mean It’s healthier.”
More food + eating:
- Chipotle isn’t shy about making a controversial move.
- Nestle rejects proposal that would have forced it to sell healthier foods
- Subway Is Ditching These Popular Beverage Brands
Amid declining demand, plant-based meat startups are reportedly making a radical change in order to attract a wider audience for their products.
Companies are starting to play with the idea of mixing animal fats with plant-based ingredients in an attempt to prioritize taste over sustainability, according to a new study. a report From the Washington Post in February.
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