Any time someone chooses a plant-based diet that contains animal-derived ingredients, such as meat, dairy or eggs, it is a positive step for animals. That’s why Mercy for Animals often works with food companies and restaurants to encourage them to add vegan options. And when a company updates its menu to include new and exciting vegetarian items, we see it as a cause for celebration.
While many people share our excitement about new plant-based options, others choose to avoid chain restaurants altogether, preferring to dine only at local all-vegan eateries. While we’re all for supporting local vegan businesses, not everyone has the opportunity to do so.
Communities with low food access are often referred to as “food deserts,” where residents have few or no convenient options for securing affordable fresh, healthy foods—let alone access to all-vegan restaurants. Often lacking even a grocery store, these communities are saturated with cheap processed foods, primarily found in fast-food restaurants and convenience stores. This often results in poor health outcomes and limited opportunities to try plant-based foods.
Food inequality is an important problem that cannot be solved by adding vegan food to fast-food chains. However, the addition of these foods gives more people the opportunity to try interesting plant-based options that would otherwise not be conveniently available. For example, well-known restaurants such as Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Taco Bell, Chipotle, and Baja Fresh have locations across the country and offer relatively affordable and convenient vegan versions of familiar foods such as burgers, tacos, and more. , and burritos. Even chains like KFC and Panda Express have experimented with plant-based versions of their famous chicken menu items.
Someone going on a road trip and needing to grab a quick dinner, live in a community with little access to food, or just enjoy the convenience of fast food, everyone Deserves a chance to choose animal-friendly foods. That’s why it’s so important for fast-food chains to add more plant-based menu items.
Even if you don’t eat fast food, you can make a difference by asking the big four restaurant chains to add plant-based menu items. visit NewYearNewChoices.com Urging King Taco, Dairy Queen, Five Guys and Quiznos to offer exciting new plant-based menu items for 2023.