Vegan Fast Food Customer Accuses Burger King of False Advertising

A Burger King customer has filed a lawsuit against Burger King, saying that the fast food giant falsely advertises certain food items as vegan, though they have been contaminated with meat.

Newsweek says that Burger King has introduced two plant-based burgers. Though these burgers are plant based, they are not necessarily vegan, says Newsweek. In some cases, vegetarians and vegans consider meals to not comply with their dietary restrictions if the food was contaminated with meat or cooked along side it.

One customer claimed that Burger King misrepresented the Impossible Whopper as vegan. Allegedly, Burger King used Impossible Meat, a brand that is known for being vegan and meat-free. The Burger King vegan fast food class action lawsuit argued that many reasonable customers would be led to believe that this meant that the Impossible Whopper was also vegan.

The customers points to specific advertising phrases, including the tagline “100% WHOPPER 0% BEEF.” Allegedly, this statement is misleading because the Impossible Whoppers can absorb juices and fat from beef products cooked in the same areas. 

The vegan fast food false advertising class action lawsuit goes on to say that Burger King does not disclose to customers before the time of purchase that the Impossible Whopper is cooked in a way that could lead to it being contaminated with meat by-products. 

In reporting on the Burger King class action lawsuit, Eater does report that Burger King makes the following statement — “for guests looking for a meat-free option, a non-broiler method of preparation is available upon request.” According to Eater, Burger King does not use the words “vegetarian” or “vegan,” though it does advertise the Impossible Whopper as containing “0% BEEF.”

Burger King’s choice to introduce plant-based burgers is part of a larger trend of fast food chains introducing plant-based, vegetarian, or vegan meals. Other restaurants venturing into plant-based territory include Carl’s Jr., Denny’s, Dunkin’, and White Castle. However, most of these are not vegan by default.

Customers can ask for the meals to be made in a vegan manner, either through different cooking methods or without the inclusion of popular toppings like cheese and mayonnaise.

However, some vegetarian or vegan fast food customers may be confused and believe that the plant-based meal are automatically vegan, which may not be the case. Some customers may make assumptions based on advertising, and purchase meals that have been contaminated with meat without realizing it. 

Plant-based patties pose a specific problem, as fast food restaurants move into plant-based foods. They are often cooked in the same space as meat products, According to a statement by Denny’s, they make no guarantee that their meals are vegan. The restaurant chain stated, “Denny’s partnered with Beyond Meat to offer our guests more delicious options in plant-based dining and flexitarian diets, but we did not create Denny’s Beyond Burger specifically for vegan customers, and we are not able to cook it in a 100 percent meat-free environment.”

Newsweek notes that in some cases, fast food chains may be offering plant-based fare for those concerned with healthy eating or the environment, as opposed to those committed to a vegetarian or vegan diet. Healthline does note that many vegetarians and vegans choose their diet for health reasons, so these consumers attempting to eat at a range of fast food restaurants may face confusing advertising.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.