Burger King Class Action Says Impossible Whoppers Aren’t Vegan

Burger King cooks its vegan Impossible Whoppers on the same grill as its traditional hamburger patties, according to a class action lawsuit filed by a Georgia customer.

Plaintiff Phillip Williams says he’s a strict vegan who does not eat or drink anything with animal by-products.

After hearing advertisements that Burger King was now offering the widely popular meat-free Impossible Burgers at its fast food locations, Williams says he ordered one without mayonnaise.

“Due to its impressive meat-like appearance, texture and taste, ‘Impossible’ ‘meat’ is one of the most popular vegan meat alternatives in the country,” the Burger King Impossible Whopper class action claims.

The Burger King class action states that while waiting in the drive-thru for his burger, Williams noticed signs that stated the “Impossible Whopper was made with the ‘Impossible’ vegan and meat-free burger patty.”

However, he says there was no signs anywhere that would inform Burger King guests that the meat-alternative patty would be grilled next to meat products and thereby contaminate them by covering the outside of the vegan burger with animal by-products.

Williams claims that he was tricked by Burger King’s marketing and paid a premium price for a meal that went against his vegan diet.

The Burger King class action states that had the plaintiff known his meat-free burger was cooked alongside traditional patties, he never would have purchased the Impossible Whopper, and he’s not alone.

Williams says there are thousands of Burger King vegan customers who are outraged by the fast food giant’s practice of grilling these meat-free burgers.

“Plaintiff and other consumers purchased the Impossible Whopper, reasonably relying on defendant’s deceptive representations about the Impossible Whopper and believing that the ‘Impossible’ vegan meat patty would be prepared in a manner that maintained its qualities as a vegan (meat-free) burger patty,” the Burger King class action claims.

By keeping payments made by vegan customers for Impossible Whoppers, Burger King has been unjustly enriched, according to the plaintiff.

“Despite numerous reviews and consumer outrage upon learning that the Impossible Whopper was contaminated with meat by-product, Defendant kept payments from numerous consumers, including Plaintiff and the other members of the Class,” alleges the Burger King Whopper class action.

In addition to being unjustly enriched, Williams says Burger King is in violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and has breached its contract with its customers. 

Williams seeks to represent all U.S. consumers who purchased Burger King’s Impossible Whopper.

Have you tried an Impossible Burger? Let us know in the comments below.

Williams is represented by David P. Healy of Dudley Sellers Healy Heath & Desmond PLLC.

The Burger King Impossible Burger Class Action Lawsuit is Phillip Williams v. Burger King Corp., Case No. 1:19-cv-24755, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

UPDATE: The Vegan False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit Investigation is now open! Submit your information hereif you’ve purchased mislabeled or falsely advertised products.

UPDATE 2: On Jan. 30, 2020, Burger King filed a motion to dismiss a class action alleging that the fast food chain tricks customers into thinking that their Impossible Whopper is vegan, when it is cooked on the same grill as other meat products.

UPDATE 3: On March 9, 2020, Burger King asked a judge to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging the plant-based Impossible Whopper was misrepresented.

UPDATE 4: On July 20, 2020, a federal judge has thrown out a class action lawsuit that alleged Burger King deceived its customers about how its Impossible Whoppers are cooked.

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