Yes, Burger King PH now offers a plant-based Whopper

First of all, you’re not in an alternate universe. This isn’t a fever dream either. Burger King, one of the major fast food chains in the Philippines, actually launched its plant-based version of the Whopper last Nov. 16.

This plant-based burger consists of a patty made with soy proteins—a good substitute for beef. “What we are offering is an option. Filipinos are such huge meat-eaters and the insight for this local roll-out is to provide them with an affordable alternative to reduce meat intake with an equally satisfying product,” said Allan Tan, marketing director of Burger King Philippines.

The fast food chain initially introduced its plant-based Whopper in the U.S. last year. Now, it has partnered with Australian company V2Food to bring the plant-based movement to the local scene.

“We’ve seen more developed markets making the shift earlier on, and locally, we see the plant-based Whopper as a game-changer, a revolutionary product,” the marketing director added.

You can order yours now from any of Burger King’s Metro Manila and Luzon stores or via Chat to Order, FoodPanda, or GrabFood.

And hey, it looks like McDonald’s is following its footsteps and planning to launch meatless burgers next year, too.

But why is there an increasing demand for plant-based alternatives, anyway? Two words: climate change.

Beef production is projected to grow by 88 percent in 2050. With more forests converted to pastures, climate change can worsen from all those greenhouse gases and methane produced by cows raised for beef consumption. So, to at least alleviate this threat, more people are considering plant-based alternatives.

Now, is it safe to say that we can eat our way to a safer planet, thanks to this new era of fast food?

Originally published in Shopmag Online