McDonald’s Lands Near the Bottom of Mercy For Animals’ First US Burger Chain Ranking

Mercy For Animals, an animal protection nonprofit, has released its first US Burger Chain Ranking, analyzing the plant-based offerings of the 25 largest burger chains in the country. McDonald's is among eight major brands that the organization says have shown no commitment to offering plant-based options, placing the fast-food giant near the bottom of the list. Six chains, including Bareburger, BurgerFi, and Red Robin, scored 15 points or more, earning them spots in the report's top tiers for their variety of plant-based options, competitive pricing, and promotion.



The report highlights the lack of plant-based offerings at certain chains, such as Five Guys, Wendy's, Sonic, and McDonald's, and calls on these companies to adopt plant-forward menu policies. Despite offering plant-based items like the McPlant burger in international markets, McDonald's has yet to fully embrace plant-based options in the US. Mercy For Animals notes that consumer demand for plant-based alternatives is high, with 71% of US consumers expressing interest in eating plant-based meat or dairy in the future. The report aims to encourage burger chains to consider the environmental impact of their menu choices and cater to the growing number of flexitarians seeking plant-based options.