A recent report by World Animal Protection evaluated the plant-based offerings of 25 of the largest US restaurant chains, finding that 20 of them received failing scores. The report highlighted the continued focus on animal-based proteins in most chain restaurants, with only 5 chains earning a C grade or above. Despite some progress in normalizing plant-based options, there remains a lack of significant commitments to building a more sustainable food system.

The report noted that the trend of promoting high-protein animal products in fast-food and fast-casual chains is overshadowing the need for more balanced menu options, including fiber-rich plant-based foods like beans and whole grains. Burger chains like McDonald’s and Wendy’s, as well as chicken chains such as KFC and Chick-fil-A, were among the poorest performers, while coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ emerged as relative leaders by making plant-based choices more accessible. The report calls for consumers to pressure chains to offer more plant-based options as standard menu choices.