McDonald’s launches new VEGAN Happy Meal called the McFalafel for Swedish kids amid rise of plant-only diets

MCDONALD’S has launched a new vegan Happy Meal – called the McFalafel. 

The fast-food chain has launched the new offering for kids in Sweden – after the introduction of the vegan-friendly Veggie Wrap option in British Happy Meals earlier this month.

It features falafels made with chickpeas, parsley, garlic, and cumin.

The meal also comes with the option of two new dipping sauces – a yogurt sauce for vegetarians, and a vegan pepper dip.

It comes as brands try to cash in on the rise of not only meat-free but plant-only diets.

As with standard Happy Meals, the McFalafel also comes with the choice of apple slices, carrot sticks, or an order of small fries and a choice of drink.

Swedish McDonald’s customers have already been snapping up the McVegan sandwich – a soy-based burger patty featuring an eggless McFeast sauce – which was launched in 2017.

A recent poll by Animal Rights Sweden that revealed almost one in 10 Swedes now eat a solely plant-based diet.

UK’S VEGAN OPTION

McDonald’s launched the vegan Happy Meal in the UK to coincide with the trendy “Veganuary” – a movement to encourage more people to ditch animal products for the month.

Kids can now choose a Veggie Wrap as the main in their £2.49 Happy Meal, which also comes with their choice of drink and side.

It is the first ever vegetarian option for children.

Before now, kids had to pick between fish fingers, chicken wraps, chicken nuggets, or a beef cheeseburger.

But the new wrap isn’t quite as healthy as it sounds.

It contains 209 calories compared to 173 calories in four Chicken Nuggets, 181 calories in a Grilled Chicken Wrap or 194 calories in three Fish Fingers.

The new wrap contains a red pesto-flavour breaded goujon, ketchup and shredded lettuce in a soft, toasted tortilla.

MEAT-FREE DEMAND

The Veggie Wrap was chosen by kids and their parents after McDonald’s worked with the Britmums online blogger network and the Vegetarian Society to find a new vegetarian option for its Happy Meals.

It also said that a third of its customers had told the chain they want to feed their families more meat-free meals in a recent survey.

The new Happy Meal is being launched alongside a new £2.99 Spicy Veggie Wrap which will be on the main menu and contains 374 calories.

It contains one more red pesto goujon than the kids version and also comes with spicy relish, tomato and red onion.

It’s replacing the Spicy Vegetable Deluxe burger, which was 50p pricier at £3.49 and more calorific at 412 calories.

Fans will still be able to order the non-spicy Vegetable Deluxe burger, but some may be upset at losing the more fiery version.

To keep customers happy, McDonald’s said it will make its Spicy Veggie Wrap the Wrap of the Day every Monday in January, when it will only cost £1.99.

The new wraps are not just vegetarian but vegan too as they don’t contain any dairy.

But McDonald’s warns plant-based customers that the wraps go into the same toaster as its burger buns, which contain milk.

Lynne Elliot, chief executive of the Vegetarian Society said: “We’re really proud to have worked closely with McDonald’s for over 10 years and it’s great to see their veggie menu developing, especially as McDonald’s tell us a third of their customers think it’s important to eat more veggie meals.

“There’s a growing demand for veggie food everywhere and it’s fantastic to see McDonald’s meeting the needs of their customers.

“It is especially important for young veggies to be able to choose something to eat when they are out with their friends.”