New Burger Report Calls on the Nation's Largest Burger Chain to Expand Plant-Based Options for American Consumers

CHICAGO, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's, the leading global food service retailer, offers plant-based burgers to customers in countries around the world, yet most American consumers still don't have access to the same menu option. Mercy For Animals released Patty Battles: How the Biggest U.S. Burger Chains Stack Up, a new report evaluating plant-based menu offerings at the nation's largest burger chains and encouraging McDonald's to expand plant-based choices in the United States.

The report comes as consumers increasingly seek more plant-based choices and companies face growing expectations to offer more inclusive menu options.

The report analyzes 25 of the country's largest burger chains based on the availability, accessibility and promotion of plant-based burgers. While it recognizes which companies are making meaningful progress, McDonald's was identified as one of the industry's greatest opportunities to expand consumer choice because of its size, influence and experience offering plant-based menu options in international markets.

"McDonald's has helped shape the way generations of people eat. Today, it has another opportunity to lead by expanding plant-based menu options for American consumers," said Arash Yomtobian, president and CEO of Mercy For Animals. "The company has already demonstrated that this kind of innovation is possible in other parts of the world, such as the UK and Ireland, and American consumers deserve that same opportunity. The Burger Report isn't about criticizing companies. It's about recognizing progress, encouraging innovation and inviting industry leaders to offer more choice while helping build a more sustainable and compassionate food system."

Among this year's findings:

• The Industry Disparity: Only six of the nation's top 25 burger chains scored high enough to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainable and inclusive plant-based options, leaving the majority in the lowest-scoring tiers.
• McDonald's Stalls at the Bottom: McDonald's received a score of just 1 out of 30 points, landing in the lowest tier ("Bottom Buns") alongside chains like Five Guys, In-N-Out, and Wendy's for lacking plant-based options in the U.S.
• Current Chain Availability: Only 6 out of the 25 evaluated top chains (24%) currently offer a dedicated plant-based burger patty on their primary U.S. menus.
• Surging Flexitarian Demand: 71% of U.S. consumers indicate they are open to eating plant-based foods, driven by flexitarians who are expanding their dietary choices for personal health and planetary sustainability.

McDonald's serves approximately 26 million Americans every day, making it one of the most influential restaurant brands in the country. Mercy For Animals believes expanding plant-based choices would better serve evolving consumer preferences while encouraging broader innovation across the burger industry.

The full Patty Battles report and campaign is available at PattyBattles.com.

Mercy For Animals is a leading international nonprofit working to end industrial animal agriculture by constructing a just and sustainable food system. Active in Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the United States, the organization has conducted over 100 investigations of factory farms and slaughterhouses, influenced over 500 corporate policies, and helped pass historic legislation to ban cages for farmed animals. Learn more at MercyForAnimals.org.

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SOURCE Mercy For Animals