McDonald’s is to offer its McPlant burger in every one of its 1,400 outlets in the UK and Ireland. The move follows a successful trial in 250 restaurants.

The plant-based burger, which took three years to develop with Beyond Meat, has proved “hugely successful” the chain said this week. The vegan cheese is based on pea protein that “tastes just like McDonald’s iconic cheese slices”, the company said.

The move came on the same day that Burger King announced the launch of vegan nuggets. Developed over “years” by the Vegetarian Butcher, and certified by the Vegan Society, they are made from soya and plant proteins. Burger King said they taste the same as the chicken version.

Burger King also worked with the Vegetarian Butcher – which is owned by Unilever – on its rebel Whopper, launched in 2019.

January has become a popular month for food brands to launch plant-based products, coinciding with the annual Veganuary campaign. 

However, scrutiny of plant-based alternatives has increased in recent months. There are concerns surrounding how healthy the products are. Some brands have moved to shorten their ingredients lists and source more local products.

A survey of 2,000 Brits by Glebe Farm, a British oat milk producer, showed that two thirds do not check where their food comes from. Phil Rayner from Glebe said it is important that newcomers to the plant food world check the packaging for provenance. The majority of dairy-free milks, for example, are made from ingredients from across Europe, the company warned.