The menu is a collaboration between vegan restaurateur Matthew Kenney and KBW Ventures, a mission-driven investment firm founded by environmentalist Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia.

Focusing on ‘innovative’ culinary concepts

The multi-course menu is available at the hotel’s Après Spa Café and is said to focus on innovative creations inspired by a range of global culinary concepts – with an added Qatari touch. 

The menu boasts a selection of appetizers and entrées, including green papaya salad made with basil, cilantro, and spinach leaves, and topped with cashew dressing; and truffle pizza with Tuscan kale, wild mushrooms, cashew truffle cream, and lemon vinaigrette.

Chef Kenney has also crafted a selection of vegan desserts for the hotel, offering a combination of treats made from orange, chocolate, coconuts, banana, and cocoa.

“My mission has always been to empower, inspire and influence others to cultivate a healthy and conscious way of life through plant-based cuisine,” explained Kenney.

“Bringing vibrant food that is equal parts delicious, nutritious and sustainable to Four Seasons Doha is the latest milestone in our conquest to change the way the world thinks about food.”

Increased plant-based offerings in time for the World Cup

The menu has launched ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in Qatar later this year. As one of the five host cities, Doha is expected to attract a large number of tourists from across the world.

In a recent press release, Prince Khaled said, “It is fitting that Folia, crafted to appeal to palates that have eaten the finest in healthy cuisine, is being presented at Four Seasons Hotel Doha now that Qatar is preparing to welcome the world for one of the biggest sporting events in history.”

He continued, “I look forward to seeing the Qatari plant-based dining scene elevated with Chef Kenney’s inspired dishes.”

The post Chef Matthew Kenney And Prince Khaled Bring Vegan Dining To Four Seasons, Qatar appeared first on Plant Based News.

The collaboration sees the UK’s largest hotel brand adding vegan bacon to its buffet menu at all of its 800+ hotels.

The plant-based bacon rashers – which boast 25 grams of protein per 100 grams, and contain iron and vitamin B12 – were crafted by THIS using pea and soy protein.

The bacon will be available as part of Premier Inn’s all-you-can-eat buffet, as well as its kids-eat-free deal.

Hungry for meat-free options

It comes as a seemingly ever-growing number of Brits are making a conscious effort to eat fewer animal products. In fact, research released by Quorn in September found that 41 percent of families in the UK are flexitarian or meat-free.

Yet many want to see more plant-based food when dining out.

A census-wide survey conducted by THIS in May found that 75 percent of Brits wished hotels, cafes, and restaurants offered more plant-based options.

The same survey discovered that nearly half (48 percent) of UK residents are interested in eating plant-based sausage or bacon for breakfast.

“Breakfast is a great occasion for people to get together, and our well-loved breakfast is a great value and hassle-free way to do that,” said Simon Jones, managing director for Premier Inn.

“With the recent introduction of our new vegan bacon in partnership with THIS, there’s now even more choice so no one has to miss out!”

THIS co-founder Andy Shovel echoed this sentiment, saying that the partnership is “really promising and timely,” given the UK public’s rising interest in meat-free food.

The post Premier Inn Adds Vegan Bacon To Its Buffet At All 800+ Hotels appeared first on Plant Based News.

The vegan wizarding world

It’s not the only vegan option the Studio Tour offers. In 2020, it launched a vegan version of Butterbeer, the butterscotch-flavored drink enjoyed by Hogwarts students in both the books and the subsequent movie franchise.

Prior to the launch, Evanna Lynch—a vegan activist and actor who played the character of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films—called on Warner Bros to offer a vegan version of the popular beverage.

She said back in 2018: “I’ve been a member of the vegan community for the past five years and the Harry Potter community for most of my life, and nothing makes me happier than when these two worlds intersect.”

“I genuinely can’t imagine a lovelier day out than going to The Wizarding World to enjoy a butterbeer with my vegan friends. I will be first in line when that day comes.”

Lynch also hosted a podcast called The Chickpeeps with actor and fellow Harry Potter star Robbie Jarvis, as well as Momoko Hill and Tylor Starr.

Each episode discussed topics relating to veganism, including animal advocacy, farming, and activism. There was also a crossover with MuggleCast, a podcast dedicated to Harry Potter.

Series three of The Chickpeeps came to a close last year, and while a fourth season was mentioned at the time, nothing has been announced since. 

The post ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ Studio Tour Now Has Vegan Afternoon Tea appeared first on Plant Based News.

Sound familiar? The 99p vegan burger may be a first for McDonald’s, but plant-based food pioneer Ready Burger has been plating up the same deal for months. 

McDonald’s 99p burger

Those keen to take advantage of McDonald’s latest promo must act quick. Fast-food-lovers can only get their hands on its 99p burger on May 18 and May 20, 2022. 

On May 19, customers can get a discounted Veggie Deluxe instead (those wishing to eat plant-based must request it without the sauce, which contains egg). And on May 23, McDonald’s vegan-friendly Veggie Dippers will be just 99p too. 

All three deals are only available via the free-to-download McDonald’s app.

The titan fast-food chain trialed its first vegan burger at a handful of locations in October 2021. A “remarkable” response from the public motivated McDonald’s to bring the product back – this time, to all of its 1,300 restaurants across the UK/Ireland. 

The McPlant is the result of a collaboration between McDonald’s and Beyond Meat. It features a vegan Beyond beef patty, dairy-free cheese, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and a vegan secret sauce. 

McDonald’s promises that the burger offers the “same iconic taste” as its meat-based options. And, unlike many other eateries which charge more for their vegan meals, the McPlant costs the same as a Big Mac (except for, of course, this week’s 99p offer).

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Affordable vegan fast food

Notably, in January, up-and-coming vegan fast-food chain Ready Burger lowered the price of its eponymous burger from £1.99 to 99p. (Now we’re not saying McDonald’s outright copied the start-up, but we’re not NOT saying it…)

Ready Burger’s promotion was originally to celebrate Veganuary. But after selling more than 2,000 burgers a week during that month, founders Max Miller and Adam Clark decided to make the 99p Ready Burger a permanent fixture on the menu. 

The 99p burger is joined by a wide range of other vegan bites, including chicken nuggets, bacon burgers, fries, ice cream, and the iconic Big Ready.

“We wanted to double down on our core mission of serving delicious, speedy, plant-based fast food at unrivaled prices accessible to anyone in the market,” they told Plant Based News earlier this year.

And it appears the public was hungry for the change. Since Ready Burger opened its doors in London last year, customers have purchased more than 260,000 of its vegan options. Now, the company plans on opening two more locations in the UK this year. After that? Global expansion. 

“We’ll be bringing more world firsts with exciting new menu items in 2022, all at the same prices people have come to know us for, and we have advanced expansion plans with new stores,” Miller said, adding that Ready Burger will “never compromise on flavor, convenience, or price.”

“We won’t be stopping here!”

For more information about Ready Burger, check out the website and follow them on Instagram. 

This is a paid-for advertorial.

The post McDonald’s Takes Leaf Out Of Ready Burger’s Book With 99p McPlant appeared first on Plant Based News.

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Are Brits giving up meat?

It is easier than ever for people to choose meat-free options in the UK, with more vegan products on supermarket shelves and more menu items in restaurants. But Richard Mcllwain, the chief executive of the Vegetarian Society, believes more can be done.

He said in a recent statement, “we want to see more vegetarian and vegan options included front and center on all menus,” before arguing that vegetarian options, in particular, are appealing to flexitarian consumers.

Previous data released by YouGov indicated that most flexitarians will not go vegan, but instead see reducing meat as a “conscious” and “deliberate” long-term choice. 

But other reports indicate a different trajectory for people who reduce their meat consumption. Earlier this year, a survey by Veganuary revealed that more than a third of people who gave up animal products for January intended to stay vegan. 

Veganuary’s international head of communications Toni Vernelli said: “These incredible results show that Veganuary is so much more than a one-month pledge as taking part leads to lasting diet change for most participants.”

The post Over 25% Of Brits Want To Reduce Meat Intake, Says New Study appeared first on Plant Based News.

The Vegan Burger was an immediate hit, with one million sold in just one month. 

KFC’s vegan expansion

Quorn has now created a meatless version of the KFC Original Recipe Tender, which will launch in the UK first.

KFC and Quorn are also intending to bring their hit vegan options to Europe, beginning in Germany. Per Food Navigator, vegan chicken buckets and veggie wraps are on the cards.

“The main product we have been working on with KFC is the Original Recipe Tender (known as the Mini Fillet in some markets),” said Quorn’s chief commercial officer Peter Harrison. “They were extremely well received, hence the roll-out of products to new markets.”

He continued: “Ensuring there are delicious meat-free food choices for consumers, wherever and whenever they make food decisions, is key to our mission of providing healthy food for people and planet.”

KFC is one of the world’s biggest fried chicken chains. But in the last few years, it has focused on bringing more vegan options to consumers. In the US, it recently rolled out Beyond Fried Chicken (made with Beyond Meat) to all of its stores.

In 2021, the chain’s US president Kevin Hochman told Bloomberg: “We don’t think that plant-based is a fad. We think it’s something that’s going to continue to grow over time.”

The post KFC Is Launching Quorn Vegan Chicken Buckets In Europe appeared first on Plant Based News.

“Vegan and vegetarian meals have not been a niche trend for a long time – and we as a brand also want to and will continue to develop here,” she said in a statement, before adding that “becoming better also means breaking new ground.”

She continued: “Our new vegan chocolate soft serve combination brings even more variety to our colourful McFlurry world and thus meets the exact taste of our dessert fans.”

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McDonald’s offers more vegan options

Germany isn’t the only location where McDonald’s seems to want to do “better.”

In the UK, the chain offers the vegan McPlant patty. In China, it offers meatless pork. And in the US, the fast-food giant has partnered with the vegan brand Beyond Meat.

Plus, in Shropshire, England, McDonald’s recently opened its first-ever “net-zero” restaurant. The renewable energy-powered location features a drive-thru lane made with old car tires, chairs made with old plastic bottles, and cladding made from old computer equipment.

Beth Hart, a spokesperson for McDonald’s, said at the time that the Shropshire spot would “act as a blueprint for future new builds.”

And perhaps vegan McFlurries will be a menu option in locations outside of Germany soon. Hart also hinted that a more sustainable McDonald’s menu could be on the horizon. 

She said: “I can’t speculate on what the McDonald’s menu will look like in the future, but I think it will look very different. We might see more plant-based items on the menu. It’s not so much about influencing choice but offering alternatives.”

The post McDonald’s Germany Now Offers A Vegan KitKat McFlurry appeared first on Plant Based News.

It also uncovered that while 42 percent of respondents felt confused about sustainable eating, 75 percent were concerned for the future of the planet. More than a quarter felt that cutting out animal products was the best thing for the environment.

And despite the fact that the majority of Gen-Zers would “prefer” to drink dairy, more than half still intend to give it up in the next year, the research found.

The purpose of Arla’s study was to dissuade people from making “drastic decisions” around diet based on social media. It also blamed the “rise in cancel culture” for its influence on food decisions.

While social media is undeniably renowned for giving a platform to misinformation, there is credible research that suggests a move away from animal products is essential to mitigate the climate crisis.

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Dairy’s environmental impact

For example, back in 2018, the biggest-ever food analysis found that ditching meat and dairy is the “single biggest way” to reduce a person’s environmental impact.

Oxford University researchers evaluated data from 40,000 farms around the world and assessed their impact on the planet, from greenhouse gasses to land use to water waste.

At the time, researcher Joseph Poore said: “[A vegan diet’s impact] is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car.”

The meta-analysis found that dairy milk is responsible for nearly three times the emissions of any plant-based alternative.

Arla acknowledges that animal agriculture has its problems. The dairy giant stated that its milk has “half the emissions of the global average,” and it plans on reducing these further.

“We know that farming is not without its challenges and when it comes to dairy farming and the climate crisis, we have many hills to climb to reach our target of achieving carbon net-zero by 2050,” said Graham Wilkinson, Arla’s Senior Group Agriculture Director. 

He added that Arla farmers “are taking action” and “working to drive real change.”

According to Poore’s research, oat and soy milk come out best for the planet in terms of emissions, land use, and water use.

Animal agriculture is the world’s biggest user of land and emits 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. And, according to the study, drinking one glass of dairy milk per day for a year uses the water equivalent of 703 eight-minute-long showers. 

The post Almost Half Of Gen Z Feel Shame Around Ordering Dairy, Study Finds appeared first on Plant Based News.

Jeffrey S. Fried (Sweetgreen’s former chairman) and Henrik Fjordbak (Joe & The Juice’s former COO) are also on board. 

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Changing the meat we eat

Ultimately, Neat Burger wants to advance the alternative protein sector, and show the world how versatile, delicious, and sustainable plant-based food can be. 

Its current menu includes options like its Filet-No-Fish (a fish-free patty with vegan tartar sauce) and its Smoke Smash, which features two of its signature vegan meat patties, crispy onion rings, BBQ, jalapeños, and more. 

The chain has already picked up a few awards, including Deliveroo’s Best Vegan Brand of 2021 and 2020. Plus, it’s committed to healing the planet, and has partnered with the Eden Reforestation Project to plant one tree for every burger sold.

Neat Burger’s food is already climate-friendly: its current carbon footprint sits well below 0.5 kilograms. (To put that into context, the average meal’s carbon footprint is 1.6 kilograms.)

“We are on a mission to fundamentally change how the world consumes protein,” Neat Burger’s CEO and co-founder Zack Bishti said in a statement.

The post Lewis Hamilton’s Vegan Fast Food Chain Is Coming To The US appeared first on Plant Based News.

“We hope more customers can indulge without guilt and embrace a green lifestyle anywhere and anytime.”

The move was a success, and since its launch, the chain has sold 3.7 million OmniPork Luncheon menu items. So, it’s no surprise that McDonald’s Hong Kong has decided to bring the popular vegan “SPAM”  back.

Now, the OmniPork Luncheon meat has “reduced saltiness,” a “better texture,” and is available as part of several menu options, including a Luncheon Meat Jumbo Breakfast, a Luncheon Meat McMuffin, and a Scrambled Egg Burger.

The chain has also added new dairy-free lattes made with Oatly to the menu, as well as OmniFoods’ OmniTuna. The latter features in pizza bread, a cheese pasta option, and ciabatta with egg mayo.

While meatless pork is progress, the inclusion of eggs means the new options are not vegan.

The egg industry is rife with cruelty, with hens often kept in cramped, barren cages on factory farms, where they are unable to display their natural behaviors. Male chicks are also frequently culled in the industry, as they are unable to lay eggs.

According to World Animal Protection, McDonald’s rates “Very Poor” on its chicken welfare Pecking Order scale.

Vegan “SPAM” in Hong Kong

But the move to offer vegan “SPAM” in Hong Kong is still significant.

The original ultra-processed meat product made by Hormel Foods comes from the US. But after World War II, its shelf stability and affordability made it a popular ration item in Hong Kong and across Asia.

According to Yeung, nearly 40 percent of luncheon meat is consumed in Asia. He told CNN in 2020 that “even a small shift could have a major impact,” before adding that consumers need to understand that while similar, OmniPork Luncheon is not identical to Hormel’s original.

He said: “It’s like Diet Coke and real Coke. Everyone knows that Diet Coke is not quite the same as Coke, but once you understand the benefits, then you’re willing to say, I’ll swap the slight change in taste for this version that is better for me.”

OmniPork isn’t just better for people’s health, it’s also better for the planet. According to the UN, animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions every year.

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