McDonald’s has given up on its bid to sell meatless burgers in America. President Joe Erlinger said that the McPlant has been ditched because customers didn’t want fake meat. The chain had been testing the meatless burger at several hundred restaurants in Texas and California since late 2021. Developed by Beyond Meat, it was made from pea and rice proteins, and while it flopped in the U.S., it has been a hit in Europe. There’s little chance of a return to America. McDonald’s is now shifting its focus to chicken, which has become more popular among its customers than beef, partly due to its lower cost. Salads were taken off U.S. menus at the start of the pandemic and won’t be returning. What is returning is the McRib, which will be put back on the menus later this year.
