McDonald’s in Singapore rolls out the Veggie burger, while Australia continues to wait

McDONALD’S in Singapore has listened to customers and launched this burger. For some reason, Australia has to keep waiting.

The new Veggie Crunch Burger launches in Singapore.

THEY SAY good things come to those who wait, yet here we are in 2016, still hanging out for a McDonald’s veggie burger in Australia.

But Macca’s in Singapore has finally listened to its humble community of vegetarians, and from today will have a meat-free burger across all restaurants.

When will we get a veggie burger in Australia?

The Veggie Crunch Burger consists of a deep-fried vegetable patty topped with sweet chilli sauce, lettuce and cucumber slices on a white sesame seed bun.

The meatless burger patty is made up of seven types of vegetables, including green peas, carrots, green beans, red bell peppers, potatoes, cucumbers and lettuce.

The patty itself is deep-fried in the same oil used to cook the chain’s apple pies, and does not come into contact with meat products.

Australia is trialling the veggie burger in five restaurants across the country. Picture: Alex Coppel

While McDonald’s is trialling the veggie burger in five restaurants across the country, there is still no indication of when it will be available in every venue.

Last month, a spokesperson for McDonald’s said they had not committed to a permanent vegetarian burger item on their menu because the demand isn’t there.

“We have had a vegetarian burger on the menu before but unfortunately they don’t stay on the menu when demand falls away,” they said.

“We still offer our customers a vegetarian option with Create Your Taste where you can choose from a range of ingredients such as grilled halloumi, egg, guacamole and grilled pineapple.”

The new burger in Singapore is similar to the offerings in McDonald’s across India.

But while the demand wasn’t there five years ago when the veggie burgers were a part of the McDonald’s menu, the landscape has significantly changed.

Between 2012 and 2016, the number of Australian adults whose diet is all or almost all vegetarian has risen from 1.7 million people (or 9.7 per cent of the population) to almost 2.1 million (11.2 per cent), according to the latest findings from Roy Morgan Research.

While it is a nationwide trend, the shift towards vegetarianism has been most striking in New South Wales, where there has been a 30 per cent growth in this kind of diet.

The Veggie McSpicey Paneer, which is served in McDonald’s in India. The dream. Picture: Supplied

In 2013, McDonald’s opened its first ever vegetarian-only restaurant in India to cater for the 80 per cent Hindu population who regard cows as sacred and don’t eat beef, and for Muslims who don’t consume pork.

Regular McDonald’s restaurants in India already have a menu that is 50 per cent vegetarian, including the McAloo Tikka, the Veg Maharaja Mac, the Veg McMuffin, the McVeggie and the McSpicy Paneer.

Grill’d has three vegetarian/vegan friendly burger options, while Hungry Jacks has had its Veggie Whopper for 20 years.

Prior to the veggie burger in Singapore, McDonald’s suggested diners looking for a meat-free alternative eat french fries and hashbrowns, or ask for a burger without the patty — aka, a salad roll.

The permanent menu item in Singapore, which isn’t vegan, is a result of calls from McDonald’s customers to evolve its food offerings, based on surveys by the fast food chain.