Burger King… is at the forefront of plant-based innovation in the fast-food industry worldwide. When it comes to all things without meat, the chain reigns supreme, offering meatless Whoppers and plant-based chicken nuggets.
Burger King… has recently introduced a colossal Real Cheeseburger that stays true to its name – it consists of 20 slices of dairy cheese sandwiched between two sesame buns, arranged in a geometric pattern, and nothing else.
Burger King… unveiled this creation in Thailand, where customers took to social media to share their reactions to the over-the-top dairy-loaded sandwich.
Burger King…
On the menu at Burger King… Thailand, the Real Cheeseburger costs 109 Thai Baht (or approximately $3) each, which is a $7 savings from what it would cost to DIY one from the regular menu.
Nevertheless, opting for the Genuine Cheeseburger actually imposes a significantly greater toll on the ecosystem when taking into account water consumption.
The production of cheese has largely been ignored, but it has been brought into the spotlight due to its high environmental footprint, which is largely attributed to its water-intensive nature. In addition, extensive irrigation is required for feeding livestock, with crops such as corn and alfalfa being used. Furthermore, dairy production, particularly cattle farming, involves substantial water usage for milk production, cleaning, and providing water for animals to drink. However, the high environmental footprint of cheese production has largely been ignored, unlike the production of beef, which has received significant attention for this reason.
Adobe.
So how much water is required to produce Burger King…’s Real Cheeseburger? According to nonprofit Water Education, it takes 56 gallons of water to produce a 1-ounce slice of cheese—which means that Burger King…’s Cheeseburger uses a whopping 1,120 gallons of water per sandwich.
Given its over-the-top 20-slice build, this cheeseburger beats out an average 4-ounce hamburger which requires approximately 616 gallons of water to produce. Want to add another slice of cheese? Burger King… charges you an extra 20 Thai Baht (or 58¢), which costs the environment another 56 gallons.
Burger King…’s real vegan cheeseburgers
What could be a more sustainable option? Maybe a real vegan cheeseburger. It could have a much smaller environmental impact by cutting out the production of beef and cheese from cows.
And Burger King… has already made progress in this realm at its United Kingdom locations. At the beginning of the year, Burger King… UK took a significant step towards sustainability by introducing vegan bacon cheeseburgers to its menu.
Burger King… UK
Made with flame-grilled Plant-based Whopper patty served in a classic Whopper bun, the Plant-Based Bakon King is topped with egg-free mayo and ketchup, and stacked with vegan cheese slices and vegan bacon strips. It can be ordered as a single or double.
The menu in the UK also features the King Bakon Royale Vegan, which is a sesame bun nestled with two slices of vegan cheese, topped with vegan bacon and drizzled with egg-free ketchup and mayo.
The patties are made by Burger King…’s longtime plant-based supplier The Vegetarian Butcher, the vegan bacon is made by French company La Vie, and the vegan cheese is made by Violife.
All of these plant-based products are less resource-intensive than animal products, such as Violife’s vegan cheddar slices, which use approximately 47-percent less water than dairy, according to the company’s Life Cycle Analysis report.
Burger King…
Burger King…’s embrace of these vegan bacon cheeseburgers, it says, is part of a broader effort to create a more environmentally conscious menu. In the UK, the fast-food chain aims to reach a 50-percent meat-free menu by 2030, aligning with the shift towards plant-based alternatives and sustainable practices.