Antti from Pori was disappointed with his partner when they visited McDonald’s. The new campaign meal cannot be ordered as a vegetarian version. This is how the restaurant chain responds.
The hamburger patties of McDonald’s new campaign meal cannot be ordered in a vegetarian version. Illustration picture. Jenni Gästgivar
McDonald’s restaurants are selling Fifa World Cup meals in honor of the World Cup. Along with the meals, customers receive mugs related to the theme, which have become a hit on social media.
The meal can be ordered with either a hamburger or chicken nuggets. There are no vegetarian options in the campaign at all.
From Pori Antti visited McDonald’s Pori Musa with his spouse just before the evening football game. They wanted to buy Fifa World Cup meals to get the mugs that come with them.
– This promotional meal collection mug has already become a small-scale concept and a thrill show, because the buyer is surprised to find which player’s mug is in the package, Antti opens.
Visiting the restaurant turned out to be a disappointment, as the meat products could not be changed to vegetarian versions. Antti’s spouse is a vegetarian.
Finnish McDonald’s launched vegan nuggets last year. You can’t choose them for the Fifa World Cup meal. Elle Laitila
The couple tried to exchange the ground beef steak for a vegetarian option at the checkout, but this was said to be impossible. Also, chicken nuggets could not be exchanged for veggie nuggets.
– These are basic things for competitors, but apparently not for them. The restaurant manager said that they can’t offer a vegetarian option, the only option would really be to buy either a meat or chicken meal.
Antti says that his spouse was really upset about the situation. According to him, the vegetarian options have been bad in the past, but now he does not agree to do business in the chain’s restaurants at all.
Antti was in contact with the restaurant chain’s customer feedback channel about the incident. McDonald’s apologized and replied that it understands that the campaign will not please everyone. The message also claimed that the purpose of the campaign is not to leave anyone out.
– Today, such a thing is surprising. Different options and diets have been well taken into account in many places, Antti reflects.
This is how McDonald’s responds
McDonald’s confirms to Iltalehti that the World Cup meal is currently only available in meat and chicken options in the international FIFA campaign. The restaurant chain does not say the exact reason for the lack of vegetarian options.
– We understand that this campaign has not necessarily pleased everyone, including those who prefer vegetarian options, and we are sorry for that, says the restaurant chain’s communication by email.
McDonald’s communications say that the restaurant chain focuses on the development and preparation of vegetarian food offerings, and strives to develop future campaigns to reflect the versatility of available options.
These also include vegetarian options.
