Update: Since posting this story I’ve visited my local White Castle to try this burger. I thought I’d pass along the info that the combo they’re promoting includes one Impossible slider and one regular slider – some locations have allowed people to instead purchases two Impossible sliders but the location we went to was not as cooperative. Additionally, ordering this item without the non-vegan cheese was tricky for us – the first round came out with cheese despite ordering them without. Hopefully they work out the kinks as more vegans hit them up.
I’ve also had a few people call into question the vegan nature of a product that was tested on animals. I believe you have the right to your own opinion on this, but here is mine: Palm oil production kills thousands of animals every year and vegans gobble it up. Millions of rodents and insects are killed to protect crops that vegans eat. I do not like the fact that an ingredient in this burger was tested on rats, but ultimately I believe every Impossible burger sold displaces a meat-based product and so, it’s for the greater good.
Another thing to keep in mind – this product was never really intended for vegans. Are all the ingredients plant-based? Yes. But Impossible Foods has always been clear that their intention and goal is to disrupt animal agriculture, turning omnivores onto plant-based foods. So for once, my fellow vegans, it is not all about us.
If you feel strongly that this unfortunate decision to test heme on rats makes this product unsuitable for vegans, you have every right to feel that way. What I do not believe you have the right to do, however, is to try and revoke someone else’s “vegan status” because they’re trying this product. In all my years as an herbivore I have never seen an issue so divisive in the community – people are truly at each other’s throats over it. I think we should all take a deep breath and remember that we’re all on the same team here.
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Starting Thursday, April 12, 2018, the “Impossible Slider” will be available anytime in 140 White Castle locations throughout New York, New Jersey and Chicagoland. I don’t normally share news like this on my site, but as a 20-year herbivore I was struck by the significance of fast food chain White Castle adding it’s third vegan option to the menu.
The Impossible Slider Debuts At White Castle
Starting April 12, the “Impossible Slider” will be available at 140 White Castle restaurants in three states. Sliders will cost $1.99, and are available as part of a combo meal. With this, White Castle becomes the largest single restaurant group to serve the Impossible Burger by far.
The burger will be topped with smoked cheddar cheese (not vegan, optional), pickles, onions and served
on a dairy-free signature bun.
The Impossible Burger is made from simple ingredients, including water, wheat protein, potato protein and coconut oil. One ingredient — heme — contributes to the characteristic taste of meat and catalyzes all the other flavors when meat is cooked. This ingredient has caused some controversy as last year the company revealed they conducted animal testing with rats to develop this ingredient.
Will you be trying this burger at White Castle? Tell me why or why not in the comments.
