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If you are aware of a fast food place with good vegetarian options please let us know. Send new listings or updates to directory@veg.ca. Your feedback is appreciated.

General notes and scope


Verify vegetarian options when ordering – Menu items can change over time and between locations. Also, if you are looking for vegan options, ask about condiments and sauces. (i.e.: some places may automatically add mayonnaise to a veggie burger.)

Cross-contamination – Some chains do a good job of keeping vegetarian items separate, but many don't and there can be variations between locations. Veggie burgers are often cooked on the same grill as the meat, and French fries may be deep-fried in the same oil as the chicken. Ask before ordering if this is a concern.

Unhealthy fats – Most chains use liberal amounts of saturated fat, hydrogenated (trans fats) oils, and palm oil (a naturally-saturated vegetable oil that has been associated with rainforest destruction).

Caesar salad – Assume the dressing contains anchovies (fish) and egg, unless mentioned as otherwise.

Chemical additives and preservatives – These are very prominent. For example the ingredient lists for many of the items at Burger King are over 50 words long. Many of the big chains use dimethylpolysiloxene and TBHQ. Here is a quote from the Omnivore's Dilemma about the presence of these "toxic" ingredients in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets:

"...Then there are "anti-foaming agents" like dimethylpolysiloxene, added to the cooking oil to keep the starches from binding to air molecules, so as to produce foam during the fry. The problem is evidently grave enough to warrant adding a toxic chemical to the food: According to the Handbook of Food Additives, dimethylpolysiloxene is a suspected carcinogen and an established mutagen, tumorigen, and reproductive effector; it's also flammable.

But perhaps the most alarming ingredient in a Chicken McNugget is tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, an antioxidant derived from petroleum that is either sprayed directly on the nugget or the inside of the box it comes in to "help preserve freshness." According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane (i.e. lighter fluid) the FDA allows processors to use sparingly in our food: It can comprise no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a nugget. Which is probably just as well, considering that ingesting a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse." Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill.

Animal or plant source additives? – Many additives, such as sodium stearoyl lactylate, can come from either. Rennet can be from an animal (calf stomach) or non-animal source. According to Wikipedia, Microbial rennet is used more often in North America today because it is less expensive than animal rennet, whereas cheese from Europe is more likely to be made from animal rennet due to tradition. Lipase is another ingredient frequently found in cheese that can be from a vegetarian or non-vegetarian source. One additive called L-cysteine is frequently found in bread products at fast food places and is commonly derived from duck feathers. A synthetic version is available but not commonly used. It would be near impossible to verify the source of all the additives at fast food restaurants. Our investigation has mainly focused on the obvious animal, milk and egg derived products such as whey (dairy), modified milk ingredients, egg whites, cholesterol (meat, dairy or eggs) gelatin (animal bones) or beef flavouring and fat.

Allergen info – Many chains now have allergen charts that you can view as pdfs. They tend to err on the side of caution (or avoidance of lawsuits). For example if a vegan product is made in the same facility where products with milk or egg are made, they may be flagged for "milk" or "egg" due to the chance of cross contamination. Ask to see an ingredient list before ordering if you are concerned.

Scope – Ingredient information is geared to fast food chains in Canada, the United States, and to a lesser extent, the UK. Information may be different in other countries, and is subject to change over time. For more information about options in the United States see Vegan Eating Out (75 fast food chains researched). 

[rest.] – this symbol indicates a full service restaurant chain. Such places typically have waited tables, larger menus, longer wait times, and more natural, less processed meals.

This report is not meant as an endorsement of fast food eating. We recommend that you support local vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants whenever possible. For an extensive list in Toronto, see our Vegetarian Directory and for other places, see our World links page.

Originally researched and written by Thom Oommen. Updates by Stephen Leckie.

[Valentine's Day - recipes, aphrodisiacs, gifts and more]

[Our vegetarian nutrition page -- protein, iron, calcium, D, iodine, omega-3, zine, B12.]

Vegetarian fast food options at restaurant chains


Fast food chains are starting to cater to vegetarians and vegans. Substantial options such as veggie burgers, pizza, and sandwiches are now available at many fast food restaurants.

Why is this important? Having meat-free options widely and easily available makes it easier to maintain a vegetarian diet. Fast food may be the only available option in some suburbs, along highways or late at night. At such times a local and independent vegetarian-friendly restaurant may be hard to come by.

In a discussion over on Chowhound.com, someone wrote that they thought it was unreasonable to expect a place famous for meat to break stride and create a vegetarian option. But another commenter points out that fast food places bill themselves as "family" restaurants. "What family in their right mind is going to trek all over the block trying to feed the (usual) token veg?"

Seems to me that a restaurant should be trying to cater to the whole family... One or two veg options shouldn't be a big deal.”

Updates are posted as we hear about them. Your input is very helpful.

Recent major updates

  • Feb 2009: These pages have been completely updated. All listing information is now current.
  • Jan/Feb 2009: Several places added: Chik-Fil-A, Church's Chicken, Blimpie, Quiznos, Extreme Pita, Arby's, Little Ceasar's, Papa John's, Domino's, Hungry Howie's, Taco Time, Taco Del Mar, Del Taco, El Pollo Loco and Wimpy and Nando (UK). Our aim is to provide information for all the major chains in North America.
  • Oct 2008: Tim Hortons has been updated. They offer some vegan and egg-free items.
  • Sep 2008: Swiss Chalet has reinstated their veggie burger.
  • Jul 2008: KFC has added a vegan sandwich to their Canadian menu.
  • Added Moe's: They offer vegetarian burritos and tacos, etc.
  • Panago Pizza added - six veggie pizzas

Asian fast food

Check out Teriyaki Experience (Japanese) for veggie stir-fries made with yakisoba noodles or steamed rice topped with teriyaki sauce. Dwyne writes that "their tofu is some of the best I've had. They've also got some great sushi."

Avoid: Mandarin (chicken base used in many veggie dishes).

See our Asian fast food page for more info.

Burger chains

Best overall bet is Burger King. Their BK Veggie is vegan in Canada but contains egg whites in the U.S. In the UK they have a vegan BK Veggie Bean Burger. Fries and onion rings are vegan but at least the onion rings may be cooked in the same oil as meat.

In Canada, both Lick's and Harvey's offer popular vegan veggie burgers. A&W offers a veggie burger that contains butter. In the UK, Wimpy has a veggie Quorn Burger and Vegetable Nuggets.

See our Vegetarian options at burger chains page for full details and information about the limited vegetarian offerings at McDonald's, Wendy's and A&W (in the U.S).

Cereal

Cerealicious in Canada and Cereality in the US are almost entirely vegetarian! One caveat: they only serve breakfast cereal (soy milk is an option) and Cerealicious also has peanut butter and almond butter sandwiches.

Chicken chains

In the U.S, vegetarians are best to avoid most of these places, but if you are stuck eating at one, a number of them have vegetarian side dishes. KFC has corn-on-the-cob, coleslaw, mashed Potatoes and a side salad. Warning: the Green Beans, BBQ Baked Beans and gravy contain meat flavouring. Chik-Fil-A only has fries and side salads unless you order in advance, but they may serve a veggie wrap for Lent. Church's Chicken has corn-on-the-cob, mashed potatoes and fried okra.

In Canada, KFC has a vegan unchicken burger, but it is fried in the same oil as meat. Swiss Chalet has a vegan burger and a number of sides.

In the UK, Nando's has two veggie burgers and a portobello sandwich.

See Vegetarian options at chicken chains for full details.

Subs, pitas and falafels

Chains that sell submarine sandwiches or pitas tend to be great places for vegetarians, especially if you eat cheese. Subway has a vegan salad sandwich and a veggie patty option that has egg whites (but you may have to request it). Blimpie (U.S.) also has veggie patties and vegan subs made to order. Mr. Sub (Canada) has veggie (i.e: salad) subs. Quiznos also only has veggie (i.e: salad) sandwiches but they have guacamole as one of the fillings.

Falafel (a pita sandwich filled with crispy balls of deep-fried chickpea batter, veggies and tahini sauce) is a delicious and cheap vegan meal. The Pita Pit offers them as well as pitas stuffed with babaganoush, hummus, veggies only, feta, swiss or cheddar. Extreme Pita also offers a falafel pita sandwich and the Market Fresh Veggie Pita. They also have pita pizzas and salads that can be made to order.

Avoid Arby's. This roast beef sandwich chain only offers vegetarians curly fries, potato cakes and a salad.

See Vegetarian fast food options: Subs, pitas and falafels for full details. 

Pizza and pasta places

Most fast food pizza chains have pleny of options for vegetarians, and vegan pizza usually just involves skipping the cheese and loading up with extra veggies. Olives are a nice salty addition to a vegan pizza.

Among the chains, Little Caesar's and Papa John's have the best options for vegetarians and vegans. Pizza Hut also has veggie choices. Avoid Domino's and Hungry Howie's, they have limited options, some hidden animal ingredients, trans fats and in the case of Domino's, excessive chemical additives.

In Canada, the best places are Pizzaiolo (Toronto), Panago, East Side Mario's, Pizza Pizza and Pizza Nova. 

See Pizza and pasta places: vegetarian options for full details. 

Burritos, tacos, etc

Fast food chains and restaurants that serve Mexican/Latin American dishes can be great spots to find satisfying vegetarian meals, but watch out for the addition of animal fats and flavouring. What appears to be just beans may contain pig fat for example. Other good bets include: guacamole, meat-free quesadillas, and nachos with salsa.

Among the chains, Chipotle and Moe's Southwest Grill have the most choice, clearest labeling and healthiest ingredients for vegetarians and vegans. Taco Bell has several vegetarian options on the menu, but the sour cream contains gelatin and pretty much everything contains chemical additives and many things contain trans fats. You can request that any item be prepared without meat, cheese or sour cream.

Located mainly in the West, Taco Time and Taco Del Mar have several vegetarian and vegan options. But skip Del Taco and El Pollo Loco as they have more limited options and it is not clear if their meat-free dishes are entirely vegetarian.

In Toronto, check out Burrito Boyz, they have a vegan burrito and quesadilla. The regular guac contains dairy but they also have a vegan version.

See Vegetarian options: burritos, tacos, etc for full details. 

Other fast food

Tim Hortons offers several egg-free items including yeasted donuts, cinnamon rolls and tea biscuits, and a few vegan items: low fat muffins, bagels, sandwich buns, soup rolls, oatcake cookies. There are also some veggie soups offered on a rotating basis.

New York Fries serves vegan fries in Canada, but not much else.

See Vegetarian options at other fast food places for full details.

 

About fast food

[image: Do want lies with that]Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation is now out on DVD. It is based on Eric Schlosser's non-fiction bestseller (see below). The film boasts an all-star ensemble cast that includes Kris Kristofferson, Wilmer Valderrama, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and veggie idol, Avril Lavigne. The New York Times called it "the most important political film from an American director since Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11'." Extras include all three of the excellent Meatrix videos and a commentary with Schlosser and director Richard Linklater. View the trailer.
Purchase the DVD from Amazon.ca

Fast Food NationFast Food Nation
Dec 2001, by Eric Schlosser

Amazon rating: ****1/2 out of 5.
Customers say: "One assumes with any book like this that animal rights issues will crop up, but these - cruelty to the livestock with overfeeding, overcrowding - are only the tip of the iceberg. Seemingly far worse, and more personally devastating, are the gruesome working conditions of the employees. Slave wages, injury without compensation, blatant harassment, and the sanitation conditions of the slaughterhouses, restaurants, and cafeteria are obscene." "Meticulously researched with a massive sixty-three page detailed notes section."
Purchase from Amazon.ca

Unhappy Meals

For a stomach-churning critique of the health and labour practices of the burger business read salon.com’s Unhappy Meals article. Here is an excerpt:

“Every month more than 90 percent of American children eat at McDonald's; the average American eats three hamburgers every week. What's in all those hamburgers? They're most likely made from the meat of worn-out dairy cows (generally the least healthy cattle stock), which spend their days packed in feedlots full of pools of manure. Each burger contains parts of dozens or even hundreds of cows, increasing the likelihood that a sick one will spread its pathogens widely. Cows, by nature designed to be herbivorous, are fed "livestock waste" – rendered remains of dead horses, pigs and poultry.”

Also see: Would you like ground spinal cord with that? The author of "Fast Food Nation" says you just might not want to know what the burger giants are serving.

News

Burger King takes "historic" step towards animal welfare

March 29, 2007
In what many animal welfare advocates describe as a “historic advance,” Burger King has announced that they will begin buying 2% of their eggs and 10% of their pork from suppliers that do not confine their animals in cages and crates. The decision will apply to the US and Canada. Full story >>.

The debate over wearing latex gloves vs hand washing.

March 14, 2007
Hands contains millions of bacteria, including harmful ones like staph and strep. Gloves can prevent most of those bacteria from being transmitted to food. But only if the gloves are clean. “The problem is that a worker may never change the gloves or clean them, thinking that the gloves themselves are sufficient protection.”

Thousands of United States restaurant workers were surveyed for a study published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health in 2005. More than a third said they did not always change their gloves between touching raw meat or poultry and ready-to-eat food.

Moreover, most gloves are made of latex that can cause allergic reactions. As a result, three states have banned latex gloves in restaurants. Vinyl is not much better.

“The reason that workers wear gloves is that they don’t wash their hands as much as they should,” said Denise Korniewicz, a professor who has studied the efficacy of rubber gloves for more than 20 years. “If you walk into any fast-food restaurant and observe people, they use the cash register, they wipe their nose and then they make your sandwich.”

“When your hands are bare you can tell if you get something on them, and you immediately wash,” said Debra Silva, who owns a seafood restaurant in Provincetown, Mass. “But if you’re wearing gloves, you might have no idea that you’ve touched something dirty.” Ms. Silva said she spends thousands of dollars a year on gloves.

From the New York Times: Latex, Vinyl, or Soap? (paid link)

Doctors group sues fast-food chains for carcinogenic chicken

Sept. 28, 2006
A grilled chicken sandwich from a fast-food restaurant can cause cancer, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine charged in a lawsuit filed against seven fast-food chains: McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Outback Steakhouse, and TGI Friday’s.   

[image: BK Veggie demo]An independent lab had found a dangerous carcinogenic compound called PhIP in grilled chicken samples taken from the restaurants. PhIP is one of a group of carcinogenic compounds found in grilled meat. The compound has been listed on the California governor's list of cancer-causing chemicals for more than a decade. Link to full report.

Bk Veggie launch

After targeting Burger King, PETA celebrated victory. In June 2001, Burger King added the BK Veggie Burger to all North American locations (over 8000).
www.murderking.com

Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 March 2009 )