Burger King ‘Impossible’ Whopper Has Meat Residue, Vegan Says

Burger King Corp. deceptively sells Impossible Whopper burgers as a meat-free option even though they are tainted with meat residue, a Georgia vegan alleges in a Nov. 18 proposed class suit.

The company’s restaurants cook the vegan patties on the same grills as traditional meat products, “thus covering the outside of the Impossible Whopper’s meat-free patties with meat by-product,” Phillip Williams alleges.

“Impossible” meat is a trademarked product, owned independently from Burger King and widely known across the country as a vegan meat substitute, according to the suit. “Impossible” patties are one of the most popular vegan meat alternatives in the country, the suit says.

Williams alleges he ordered an Impossible Whopper at an Atlanta drive-through, believing the vegan meat patty would be prepared in a manner that maintained its vegan qualities.

Burger King’s menus have no disclosures to notify consumers before purchase that Impossible Whoppers are cooked in a way that would result in meat by-products on the burger, the suit alleges.

Numerous “outraged” consumers have posted complaints online after finding out that that the Impossible Whopper is prepared on the same grills as Burger King’s traditional meat products, the complaint alleges.

Causes of Action: Florida Deceptive Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act; breach of contract; unjust enrichment.

Relief: Injunction requiring Burger King to plainly disclose that the Impossible Whopper is cooked on the same grill as its other meat and requiring Burger King’s future marketing of its Impossible Whopper to comply with Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act; actual and compensatory damages; costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees; return of profits from alleged deceptive marketing to make full restitution to plaintiff and the class.

Potential Class Size: An unknown number of individuals nationwide who purchased Impossible Whoppers.

Response: A Burger King spokesperson said Burger King doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

Attorneys: Dudley, Sellers, Healy, Heath & Desmond PLLC represents the plaintiffs.

The case is Williams v. Burger King Corp., S.D. Fla., No. 1:19-cv-24755, complaint 11/18/19.