Vegan man sues Burger King over Impossible Whopper

Burger King is being sued by a vegan customer who said the company does not state that the meatless Impossible Whoppers are cooked on the same grills as other burgers.

According to CNN, the class action lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida claims that although the chain advertises its vegan option as meat-free, the Whopper is contaminated by meat by-products because it’s prepared on the same grills as meat products.

Burger King, which describes the Impossible Whopper as “100% Whopper, 0% Beef” on its website, also includes a note saying, “For guests looking for a meat-free option, a non-broiler method of preparation is available upon request.”

When the plant-based burger was announced in the spring, reps for the company said that customers could ask for the patties to be prepared in the oven. But the product still cannot be labeled vegan as Burger King restaurants “have an open kitchen environment,” according to Fox News.

Most people following a vegan or vegetarian diet try to avoid animal products in all cooking and preparation of dishes.

The plaintiff in the case, Phillip Williams, said he purchased an Impossible Whopper at a location in Atlanta in August. He said that if he had known the burger would be cooked on the same grill as other burgers, he would have not purchased it.

CBS News reported that Williams said he saw “no signage” about Impossible Whoppers being cooked on the same grill, a situation he called “deceptive” in his lawsuit.

Burger King has not commented on the lawsuit.

The Impossible Whopper has been a success for Burger King in a year that has seen a big spike in fast-food chains and restaurants offering vegan and meat-free options to their customers.