Vegan’s Burger King suit proves an impossible dream. South Florida judge dismisses case
A Georgia man’s lawsuit against Miami-based Burger King, claiming that the fast food company’s plant-based Impossible Whopper deceived vegans, proved an impossible dream for the seven plaintiffs. A Fort Lauderdale judge dismissed the case, ruling in favor of BK, on Monday.
In Phillip Williams’ November filing, he said he ordered the Impossible Whopper without mayonnaise at a Burger King drive-thru and wasn’t told the burger would be cooked on the “same grill” as the chicken and beef sandwiches. BK uses a rotating broiler to cook its patties.
Williams, in his $5 million class action suit, said the Impossible Whopper was “contaminated” because he did not see signs that told customers about how the sandwich is prepared.
According to Reuters and other reports, U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal said “reasonable consumers” were not deceived by BK’s cooking methods.
“Burger King promised a non-meat patty and delivered,” Singhal wrote in his ruling. The judge also said the plaintiffs’ claims were “too individualized” to justify a class action.
Impossible Foods Inc., which manufactures the plant-based burger, says the product was not designed for vegans or vegetarians but is geared for meat eaters who want to cut back on animal protein, according to NBC News.
Miami Herald staff writer Michelle Marchante contributed to this report.
