McDonald's is testing a plant-based burger in the U.S. market, with the goal of offering consumers a meat-free alternative to menu items such as the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder. The new McPlant burger is making its debut in eight McDonald's locations in the United States beginning November 3.

The fast-food icon developed the meat-free patty in collaboration with Beyond Meat, which previously created food items for KFC, Carl's Jr., and Taco Bell. The McPlant patty is made with peas, rice, potatoes, and other plant-based ingredients. It's served on a sesame seed bun and comes with tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and American cheese.

Although the McPlant patty itself is plant-based, the burger is not vegan. The mayo and cheese that come with the sandwich contain animal products, but customers can request that restaurants prepare the McPlant without these toppings. The patty is also grilled on the same surface as food items containing meat and eggs.

Americans can sample the McPlant at eight McDonald's restaurants, located in Texas (Irving, Carollton), Iowa (Cedar Falls), Louisiana (Jennings, Lake Charles), and California (El Segundo, Manhattan Beach). It’s available on menus while quantities last.

McDonald's hasn't announced plans to expand the McPlant to other U.S. locations. A broader rollout depends on how consumers react to the initial test run. Bloomberg Businessweek noted that since the pandemic, national fast food chains are slowing down on the introduction of faux-meat menu items. For the year ended June 2021, orders of plant-based menu items at fast-food restaurants stayed the same, while beef burger orders climbed 12%. McDonald's has a three-year agreement in place with Beyond Meat and is looking to co-develop other plant-based menu options for chicken, pork, and egg. In the U.K., where the rollout of the McPlant is further advanced, the burger is fully vegan. The plant-based patty is cooked in an oven and using different equipment than meat products. It's also served with vegan sandwich sauce and vegan cheese alternative. The McPlant is expected to launch nationwide in the United Kingdom by January 2022.