McDonald's introduced an "impossible" meatless burger in 1962 but it was pineapple

Originally published at: McDonald's introduced an "impossible" meatless burger in 1962 but it was pineapple | Boing Boing

6 Likes

Needless to say, the Capybara burger wasn’t a big success either.

6 Likes

Is the implication that Catholics who avoid meat on Fridays will eat chicken instead? I don’t think that’s the case.

ETA: I mean, there probably are some Catholics who think chicken != meat (for religious purposes), but I doubt they’re in the majority.

8 Likes

Caught the same thing. The Filet-O-Fish was the sandwich brought out, at least in part, to sell to Catholics on Fridays. Chicken Nuggies are still off limits.

12 Likes

I mean, does ground up, bleached and breaded bone meal count as “meat”?

4 Likes

If the movie is to be believed, Ray Kroc’s only good idea was to steal the McDonald brothers’ process and name. Pushing a pineapple burger over a battered fish burger only emphasizes that the man really had lousy instincts.

7 Likes

The idea is to provide protein in your typical sandwich-- not a lot of protein in a slice of pineapple. Shoulda gone with beans or mushrooms.

5 Likes

image: McDonald’s Wiki

They do have a wiki for everything nowadays! Into the rabbit hole I go!

There’s something slightly endearing about a man who is just SO CONVINCED that everyone must love pineapple as much as he does.

5 Likes

Apparently, McDonald’s China does offer the Empress Pineapple Burger that is a slice of the fruit atop a chicken breast patty with barbecue sauce and mayo.

Not gonna lie. I would eat that.

12 Likes

That actually does sound good. Unlike the “burger” in the picture, which is just wrong on so many levels.

2 Likes

Portabella Mushroom Sandwich? Sign me up!

12 Likes

I love pineapple but a “patty” consisting of just a straight up pineapple chunk is taking things to a bit of an extreme

2 Likes

Shoulda gone with watermelon over pineapple.

I’ve tried it, it’s … something.

5 Likes

I know, right? They could have at least breaded it and deep fried it, this is America after all.

I’m not a vegetarian, but I eat vege burgers all the time, those “impossible” meat burgers just taste like sub-par beef, but chickpea or bean burgers, or Quorn (which is basically mushroom) are way better.

4 Likes

The implication is that chicken McNuggets aren’t meat.

3 Likes

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Burger.

6 Likes

Depending on the quality of sauces and toppings the fake meat patties can sometimes taste pretty decent but i do agree that at best they feel like sub-par meat. I also second that chickpea, bean and quorn patties are superior.

5 Likes

Kroc was the one backing the fillet o’fish over the pineapple version.

No, I didn’t mean to imply that. Just was showing how limited the menu was at the time. Will edit. Thanks!

2 Likes