What's in a BK veggie?

Vegetarian Journal, May-June, 2002

You may have heard that Burger King is now offering a veggie burger, the BK Veggie, on the national menu in the United States. The patty itself is produced by Morningstar Farms (a division of Kellogg's) for Burger King and contains the following ingredients: Water, mushrooms, water chestnuts, cooked brown rice, textured wheat protein, rolled oats, vital wheat gluten, frozen onions, corn oil, frozen carrots, potato starch, frozen green peppers, frozen red peppers. It also contains 2% or less of onion powder, cornstarch, black olives, methylcellulose, salt, modified tapioca starch, rice flour, yeast extract, oat fiber, sugar, potato dextrin, konjac flour, garlic powder, black pepper, maltodextrin, natural flavors from non-meat sources, dextrose, sodium bicarbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, hydrolyzed corn gluten, malt extract, sage, grill flavor, basil, raisin juice concentrate, oregano, jalapeno pepper powder, sesame oil, modified cornstarch, corn syrup solids, natural smoke flavoring, celery oleoresin, wine citric acid, caramel color, and xanthan gum.

VRG intern Jeff Morrison contacted Morningstar regarding the "grill flavor" and "natural smoke flavor" listed in the ingredients, and was informed that both come from non-animal sources and contain vegetable-based ingredients. The sandwich is served with mayonnaise (which contains egg whites), lettuce, and tomatoes on a traditional Burger King sesame seed bun, which, according to Burger King, "contains a dairy component." Burger King will, upon request, microwave the burger for customers who are uncomfortable with having it prepared on the same grill as meat patties.