Vegans slam Wetherspoon’s ‘full English’ breakfast

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Raw deal? JD Wetherspoon customers claim the meat-free breakfast needs more ingredients (image: Graham Thompson)

Vegans have lashed out at JD Wetherspoon’s meat-free full English breakfast, condemning the meal for being ‘too small’.

People have been left angry about Wetherspoon’s vegan alternative, claiming it is lacking in ingredients.

The pub chain’s vegan version of a full English launched in October last year, but now vegans are claiming they are getting a raw deal.

Consisting of two Quorn sausages, two hash browns, a mushroom, a tomato and a slice of toast, the dish has sparked annoyance within the vegan community after one social media user posted an image of the breakfast to Facebook group Vegan Food UK.

"Disappointed with the Wetherspoon’s vegan breakfast this morning," the user explained.

"Small, and half the plate filled up with a piece of toast – or am I just being harsh and greedy?"

Judging by the online responses, the user was not alone with his criticism. 

A common theme among complainers was the lack of baked beans – considered by some to be integral to any breakfast offering.

However, the issue was addressed last year after Spoons say the brand of beans they use for their standard breakfasts isn't suitable for vegans.

The chain uses Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz, which contain an unspecified ingredient that is derived from animals.

"We use the no added sugar baked beans and have been in conversation with Heinz to make them vegan," a JDW spokesperson explained.

"Yes, we could do the regular beans, but that adds a lot of calories and we serve over 350,000 non-vegan breakfasts each week with the beans.

"[The meal] is £3.25 in most pubs and we believe it is a good breakfast for the price, but we're always happy to listen to feedback."

Breakfast options are, of course, limited for vegans because there can be no usual suspects such as bacon, eggs or sausages. But as veganism grows, it appears many people want more on their plate in the form of plant-based alternatives.

The spokesperson added JDW provides several vegetarian and vegan meals on its menu such as its new 'gourmet' vegan burger, and that the market is "important" to them.