Is Burger King’s Sausage Made from Pork? An In-Depth Look

As one of the world’s largest fast food chains, Burger King needs to source a massive amount of meat to satisfy demand. This includes sausage for their popular breakfast sandwiches and croissants. But with recent advances in plant-based meats, is Burger King still using traditional pork sausage? Or have they switched to meat alternatives? Let’s investigate the fascinating history and facts behind Burger King’s famous sausage.

A Brief History of Burger King’s Breakfast Menu

To understand Burger King’s sausage, we first need to go back to the origins of their breakfast menu. Here’s a quick timeline:

• 1978 – Burger King unveiled the Croissan’wich their first breakfast sandwich featuring a sausage patty egg, and cheese on a croissant. This landmark item kickstarted their breakfast offerings.

• 1980s – Over the next decade Burger King expanded their breakfast menu to include biscuits bagels, ham, bacon, and other ingredients.

• 2000s – New specialty sandwiches were introduced like the Breakfast Baconator, French Toast Sandwich, and Sourdough King to keep customers engaged.

• 2019 – The Impossible Whopper with plant-based meat was launched. This set the stage for experimenting with non-meat options.

• 2022 – The Impossible Croissan’wich with plant-based sausage debuted, offering a meatless alternative.

So while pork sausage was central to their original Croissan’wich in 1978, Burger King has evolved to offer plant-based options alongside traditional meat. Next let’s look closer at their classic sausage recipe.

Traditional Pork Sausage in the Croissan’wich

The original Burger King breakfast sandwich features a standard pork sausage patty along with egg and cheese. Here are some key facts about their classic sausage:

• Made from ground pork mixed with spices and seasonings

• Provides a mild flavor that doesn’t overpower

• Has a medium grind and slight texture

• Is pre-cooked then warmed on the grill or microwave

While some customers find the pork sausage a bit bland or greasy, it was designed to appeal to mainstream American tastes. The mild seasoning provides a canvas for the rich egg and creamy cheese.

Overall, Burger King uses a no-fuss pork sausage patty that satisfies without standing out. This allows the other sandwich components to shine.

The Move to Meatless: Impossible Sausage

In 2022, Burger King partnered with Impossible Foods to launch a plant-based sausage. Dubbed the Impossible Croissan’wich, this sandwich contains Impossible Sausage made with:

• Soy protein concentrate for meaty texture

• Soy leghemoglobin for flavor and aroma

• Coconut oil for fattiness

• Sunflower oil for frying

• Spices like garlic and onion powder

The Impossible Sausage mimics the sizzle, aroma, and mouthfeel of pork sausage. Burger King offers it in three flavors:

Original – savory, well-balanced

Spicy – with a kick of chili and paprika

Bratwurst – herby and robust

While not exactly like pork, the plant-based sausage provides a convincing substitute. And it allows Burger King to cater to changing consumer preferences and values around meat consumption.

Why the Shift Away from Pork?

Burger King didn’t abandon pork entirely – traditional sausage is still available. But their foray into plant-based meats highlights a few factors:

• Increasing demand for meatless options, especially from younger demographics

• Concerns around sustainability of meat production

• Innovation by companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat

• Staying competitive with other chains offering meatless items

• Shifting cultural values around animal products

By diversifying their protein sources, Burger King can appeal to evolving consumer tastes now and in the future.

The Bottom Line on Burger King’s Sausage

While pork has long been central to Burger King’s breakfast sandwiches, the chain now offers plant-based Impossible Sausage as an alternative. However, traditional pork sausage still remains available for those who prefer the original.

Burger King is evolving with the times and consumer preferences by expanding their protein options. Their classic pork sausage patty provides nostalgia and familiarity, while the new Impossible Sausage opens the door to innovation and appeal for meatless diners.

So whether you crave the mild pork flavor you’ve loved for years or want to try the latest in plant-based meats, you can get your sausage fix at Burger King. The choice is yours! Now if you’ll excuse me, all this sausage talk has made me hungry – think I’ll have to make a breakfast run!