, /PRNewswire/ -- Today, World Animal Protection released , its latest report card evaluating the top 25 US restaurant chains across five popular categories: burgers, chicken, sandwich, coffee/beverage, and Latin/Mexican-inspired. The report reveals an alarming lack of plant-based by default options at popular chain restaurants and zero meaningful commitments to address their resource-intensive menus, with most chains receiving low grades. The scorecard emphasizes the importance of shifting to plant-based by default options, meaning offering fully plant-based dishes as a primary choice without requiring modification, for protecting animals, the planet, and public health.
, Farming Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection, US states: "Despite the urgent need to shift to more plant-based diets and the growing consumer demand for ethical and environmentally friendly food choices, most leading chains like Taco Bell and McDonald's are failing to make the grade. Chain restaurants play a pivotal role in the daily food decisions of many American families. Establishing and promoting innovative plant-based by default menus is critical for shifting our food system away from the destruction and suffering inherent in factory farming and move us towards a more sustainable future.
" While some chains like Burger King, Peet's, and Chipotle have made notable progress by introducing plant-based menu items and highlighting the benefits of plant-based foods in their reporting, there is much more.