Fast food giant McDonald's has announced it will introduce a line of plant-based meat alternatives called "McPlant" in 2021. McDonald's said it would offer plant-based burgers, chicken substitutes and breakfast sandwiches. Barclays Bank forecasts that consumption of meat alternatives might be worth $140bn (£106bn) by 2029. McDonald's has tested out a plant-based burger in Canada with Beyond Meat - a producer of plant-based meat. However, shares of Beyond Meat plummeted after the announcement by McDonald's as it was not clear who would supply the fast-food chain with the meat alternative. The move towards meat substitutes has been driven primarily by concerns over meat's effects on health, the environment and animal welfare. McDonald's still relies on its flagship products like the "Big Mac", "McNuggets" and French fries, which account for around 70% of its sales in its key markets. The company, which reported market-beating profits for its third quarter on Monday, declined to say which supplier it would use for its McPlant line of products
