Veganism is all the rage on the internet these days. Some like it, others oppose it, some are vocal about it and others disregard it. But in the grandest tradition of the internet, the trolls get all the notice. This particular troll is a lot more sophisticated and elaborate as internet trolls go. In fact, it may not be a troll at all. Maybe the maker is just looking to cash in on a business opportunity. Either way, American quick-service fast-food sandwich restaurant chain Arby’s just flipped the vegan ‘meat’ trend right on its head with its creation of…..meat vegetables.
Aptly named the Marrot, it is exactly what it sounds like. A carrot made of meat. And not only that, but it also tastes like a carrot and has the nutritional value of one. The main meat used for the creation of this ‘megetable’ is turkey meat, so the unorthodox creation actually does have a high protein content. To be more specific, the Marrot contains 30 grams of protein and more than 70% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A.
The Marrot is the brainchild of Neville Craw, Arby’s brand executive chef, and his sous-chef Thomas Kippelen. The two meat-enthusiasts said that the creation of the megetable was all about staying true to Arby’s brand name. And for a company whose slogan goes “We have the meats”, they sure got the job done. According to INSIDER who managed to get a taste of the Marrot before its public reveal, the vegetable-meat hybrid has “a sweet maple taste with earthy, herb-filled undertones” and was reminiscent of an actual carrot.
Unsurprisingly, there has been quite the uproar in the vegan community about what is being called an ‘attempt to mock at vegan meat’. Naturally, animal rights organization PETA was at the forefront of this uproar and said that the Marrot shows that Arby’s is still stuck in ”the Stone Age”. Mr. Craw from Arby’s says that the Marrot could be expected to be seen at Arby’s franchises throughout the U.S soon.
