Sodexo drops hamburgers for 'plant-forward' variety

In a move that accelerates the school foodservice market’s adoption of so-called plant-forward items, Sodexo announced that it is replacing all of the beef patties used in its burgers with a beef and mushroom blend.

The changeover will occur in 250 K-12 schools.

Sodexo officials say the switch supports the company’s commitment to enhance the well-being and nutrition of students, as the new burger has fewer grams of saturated fat, calories and milligrams of sodium than an all-beef burger does.

“The mushrooms blend seamlessly with the meat, making the burger absolutely kid approved—in fact, most students are either happy with the change or don’t even notice it,” Lisa Feldman, director of culinary services for Sodexo Culinary Solutions, said in a statement. “Also, parents are thrilled we are serving a healthier, natural burger to their kids.”

Eighty-five percent of students who tasted the burger prior to the rollout said they preferred the blended patty over a 100-percent-beef version, according to Sodexo. It acknowledges that it worked on the product for several years.