Starbucks No Longer Serves Plant-Based Meat in the US
Starbucks has quietly removed its only plant-based meat option from its US menu. The coffee giant is phasing out the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich this month, ending a partnership with Impossible Foods that lasted more than six years. The move means Starbucks no longer has a plant-based meat item on its advertised US menu, a disappointing change for vegetarians, flexitarians and anyone trying to eat less meat. Here’s what’s happening and what you can order instead.
Starbucks Drops the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich
Bloomberg first reported on 3 November that Starbucks was discontinuing the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich and phasing it out over the coming weeks. When asked about the change, Starbucks said its baristas would be happy to recommend an alternative sandwich.
The chain hasn’t announced a new plant-based meat item to replace it. According to reports, the decision followed weak sales of the sandwich.
What Was in the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich?
The Impossible Breakfast Sandwich featured a plant-based Impossible Sausage patty with egg and aged cheddar cheese on a ciabatta roll. Because it contained egg and dairy, it was a vegetarian option rather than a vegan one, and it was mainly aimed at flexitarians and people looking to cut back on meat.
A Six-Year Partnership Comes to an End
Starbucks introduced the sandwich in 2020 as its first plant-based meat item on the US menu. At the time, the company presented plant-based options as part of its sustainability efforts. Impossible Foods said it was proud to have partnered with Starbucks for more than six years and remains committed to making plant-based meat more accessible.
Starbucks has experimented with other plant-based items over the years. In 2022, it tested fully vegan options at three Washington DC-area stores, including sous vide bites made with JUST Egg and plant-based chicken from Daring.
What Meat-Free Options Does Starbucks Still Offer?
Although plant-based meat is off the menu, Starbucks still has some vegetarian choices, including:
- Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich — a vegetarian breakfast option
- Spicy Falafel Pocket — currently the chain’s only certified vegan savoury food item
Starbucks also offers a range of plant-based milks, such as oat, almond, soy and coconut, for its drinks.
Part of a Wider Industry Trend
Starbucks isn’t the only chain stepping back from plant-based meat. White Castle ended its seven-year partnership with Impossible Foods in late 2025, replacing its Impossible Slider with a veggie patty from Dr. Praeger’s. Plant-based meat was once seen as a major growth area for restaurants, but higher prices and some consumers’ concerns about processed foods have slowed demand.
The change also comes as Starbucks has been simplifying its menu, cutting less popular items to speed up service.
Starbucks Plant-Based Menu Changes at a Glance
| Detail | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Item discontinued | Impossible Breakfast Sandwich |
| Launched | 2020 |
| Ingredients | Impossible Sausage patty, egg, aged cheddar, ciabatta |
| Vegan? | No, vegetarian |
| Partnership length | More than six years with Impossible Foods |
| Replacement plant-based meat item | None announced |
| Remaining vegetarian option | Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich |
| Certified vegan savoury item | Spicy Falafel Pocket |
The Bottom Line
Starbucks is phasing out its Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, leaving the chain without any plant-based meat on its advertised US menu. While vegetarian customers can still choose the Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich, and vegans have the Spicy Falafel Pocket, the move marks the end of a six-year partnership with Impossible Foods and reflects a broader slowdown in plant-based meat across the restaurant industry.
FAQ
Has Starbucks discontinued the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich?
Yes. Starbucks is phasing out the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich in the US this month, ending a partnership with Impossible Foods that began in 2020.
Does Starbucks still have plant-based meat?
No. With the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich gone, Starbucks no longer has a plant-based meat item on its advertised US menu.
Was the Starbucks Impossible Breakfast Sandwich vegan?
No. It contained egg and cheese, so it was vegetarian rather than vegan.
What vegetarian or vegan food does Starbucks still sell?
Starbucks still offers the vegetarian Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich and the vegan Spicy Falafel Pocket.
Bolded anchor phrases to link: Starbucks, plant-based meat, Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, Impossible Foods, Impossible Sausage, vegetarian, Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich, Spicy Falafel Pocket, White Castle.
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