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fake meat options. But will Mcdonald's - the world's most famous fast-food restaurant - jump on board? In the 12 months ending in March 2019, restaurant operators increased purchases of plant based protein 36 percent. That's in an environment where foot traffic in restaurants has remained relatively flat since 2014. Traditional veggie burgers started popping up on grocery store shelves in the 1980s. Restaurants added them to their menus as an easy option for vegetarian diners. But veggie burgers have also gotten a bad rap. Made with black beans, lentils or tofu, they don't really taste like a real burger. In fact, they're usually pretty tasteless. Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are trying to change that. Their plant-based burgers mimic actual beef’s taste, texture and look. The Beyond Burger uses pea proteins and beet juice to achieve taste and texture. The Impossible Burger has found its own secret ingredient: heme. The iron-containing molecule is found in our blood as well as beef. It’s what gives meat a pink color and a metallic taste. To make a vegan friendly burger that contains the molecule, Impossible Foods uses genetically modified soy. And as an added bonus, the heme makes an Impossible Burger look like it’s bleeding juices -- just like a meat patty. » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision » Subscribe to CNBC Classic: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCclassic About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: https://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC News on Twitter: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC #CNBC Why McDonald's Doesn't Have A Vegan Meat Burger In The US