{"id":3763,"date":"2021-04-30T13:38:54","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T13:38:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=restaurants&p=3763"},"modified":"2021-05-13T15:07:04","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T15:07:04","slug":"nandos","status":"publish","type":"restaurants","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/restaurants\/chains\/nandos\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegan Food at Nando\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Nando'sThere are many vegans out there who are not keen on giving money to companies whose business model relies on the death of numerous animals. If you are one of those people, it\u2019s fair to say that Nando\u2019s will not be at the top of your list of must-visit food outlets anytime soon.<\/p>\n

For others though, there is a school of thought that suggests that ordering vegan food from such companies will help them change their business models to incorporate a greater proportion of plant-based food and thus reduce the amount of meat on the menu. There are others still, perhaps those who are vegan for health reasons<\/a>, who aren\u2019t too fussed about the company and just want a decent vegan meal. But, can you get a good vegan meal at Nando\u2019s \u2013 the fast food company that specialises in peri-peri chicken? Well, let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Vegan Food Options at Nando\u2019s<\/h2>\n
\"Olives
The olives are probably a safe bet!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For former omnivores who perhaps had a taste for Nando\u2019s flame grilled chicken, the vegan alternatives at the fast-food chain are a little limited. It is fair to say that Nando\u2019s are yet to really embrace the concept of veganism, unlike other food outlets, such as Domino\u2019s<\/a> and \u2013 in particular \u2013 Papa John\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nando\u2019s seem particularly reluctant to even use the word \u201cvegan\u201d to describe any of their food (and for good reason in some cases, as we shall discuss later). Instead, they opt for the sometimes vague term \u201cplant-based\u201d. This could be a result of the controversy that followed the release of the Rebel Whopper at Burger King<\/a>, which was plant-based but not vegan.<\/p>\n

Having said that, Nando\u2019s do explicitly state that one of their products is \u201ccompletely vegan\u201d, but that\u2019s their Vegan Perinaise, one of the growing number of very good vegan mayonnaise<\/a> options available to buy in supermarkets. Hard to describe several helpings of mayo as a meal! Mayo aside, when it comes to food sold in their restaurants, there is a real reluctance to use the term \u201cvegan\u201d.<\/p>\n

Is the Great Imitator at Nando\u2019s Vegan?<\/h3>\n
\"The
The “plant based” Great Imitator is sadly not vegan, as the wrap & baste contains shellac<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite being mentioned on the Veganuary site<\/a> as one of the vegan options at Nando\u2019s, we\u2019re not convinced the Great Imitator at Nando\u2019s is actually vegan at all. The plant-based chicken alternative is made predominantly from pea protein<\/a>, which sounds very positive on the face of it. In theory, this should be an excellent source of vegan protein<\/a> and a great option for vegan fans of Nando\u2019s core chicken range.<\/p>\n

The problems arise, however, in the FAQ section of the Nando\u2019s site<\/a>, specifically the answer they give to the question \u201cIs there anything on your menu suitable for vegans?\u201d to which they give a rather evasive answer that includes the following in relation to the Great Imitator:<\/p>\n

It\u2019s suitable for those following a plant-based diet, however, although our kitchens aim to keep all plant-based products away from ingredients derived from animal origin, we cannot guarantee this. This is a plant-based recipe; however, the wrap and baste contain shellac.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now, as we\u2019ve said when looking at other vegan fast food outlets<\/a>, and indeed many factory-made foods in general, the very small risk of cross-contamination is one many vegans are happy to accept. So, it was all looking so positive until they had to go and spoil it by mentioning shellac!<\/p>\n

What Is Shellac & Is It Vegan?<\/h4>\n

You might be familiar with shellac in relation to nail polish or treatments but it is also used in various foods, most often as a glazing agent for various smooth sweets. But what is it? Well, this is where it gets a bit gross\u2026 shellac is made from the secretions of the lac bug. Given that this definitely exploits the insects (which are animals) and almost certainly kills at least some of them, shellac is not vegan (based on the accepted definition from the Vegan Society). We go into more detail in our article with the handy title, Is Shellac Vegan?<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, the use of the term \u201cplant-based\u201d rather than \u201cvegan\u201d is rather telling. To suggest something is plant-based implies \u2013 to most people \u2013 that it contains no ingredients that have derived from animals. But then to say that the wrap and baste contain shellac flies in the face of this claim. Perhaps Nando\u2019s think they can get away with calling something plant based as it is largely<\/em> made from plants, a definition some people ascribe to the term. Perhaps it was an oversight. Either way, the Great Imitator cannot be classified as 100% vegan.<\/p>\n

What Plant-Based Food Is Available at Nando\u2019s?<\/h3>\n
\"Sweet
Sweet potato wedges with garlic Perinaise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here we will detail all the food items at Nando\u2019s that they identify as plant-based. We will attempt to ascertain which of these are also vegan, based on the usual definition. Bear in mind that even the plant-based food at Nando\u2019s is prepared in the same kitchens that handle meat and other animal products.<\/p>\n

As such, there is a risk of cross-contamination with such animal products. If this is an issue for you we would recommend opting for one of the many 100% vegan restaurants<\/strong> out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Plant Based Option<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
The Great Imitator Wrap<\/td>\nSee above. Contains shellac<\/a>, hence this is not vegan (and not really plant-based if they are being accurate with their description given that shellac comes from insects, not plants).<\/p>\n

Cheese is also cooked on the same grills so there is a very real possibility of cross-contamination with dairy too, certainly a larger risk than is often the case when it comes to this issue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Houmous with Peri-Peri Drizzle<\/td>\nServed with pita bread that is cooked on the same grills as cheese\u2026 would it be that much hassle to have a cheese-free grill somewhere in the kitchen?!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spicy Mixed Olives<\/td>\nMixed olives with mushrooms, garlic and red pepper \u2013 these appear to be fully vegan.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sweet Potato Wedges with Garlic Perinaise<\/td>\nNo faulting these vegan-friendly wedges and the aforementioned vegan Perinaise.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spicy Rice<\/td>\nThis should be vegan-friendly, but on their site, it suggests you should check the info when you visit Nando\u2019s \u201cas the recipe may change\u201d. So, really it might not be vegan after all.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corn on the Cob<\/td>\nHow can you stop a vegetable being vegan\u2026 serve it with butter! Sheesh, Nando\u2019s, are you deliberately trying to sabotage any chance of veganism here? Obviously, you could request it without butter to make this a fully vegan option.<\/p>\n

Not really worth making the trip out for though, is it? Especially as they\u2019re cooked on the same grills as cheese! We strongly suspect Nando\u2019s think they are doing their bit by vaguely catering to vegetarians and possibly have never heard of veganism!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Chips<\/td>\nRather basic chips and not as nice as the wedges, but vegan nonetheless. You can spice them up with the peri-peri salt if you like and they\u2019ll still be vegan.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Long Stem Broccoli<\/td>\nServed with a garlic and lemon dressing this looks like a fully vegan option.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Little Tomatoes<\/td>\nYep, nothing to stop these being vegan.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Garlic Bread<\/td>\nListed as plant-based so we assume they use margarine rather than butter, but these are cooked on the same cheesy grills as many of the other items, so people wanting to avoid cross-contamination should avoid this product.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mixed Leaf Salad<\/td>\nA bland salad served with a balsamic dressing that is light on flavour. Vegan? Yes. Tasty? Hmm.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mango Gelado<\/td>\nThe one plant-based dessert available at the time of writing, there is \u201cpossible manufacturing contamination\u201d listed for egg and milk.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sauces\/Extras<\/td>\nPeri-peri Drizzle, Chilli Jam, Peri-BBQ, Garlic Perinaise are all vegan.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n

A Brief History of Nando\u2019s<\/h3>\n

\"Peri-Ometer\"Unlike many of the restaurant chains that have successfully expanded around the globe, Nando\u2019s does not originate in the United States. Instead, it was founded in 1987 in Johannesburg by South African-born, Robert Brozin, and Fernando Duarte from Mozambique (the country from which peri-peri sauce is thought to have originated).<\/p>\n

After buying a Portuguese-African food outlet called Chickenland, they renamed it Nando\u2019s and began their expansion. After a couple of years, they had three restaurants in Johannesburg and even one in Portugal (Portugal has links to Mozambique having occupied the country for many years until 1975 when Mozambique became independent). The growth continued and by 2012 they had 1,000 shops around the world.<\/p>\n

Since arriving in the UK in 1992, Nando\u2019s has proved very popular<\/a>, not least due to some canny PR based on issuing \u201cGold Cards\u201d to a handful of celebs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Conclusions: Vegan Food at Nando\u2019s Is Sadly Lacking<\/h2>\n
\"Nando's
Nando’s in Reading, UK (Sandy B<\/a> \/ geograph.org.uk)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unlike some other fast-food style and general food brands such as Domino\u2019s<\/a>, Pizza Hut<\/a> and even McDonald\u2019s<\/a>, Nando\u2019s appear very much behind the curve when it comes to veganism. Though they have made a token effort to include a few \u201cplant-based\u201d products on their menu, they are clearly not going all-in given that the one main meal currently on offer contains shellac (which is not vegan).<\/p>\n

If you wanted to go along for a snack of spicy wedges or chips with a side salad, you would be fine as a vegan. But if you are seeking anything more substantial or imaginative, or certainly anything that resembles the real peri-peri chicken they are famed for, we\u2019re afraid you are going to be disappointed until Nando\u2019s ups their game on the vegan front.<\/p>\n

Even their lack of a cheese-free grill for many of the otherwise vegan items shows they are not too fussed about chasing the vegan dollar. And, that is understandable to an extent given that their business model is built upon the carcasses of birds. It is still a little disappointing in this day and age, but vegans can vote with their wallets and opt for any of the many more vegan-friendly restaurants and food outlets out there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3764,"parent":3700,"menu_order":0,"template":"","acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/restaurants\/3763"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/restaurants"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/restaurants"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/restaurants\/3700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}