# Fried Tofu Nuggets McDonald's Japan's Tofu McNuggets Offer an Alternative to Chicken Snacks By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-08-01 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tofu-nuggets References: [en.rocketnews24](http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/07/31/mcdonalds-japan-just-released-tofu-nuggets-and-they-taste) & [mcdonalds.co.jp](http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/summer/taste/index.html) A new item on the [McDonald's Japan](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-mcnuggets) is tofu nuggets, which seem to have appeared not to appease vegetarians, but as the result of a Chicken McNugget scandal in China. A major food supplier in China reportedly shipped expired meat to numerous companies, and as a precaution, McDonald's Japan decided to temporarily pull its McNuggets from over 500 locations until a new supplier can be sourced. Apparently the tofu nuggets have been a work in progress long before this scandal, but the launch time couldn't have come at a better moment for McDonald's. Either way, pescatarians will be happy to know that there are options for them. The nuggets do resemble the classic Chicken McNuggets, however, they are made from a mix of tofu, carrot, onion and fish instead—not totally meat free, but it's a start. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 36% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Alternative Fast Food Options:** As consumers become more health conscious and eco-friendly, there is a growing demand for alternative fast food options, such as vegetarian and plant-based meals. - **Food Safety Concerns:** Food safety concerns continue to be a major issue for the food industry, leading to innovative solutions such as the use of alternative ingredients and sourcing from trusted suppliers. - **Plant-based Proteins:** The rise of plant-based proteins as a popular meat substitute has opened up opportunities for innovation in creating tasty and nutritious vegetarian options for fast food chains and restaurants. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fast Food:** The fast food industry is constantly evolving to meet changing consumer demands such as healthier and more environmentally conscious food options. - **Food Supply Chain:** Ensuring a safe and reliable food supply chain is crucial for the food industry, leading to opportunities to innovate in areas such as quality control and traceability. - **Vegetarian Food:** The vegetarian food industry is growing rapidly as consumers become more health conscious and environmentally conscious, creating opportunities for innovative meat substitutes and plant-based proteins. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Spiced Garlicky Chicken Nuggets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-mcnuggets.md) - [Collaborative Plant-Based Nuggets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcplant-nuggets.md) - [Oversized Tofu Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/atsuage-tofu-japanese-burger.md) - [Vegan Chicken Nugget Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/impossible-chicken-nuggets-1.md) - [Plant-Based Katsu-Style Fillets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tofoo-katsu.md) - [Regionally Flavored Meatless Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-tofoo-co-2.md) - [Plant-Based Taco-Friendly Nuggets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheesy-nacho-nuggs.md) - [Meat-Free Dinosaur-Shaped Nuggets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/notchicken-dino-nuggets.md) - [Extra Hot Chicken Nuggets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spicy-chicken-mcnugget.md)