CFTRI launches ‘Protein Plus Slice' in collaboration with McDonald's
According to a note from McDonald's India, the 'Protein Plus Slice' is made from 100% vegetarian ingredients, including soy and pea protein, and contains no artificial colours or flavours. It is also free from onion and garlic, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary preferences.
At a press conference here on Friday, scientists from CFTRI, and representatives from McDonald's said this is their second collaborative venture after the Multi-Millet Bun. The 'Protein Plus Slice' has been launched across 440 McDonald's outlets in West and South India. Each slice contains 5 grams of protein, and can be added to any burger based on customer choice for greater nutrition, they added.
The CFTRI scientists took nearly six months to develop the product in partnership with McDonald's. The team involved in developing the slice included Jyothilakshmi, Chetana R., Sachin Eligar, Giridhar, Prabhasankar, Aashitosh Inamdar, and Sudheer Yanam, the institute said.
Shatadru Sengupta and Sulakshna Mukherjee, representing McDonald's, were present during the unveiling of the protein slice at the event, which was attended by CFTRI Director Sridevi Annapurna Singh, former CFTRI director V. Prakash, and others.
A press release from CFTRI said the collaborative project between SYMEGA, CFTRI, and McDonald's focused on developing improved plant-based protein slices for burgers with enhanced texture, flavour, and nutritional value. With the growing demand for sustainable and healthier food options, plant-based protein slices have emerged as a versatile and nutritious alternative to traditional slices. These slices are crafted from various plant-derived ingredients to mimic the texture, flavour, and sensory experience of animal-based proteins while offering environmental and health benefits, it added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Hans India
Swiggy and McDonald's Join Hands to Launch the revolutionary McDonald's Protein Plus Burgers exclusively on the Swiggy app
Swiggy Limited (NSE: SWIGGY / BSE: 544285), India's leading on-demand convenience platform, today announced that it has partnered with McDonald's India (W&S), to launch its Protein Plus Range of Burgers available exclusively on the Swiggy app, from July 24 to August 11, 2025. Customers can order from this healthier range of their favorite burgers by visiting the 'High Protein' section of the Swiggy app. The range will be available to Swiggy users in 58 cities across Western and Southern India including Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Vizag, Surat, Mysore, among others will be able to order burgers from this new range via the Swiggy app. As part of McDonald's Real Food Real Good journey, McDonald's has launched Protein Plus, an innovative, healthy range developed in collaboration with the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI). With the Protein Plus range, McDonald's burgers now offer a meaningful nutritional upgrade without compromising on taste. Customers can now enjoy boosted protein in their favourite burgers. The range includes burgers across best-selling vegetarian and non-vegetarian burgers- McSpicy Premium Veg, Crispy Veggie Burger, McVeggie, McSpicy Paneer, McSpicy Premium Chicken, McCrispy Chicken Burger, McChicken, Masala McEgg and McSpicy Chicken. Each Protein Plus slice adds 5 grams of high-quality protein made with vegetarian soya and pea protein, with no artificial flavors or colors, boosting the total protein content of much-loved menu items while adding only 34 kcal per slice. In addition to the Protein Plus Burgers, McDonald's India is also serving Multi-Millet Buns co-created by CFTRI, incorporating the richness of 5 nutrient-dense millets. This bun is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and natural dietary fibre, offering nutrition and delight in every bite. Some of the popular burgers that have the millet bun choice include McAloo Tikki Burger, McChicken Burger, McVeggie Burger, McSpicy Chicken Burger, McCrispy Chicken Burger and Crispy Veggie Burger. Commenting on the partnership, Sidharth Bhakoo, Chief Business Officer, Swiggy Food Marketplace said, 'We are proud to be the exclusive platform for the launch of McDonald's Protein Plus and Burgers with Millet Bun range online. As consumers become aware of the importance of protein in their diets, we know that they would not immediately shift away from their favorite items. The launch of this new range is a step forward in upping the protein consumption of consumers, while also enabling them to enjoy their favorite burger. This is just the start, and I am sure we will partner with McDonald's in the coming months to launch more high protein products for the Indian consumer.' Swiggy had launched a dedicated 'High Protein' category on the app earlier this month, aiming to make protein-rich meals easier to discover and integrate into everyday eating habits. With more than five lakh dishes from over 34,000 restaurant partners already featured, the offering has seen strong early traction, helping users find balanced meals with clearly defined nutritional benchmarks. With initiatives like these, Swiggy continues to build on its vision of making India's food landscape not just more convenient, but also more conscious.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Tribal farmers embrace climate-smart agriculture and safe crop protection measures with ICAR–UAS Bangalore
MYSURU: Over 100 tribal farmers from Basavanagiri Haadi and Sollepura villages in H.D. Kote taluk are emerging as role models in climate-smart and safe sustainable agriculture. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This achievement is part of two key initiatives—'Ensuring safe use of pesticide for healthy livelihood of tribal farmers during crop protection operations' and 'Adoption of climate-smart integrated crop systems to improve the livelihood of ST population through field demonstrations, input supply and improved technology dissemination to mitigate the effects of climate change.' The projects are being implemented by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, with funding from the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, and the Skill Development Centre (SDC), UAS Bangalore, under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). A field demonstration held on July 29 showcased live implementation of climate-resilient agricultural technologies and safe pesticide practices. The demo covered 50 acres of cotton, 75 acres of sorghum, and 100 acres of vegetable and fruit crops, all cultivated by tribal farmers trained at GKVK, UAS Bangalore. Speaking on the occasion, UAS Vice Chancellor Dr. S.V. Suresha said, 'Climate change poses serious challenges to agriculture. These must be met with new crop varieties and advanced technologies, which our university is introducing through such projects.' He also emphasized the importance of safe pesticide use, warning that misuse can harm both life and the environment by contaminating natural resources and leaving harmful residues. Given that many of the participating tribal farmers are first-generation agriculturists with less than ten years of experience, the training they received proved critical. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Farmers attended a five-day intensive course at the Farmers Training Institute (FTI), UAS Bangalore, before applying the techniques in their fields. Each farmer received essential inputs—cotton and sorghum seeds, fertilizers, pesticide sprayers, tarpaulins, bio-fungicides, and personal protective equipment. The visible success of their harvests was also credited to timely field advice and interventions by Dr. Manjula (Plant Pathologist) and Dr. Somshekar (Agronomist). 'Farmers have successfully grown their crops by implementing the technologies provided during the training,' said Dr. Nagaratna, Director of the PPMC Cell. Dr. Shivaram, Director of Research, highlighted the importance of adjusting sowing windows and cropping patterns based on current rainfall trends. The field day served as a platform for demonstrating and disseminating climate-resilient and safety-conscious agricultural practices among tribal communities, reinforcing the success and replicability of the model.
Fashion Value Chain
3 days ago
- Fashion Value Chain
Sold Out on Day One: India Can't Get Enough of McDonald's New ‘Protein Plus Slice'
McDonalds India (West & South), operated by Westlife Foodworld, witnessed unprecedented demand following the launch of its innovative Protein Plus Slice, with multiple outlets selling out of the new item on the very first day. The brand served more than 32,000 slices within 24 hours of launch, delivering approximately 160,000 grams of plant-based protein to customers across West and South India. Hon'ble FDA Min of Maharashtra, Shri Yogesh Kadam, Director – CSIR-CFTRI, along with the CEO and the MD of Westlife Foodworld at the launch event of McDonalds Protein Plus Slice The response was immediate and overwhelming, with customers eagerly customizing their favorite burgers with the protein enhancement. Mumbai led the region with over 11,000 slices sold, while Pune and Ahmedabad each surpassed 3,000 slices. Strong performance was also observed in Bengaluru and Chennai, with each exceeding 1,500 slices. The New Protein Plus Slice co-developed by CSIR-CFTRI The newly launched Protein Plus Range, features a first-of-its-kind 100% vegetarian, plant-based protein slice that adds 5 grams of protein to any burger. For the first time in the QSR industry, McDonalds is revolutionizing how people eat by allowing customers to add one, two, or even three slices to their favourite burgers, empowering them with greater nutritional choice without compromising taste. The launch event was inaugurated by Shri Yogesh Kadam, Honble Minister of State for FDA, Government of Maharashtra, who emphasized the growing need for safer and nutritious food choices that meet the needs of todays consumers. Developed in collaboration with the prestigious CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, the Protein Plus Slice contains no artificial colours or flavours and is free from onion and garlic, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary preferences. Akshay Jatia, Chief Executive Officer, Westlife Foodworld said, 'At McDonald's India, we have always believed in giving our customers more choice, and this time, we are giving them the power to personalize their protein intake. The Protein Plus Range allows them to enjoy their favourite McDonald's burgers without compromising on their protein needs or the taste. It also reflects our ongoing commitment to our 'Real Food, Real Good' philosophy, bringing together flavour, nutrition, and food science. We are grateful to CSIR-CFTRI for partnering with us to bring this forward-thinking product to life. Together, we remain committed to crafting menu items that are both wholesome and delicious, combining locally available ingredients in a way where great taste and nutrition go hand in hand.' Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Director, CSIR-CFTRI said, 'Building on our earlier success with the Multi-Millet Bun, we are excited to continue our partnership with McDonald's India to advance nutritional innovation in the QSR space. The Protein Plus slice is an outcome of science-backed formulation and a shared vision to elevate everyday meals through nutrition. This partnership showcases how industry and scientific institutions can come together to bring meaningful nutritional upgrades to mainstream eating.' This remarkable market response reinforces McDonalds Indias commitment to its Real Food, Real Good philosophy and demonstrates the brands leadership in menu innovation that genuinely addresses evolving consumer preferences. Customers across West and South can now savour their favourite burgers with the added nutritional goodness of protein, whether dining in, picking up via Drive-Thru, or ordering from the comfort of their homes through the McDelivery app. For more infromation, please visit:
