(NewsNation) — Like many other restaurants, Cracker Barrel decided to add a meatless alternative to its breakfast menu by announcing the addition of Impossible sausage patties to the menu.
The patties were actually added earlier this year, but the chain waited until Aug. 1 to announce the addition. The internet, as it so often is, was not amused.
At lightning speed, the comments section of the announcement post lit up with commenters enraged that the restaurant chain, long known for hearty, meaty fare, was offering something that those without a taste for meat might want to eat.
Some people grew upset because either they didn’t like it, or they think it’s not part of Cracker Barrel’s brand.
One commenter “congratulated” the chain on “Being woke and going broke,” while others decried the attempt to “force” them to eat “fake meat.”
“Won’t be eating here anymore,” said one commenter, and “I Use to Love your store Now No Way,” said another.
In two days, the Facebook post alone garnered more than 3,600 comments, most of them in the vein of Joe Wicker, who said, “Do you even know who your customer base is? I still order the double meat breakfast and it’s not even on the menu anymore.”
NewsNation talked to Cracker Barrel customers about the “controversy” and why it seems like even the smallest things can turn into a debate.
“It just kinda feels like everybody wants to just be up in arms about something a little bit or just make their opinion heard,” said Jordan Burgs, outside a Cracker Barrel in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
The controversy, if you will, forced a rebuttal by Cracker Barrel on social media, saying, “Cracker Barrel: Where pork-based and plant-based sausage lovers can breakfast all day in harmony.”
The majority of customers NewsNation talked to decided they can agree to disagree on their breakfast meats.
“Do whatever you want, as long as you’re not hurting anybody else, do what you want,” Burgs said.
Nonetheless, the Impossible patties remain on the menu right next to the traditional sausage, bacon and ham.