McDonald's has announced the launch of a new vegan burger on its menu in Germany.

This will mark the first time the German franchise of the fast food chain has offered a vegan burger to its customers.

The Big Vegan TS burger consists of a patty made from soy and wheat.

It is served in a classic sesame seed bun, and contains salad, tomato, pickles and red onion.

McDonald's Germany states that the burger has a "meaty taste", despite containing no trace of animal by-products.

The Big Vegan TS burger (McDonald&#039;s Germany) (McDonald's Germany)

"Improving for us means that we are brave enough to try new ways," says Philipp Wachholz, company spokesman for McDonald's Germany.

The Big Vegan TS burger will be available in all participating McDonald's branches across the country from Monday 29 April.

It will replace the Veggieburger TS on the main menu and the McMenu, which provides customers with the option to combine food items for special prices.

Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Show all 8 1 /8 Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Cheesy Rice Bowl with Chicken Strips (India) This cheesy rice bowl with chicken strips from McDonald's India looks like the ideal concoction for a cold winter's day if you're a fan of fast food cuisine. The bowl contains almost 700 calories. McDonald's India Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Ham N' Egg Twisty Pasta (Hong Kong) The Ham N' Egg Twisty Pasta dish is advertised as a breakfast meal on the menu for McDonald's Hong Kong. The dish comes with one egg, a slice of ham, twisty pasta and diced vegetables. McDonald's Hong Kong Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Big Shrimp (Russia) Costing 173 rubles (£1.98), these breaded tiger prawns are an ideal snack for any shellfish lovers with an affinity for fast food. The prawn bites come with a mayonnaise-based shrimp sauce. McDonald's Russia Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Pizza Mac (Germany) What do you get if you combine a pizza with a Big Mac? The Pizza Mac, of course! Available at McDonald's Germany, this pizza-burger hybrid comes with a double serving of beef, a layer of mozzarella cheese and a spicy tomato sauce. McDonald's Germany Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world EBI Filet-O Burger (Japan) The EBI Filet-O burger, on offer at McDonald's Japan, contains a combination of breaded shrimp, onions and lettuce in a classic McDonald's sesame seed bun. McDonald's Japan Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Germknödel doughnut (Austria) The Germknödel doughnut is available to eat at McDonald's Austria and McDonald's Denmark. The heart-shaped doughnut is iced with a poppy seed and sugar mixture and contains a sweet plum filling. McDonald's Austria Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Bubur Ayam (Malaysia) Bubur Ayam, a rice porridge chicken concoction, is available on the menu at McDonald's Malaysia. The dish comes with spring onions, sliced ginger and diced chillies. McDonald's Malaysia Eight of the strangest McDonald's meals from around the world Chicken McDo with McSpaghetti At McDonald's Philippines, you can order a piece of breaded chicken with a serving of spaghetti bolognese. One bite and you'll (maybe) be able to picture yourself dining at a fine Italian establishment. McDonald's Philippines

According to market research company Skopos, as of 2016, there were 1.3 million people following plant-based diets in Germany.

This equates to around 0.016 per cent of the country's population.

The release of the vegan burger at McDonald's Germany isn't the first time the fast food restaurant has made plant-based options available to its customers.

Earlier this year, McDonald's announced the launch of its first vegan-friendly Happy Meal in the UK, which the company created in partnership with the Vegetarian Society.