Official Description

Cartman has a heart attack. The citizens of South Park are moving toward a completely plant-based diet. Cartman is pretty sure the new food in the cafeteria gave him a heart attack.

Full Description

Randy Marsh, owner of the marijuana business Tegridy Farms, tells his family that due to the end of his business deal with the Chinese government in the previous episode, profits are down. Randy's business partner, Towelie suggests taking the parts of the marijuana plants they usually discard after harvesting and sell it as mulch. Later at a Burger King, he samples one of that restaurant's plant-based Impossible Whoppers. Though he finds that it tastes awful, the realization that customers will pay for plant-based burgers, even ones that taste bad, inspires him to create Tegridy Burgers, which are made from his discarded marijuana plants.

At South Park Elementary school, fourth grader Eric Cartman is irritated that familiar lunch food like ground beef has been replaced with fish in response to complaints from students like Wendy Testaburger and Nichole Daniels, who tell Cartman that some students who do not eat red meat want healthier options. Enraged that his lunch got changed, Cartman vents out a long rant before succumbing to a heart attack. The school counselor, Mr. Mackey, assures Cartman that the school menu will not change. Cartman delights in being able to eat barbecue ribs for lunch again, but Wendy and Nichole's continued protests prompt him to have another heart attack.

Randy starts selling Tegridy Burgers, first at a stand outside the Burger King, and then at a restaurant across from it. This angers the Burger King's employee, Rick. It also makes Randy a target for the Goo Man, who does not want competitors to his business. Randy campaigns for the adoption of vegan diets at a town meeting, arguing that it is better for the environment and animals. As a result of his efforts, beef loses popularity, but this prompts an angry cattle rancher to appear at Randy's home with his cows, complaining that they are now useless. The rancher leaves the animals there, where they eat Randy's marijuana and pollute his farm with their waste. To remedy this, Randy and Towelie decide to shoot the cows all to death, an endeavor Randy says they can do if they get really high.

At a school assembly, PC Principal announces that as a compromise, Incredible Meat will be the supplier of the school's meals. That company's founder, who is revealed to be the Goo Man, says his green "goo" can be made to resemble any food requested, and that he wants to be the plant-based food supplier for the entire town. When Cartman returns to school from his hospital stay, he learns that on Taco Tuesday, the school cafeteria is serving Incredible Beef tacos. Not knowing it is plant-based, he eats the new tacos without incident. He learns the truth, however, from the Goo Man, who is now conspiring with Rick and the rancher. The Goo Man describes the complex industrial infrastructure responsible for the "goo" used to make Cartman's school lunches, but says that it does not work unless he owns all the eateries in town selling plant-based meat.

During a news broadcast focusing on Randy's business, Rick poses as a student protester criticizing the unethical practices of Tegridy Farms. The newscast then shows footage of Randy and Towelie's cow-killing rampage, causing the townsfolk to turn against Tegridy Farms.

At school, Cartman reveals that he knows the truth about the plant-based meat in the school cafeteria, but that far from being angry, it is he who owes everyone else an apology. While he previously thought they were trying to force him to eat healthy, he has learned that the "goo" is made in a factory, with much added salt, just like all the other "processed crap that comes in a box" that he eats. Having only desired to "eat the same garbage" he always has, and since the "goo" is definitely garbage, he does not care that it is more sustainable or ethical.

What I Learned Today

Memorable Quotes

• "That's amazing. I mean this seriously tastes like dog shit and you get people to buy it?" Randy

Songs

• "I Wanna Get High" by Cypress Hill
• "Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba" by Harlem Underground Band
• "Pass The Dutchie" by Musical Youth

Characters

Randy Marsh

Eric Cartman

Kyle Broflovski

Stan Marsh

Kenny McCormick

Towelie

Shelly Marsh

Sharon Marsh

Butters Stotch

Wendy Testaburger

Francis

Craig Tucker

Nichole Daniels

Bebe Stevens

Millie Larsen

Mr. Mackey

Gerald Broflovski

Jimmy Valmer

Tolkien Black

PC Principal

Tuong Lu Kim

Cameos

Character Debuts

Vegan Boy

Gooman

Smith and Meyers (EMTs)

Cafeteria Servers

Rick (Burger King Employee)

Cattle Rancher

Body Count

Costume Debuts

Cartman in Hospital Gown with Walker

Tegridy Burger Randy

Tegridy Burger Towelie

Locations

Tegridy Farms

South Park Elementary

Incredible Meats

Burger King

Tegridy Burger

City Wok

Continuity Nods

• After over a decade of absence, the former Bijou cinema clerk, long known as "Movie Theater Guy", makes a return as an employee at Burger King, and is later promoted to regional manager for Incredible Foods.
  • After over twenty years, he finally receives a name, too... Rick. (Any relation to "Schlomo" from "Jewbilee" is unresolved.)
• The Cattle Rancher seen in this episode, claiming to be the biggest in the state, first appeared in season 15's "You're Getting Old" as a Janitor at Mick's Lanes. He was depicted as a cattle rancher back in season 19's "The City Part of Town".
• Salisbury Steak is mentioned once again as a regular dish in the school lunch room, having first been mentioned as one of Chef's finest dishes back in the very first episode!

Behind The Scenes

Where Did The Idea Come From

Pop Culture References

• The Goo Man, seen throughout the episode and accompanied by a sinister theme, is a homage to the character Daniel Plainview from the 2007 film There Will Be Blood, portrayed by acclaimed actor Daniel-Day Lewis. Plainview tricks townsfolk into selling him valuable properties for nothing by using his adopted son "H. W." to project a 'family man' image, and refers to himself as "an oil man" frequently.

Shout Outs

Pwn'd

• The show has previously tackled or referenced plant-based meat on a few brief occasions, most notably in season 21's "Doubling Down" when Cartman fooled Heidi Turner by offering real Kentucky Fried Chicken falsely as 'Beyond KFC', referencing the plant-based meat company 'Beyond'.

Bonus Factoids

Pointless Observations

• This is the first time the school cafeteria kitchen has appeared in the show since season 14's "Creme Fraiche", and only the second time it has been seen since Chef's death.
• The first character in the show to be established as vegan was Heidi Turner back in season 21's "Doubling Down", mentioned above, but she does not play a role in this episode.
• This is also the second time that an episode has involved a new local hamburger business, with 'Cartman Burger' being significant to season 15's "Ass Burgers".
• A mysterious form of 'goo' previously played a key role in Rob Reiner's appearances in season 7's "Butt Out!" and season 14's "200" and "201". Reiner suggested this goo is present in all living people. (This probably has nothing to do with the new episode though.)
• Though he can be seen at lunch, Kyle Broflovski has no lines in this episode.

Errors and Goofs

Season 23

e1 Mexican Joker

e2 Band in China

e3 Shots!!!

e4 Let Them Eat Goo

e5 Tegridy Farms Halloween Special

e6 Season Finale

e7 Board Girls

e8 Turd Burglars

e9 Basic Cable

e10 Christmas Snow