Starting in 2016, fast food chain McDonald's began to quietly make changes to some of their
classic menu items that you may, or may not have noticed.
In a report on the company's plans, USA Today stated that McDonald's was phasing out all
artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives from many menu items.
By 2017, the company had nearly completed the sweets-focused phase of the sweeping ingredient
reforms.
The outlet states that McDonald's shakes, McFlurries, and ice cream cones in over 14,000
restaurants throughout the United States are now free of the artificial ingredients and
additives.
Incidentally, this move represents the second food quality improvement implemented by the
company, after their first step to remove all preservatives from the signature menu
item Chicken McNuggets.
USA Today says that McDonald's next step is to switch to using cage-free eggs by 2025.
The chain then plans to begin using only chickens that have not been treated with antibiotics
which are used for human health.
CNBC claims that almost no one noticed the changes made to the vanilla ice cream until
after McDonald's announced them in 2017.
This was nearly six months after they went into effect and were being implemented in
almost all locations nationwide.
McDonald's informed the outlet that the vanilla ice cream is used in more than 60 percent
of the chain's desserts.
Darci Forrest, the senior director of menu innovation for McDonald's at the time, told
CNBC that during the summer of 2016, McDonald's customers purchased over 68 million ice cream
cones, so keeping the flavor the same was of the highest priority.
The company's culinary team worked very hard to ensure taste was not impacted by any of
the ingredient changes made.
In addition to the changes made to the sweet treat base, McDonald's has now removed the
high fructose corn syrup from its chocolate and strawberry shake syrup, and made their
whipped topping without artificial ingredients, colors, or preservatives as well.
Alongside these sweets based changes, The Takeout asserts that McDonald's has made some
alterations to its sandwiches and burgers as well.
In 2018, the chain began using fresh beef patties for their burgers instead of the frozen
meat they had been using previously.
The patties were already preservative-free, but the cheese, buns, and sauce have seen
improvements to their ingredients list.
One ingredient, calcium propionate, was previously used in the buns to prevent molding, so the
company has had to rethink the way they store their newly-natural products.
While the changes are for the most part menu-wide, some sandwich ingredients, like pickles, will
be unable to join the ranks of the all-natural preservative-free menu items due to the way
they are manufactured.
"I see your boy doesn't like pickles."
"Nah, he hates 'em."
"You mind?
Thanks a lot."
Meanwhile, looking to try McDonald's new and improved, preservative-free ice cream?
But, the last time you visited a McDonald's, the machine was broken and you were out of
luck?
Well, you might just get that cold treat you're craving on your next Mickey D's run.
The chain, which has historically been known for having frequently-broken ice cream machines,
recently began upgrading the appliances across locations.
People reports that software company Kytch has invented a device for the fast food chain
that can be added to existing McDonald's ice cream machines.
The gadget is designed to help workers avoid some of the more regular problems that cause
ice cream production to be temporarily suspended, including some of the most common issues employees
report, like poorly-timed cleaning cycles, and correcting for minor errors like over
or under-filling the appliance.
The new technology can also reportedly predict when some parts of the ice cream machine are
going to break, and warn McDonald's staff about the problem.
These new additions began appearing in McDonald's locations in March 2019, though the fast food
chain is not forcing its restaurant owners to purchase the ice cream machine upgrade.
One McDonald's franchisee, who owns three locations and has decided to implement the
new device, told People,
"This is a stressful job, so if I can reduce unnecessary stress on the managers or the
crew, then that's a good thing."
He feels he has seen positive results from staff using the new apparatus.
If it means we get to eat McDonald's ice cream, we are all for it.
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