Damon Mcknight
There has been much speculation among fast-food lovers in Australia about McDonald's allegedly shrinking the size of its iconic Big Mac. While the company has denied any changes to the burger's dimensions, thousands of customers remain unconvinced, expressing their disappointment and frustration on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. Some have even accused McDonald's of secretly downsizing the product. This controversy has sparked discussions about portion sizes, pricing, and the phenomenon of shrinkflation, where companies reduce product sizes without lowering prices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Big Mac Diameter in Australia | 9 cm |
| Big Mac Diameter in Central America and the Middle East | 12 cm |
| McDonald's Response | Denial of size change |
| Public Perception | Smaller size and reduced portion |
| Protein Content | 26.9 grams |
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What You'll Learn
McDonald's denies Big Mac size change
McDonald's has denied accusations that its Big Mac burgers have shrunk, despite thousands of fast-food enthusiasts in Australia claiming otherwise. The company insists that the iconic burger has not changed in weight, height, or diameter, and that the only alteration made to the product is slightly smaller packaging.
However, social media users remain unconvinced. One person commented, "Are McDonald's Big Macs getting smaller? I haven't had one for over a year, and I swear it was smaller." Another added, "Either Big Macs have gotten smaller, or my hands have gotten bigger."
This is not the first time McDonald's has faced such accusations. In 2014, a Reddit user claimed that the burgers had decreased in size over the 30+ years they had been eating them. Similarly, in 2020, customers claimed that McDonald's had reduced the size of its cheeseburger.
Despite the speculation, a McDonald's spokesperson maintained that they had only changed the shape of the bun and had not skimped on ingredients. The company's system, known as "McDonaldization," focuses on efficiency, calculability, predictability, standardization, and control. It remains to be seen whether McDonald's will make any further changes to the Big Mac's recipe or packaging.
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Customer complaints about Big Mac size
In recent years, McDonald's has faced customer complaints about the size of its iconic Big Mac burger. Although the company has denied any changes, thousands of customers in Australia and beyond have accused the fast-food giant of secretly downsizing the popular menu item. This perception has sparked debates and discussions on social media and online forums, with customers expressing their disappointment and dissatisfaction with the perceived smaller size of the Big Mac.
Customers have taken to platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit to voice their opinions and share their experiences. Some have claimed that the Big Mac they recently purchased seemed smaller than they remembered, with comments ranging from "Are McDonald's Big Macs getting smaller?" to observations about the patties becoming "smaller and thinner each year." One Reddit user even described the burger as having a smaller diameter, resembling the size of a cookie.
The complaints about the Big Mac's size have led to speculation about the motivations behind the perceived downsizing. Some customers have suggested that McDonald's is looking after its customers' health by reducing portion sizes. Others have attributed the change to "shrinkflation," where companies reduce the serving size without lowering the price. However, some customers have noticed price increases alongside the perceived size reduction.
Amid the online discussions, some customers have offered alternatives for those seeking a larger burger option. Suggestions include trying the Grand Mac, which offers quarter-pound slabs of meat, or making your own larger version of the Big Mac at home, with recipes for the special sauce readily available online.
While McDonald's has maintained that the Big Mac's size has remained unchanged, the company has acknowledged making the packaging slightly smaller. This adjustment, along with the altered shape of the bun, might have contributed to the perception of a smaller burger. Despite the assurances from McDonald's, customers remain unconvinced, continuing to express their sentiments and share their experiences surrounding the iconic Big Mac's size.
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Social media reactions to smaller Big Macs
While McDonald's has denied claims that its Big Macs have gotten smaller, thousands of Australians have taken to social media to express their disagreement. On Reddit, one user observed that the Big Mac bun has always had a smaller diameter compared to other burgers, but it felt like two burgers in one due to the multiple layers of bun and meat. However, they felt that all McDonald's products, including the Big Mac, had shrunk over time.
Another Reddit user attributed the perceived size reduction to a phenomenon called "shrinkflation," where companies reduce the serving size without lowering the price. They suggested that people would rather pay less and eat less, and it's rare for companies to keep the old size at an increased price alongside the new, smaller size.
On Facebook and Twitter, users shared their suspicions about the shrinking Big Macs. One person commented that their recent Big Mac purchase felt smaller than they remembered, while another joked that either the burgers had shrunk or their hands had grown. A male customer accused McDonald's of reducing the size of the patties, claiming that they had gotten smaller and thinner over the years.
A video of an Australian dad reacting to the size of his Big Mac burger also went viral. In the video, the man exclaims in disbelief at the size of the burger, saying that it used to require two hands to hold and questioning if he had been given a large by mistake. Many social media users chimed in, agreeing that the portion sizes are too small.
Despite the widespread sentiment that Big Macs have shrunk, McDonald's maintains that the only change they have made is to slightly reduce the packaging size.
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The introduction of the double Big Mac
The Big Mac is a globally recognised brand of hamburger sold by the international fast-food chain McDonald's. It was created by franchisee Jim Delligatti in 1967 and expanded nationwide in 1968. The Big Mac consists of two beef patties, a special sauce, iceberg lettuce, cheese, and onions served in a three-part sesame seed bun.
In 2018, McDonald's Australia celebrated the 50th anniversary of the original Big Mac by introducing the Grand Big Mac, which was first made available overseas in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. The Grand Big Mac features larger patties and buns to satisfy bigger appetites. The Grand Big Mac is part of the ""Big Mac range", which also includes the Mac Jr. (or Little Mac), a smaller version of the original Big Mac with only one beef patty.
The introduction of the Grand Big Mac (or double Big Mac) in Australia was part of McDonald's Australia's new Mac Family range, which offered customers more ways to enjoy the iconic taste of the Big Mac. The Mac Family range also included the return of crispy Onion Rings served with Big Mac Special Sauce.
While McDonald's Australia has denied that the Big Mac burger size has changed, thousands of fast food enthusiasts in Australia have accused the company of 'secretly' downsizing their Big Macs in recent years. Some customers have taken to social media to express their disappointment, claiming that the patties have gotten smaller and thinner. However, a McDonald's spokesperson stated that the only change made to the product was making the packaging slightly smaller.
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McDonald's packaging changes
McDonald's has been working on reducing waste and transitioning to more sustainable packaging and toy materials. The company is redesigning some of its most iconic products to eliminate unnecessary packaging, identifying alternative materials, and increasing opportunities for recovery.
In 2014, McDonald's collaborated with 12 artists to design soccer-themed packaging for the World Cup. They have also made changes to their packaging to reduce waste and improve sustainability. For example, they have removed McFlurry lids across Europe and introduced a new fibre-based lid for all cold drinks in France. They are also conducting trials for plastic-free McFlurry spoons, redesigned paper straws, and toy take-back programs.
McDonald's has set a goal to source 100% of its primary guest packaging from renewable, recycled, or certified materials by the end of 2025. They are also working with suppliers to optimize their packaging for recycling and create opportunities for behaviour change to reduce, reuse, or recycle guest packaging.
In addition to these initiatives, McDonald's has also made changes to its packaging in the past to improve efficiency. For example, the award-winning red fry box was developed to allow crew members to quickly and easily funnel fries into the package, and for guests to stand it up on its end.
Despite these changes, McDonald's has stated that its Big Macs have not gotten smaller in Australia, only the packaging has been slightly reduced in size.
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Frequently asked questions
McDonald's has denied that the Big Mac has gotten smaller in Australia, claiming that only the packaging has been slightly reduced in size. However, many customers remain unconvinced, with some claiming that the patties have gotten thinner over the years.
A Big Mac in Australia has a diameter of 9cm.
The current protein content of a Big Mac is 26.9 grams.
Some people have noticed that they can now finish a Big Mac, whereas in the past it seemed like an immense amount of food. Others have compared old and new burgers, claiming that the newer ones are noticeably smaller.
