McDonald’s is hoping some big changes to menu will keep consumers saying “I’m lovin’ it” as the fast-food giant attempts to cast aside its reputation as a purveyor of processed junk food.
This week, the company announced it will eliminate artificial preservatives from several items including the iconic Chicken McNuggets. Across its breakfast menu, the pork sausage patties and omelet-style eggs served on McGriddles, Bagel and Biscuit breakfast sandwiches, along with the scrambled eggs on its breakfast platters, also now have no artificial preservatives.
In addition, McDonald’s is rolling out new buns this month that no longer contain high fructose corn syrup, including the buns used on Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, Filet-O-Fish and McChicken sandwiches.
The company also announced it completed its goal of only serving chicken not treated with human antibiotics nearly a year ahead of schedule.
“More than ever, people care about their food – where it comes from, what goes into it and how it’s prepared,” says Mike Andres, president, McDonald’s USA. “We’re making changes to ensure the food we’re proud of is food our customers love and feel good eating, and we remain committed to our continuing food journey at McDonald’s.”
McDonald’s originally set out to achieve its antibiotics chicken commitment by March 2017.Through a collaborative effort with its suppliers and farmers on a large scale, the company was able to make this change a reality and bring it to its customers nearly a year ahead of schedule. Now every chicken item McDonald’s serves is made from chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine, including its new Chicken McNuggets.
These changes are the latest in a series of moves made by the company and others in the food industry to produce simpler and more natural foods while highlighting transparency. In 2015, McDonald’s committed to source 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2025 in the U.S and Canada. According to the Humane Society of the United States, more than 100 companies have since announced their commitments to do the same.
