ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 21: In this photo illustration an Angus burger is displayed March 21, 2007 in Anaheim, Calfornina. McDonald's have introduced the Angus Third Pounder range as part of their new image to include a new generation menu complete with salads and healthier food options. According to McDonald's, depending on the version, the Angus Third Pounder contains between 720 calories to 860 calories whereas a McDonald's double Quarter Pounder contains 740 calories and its Big Mac sandwich contains 540 calories. (Photo Illustration by Jamie Rector/Getty Images)
For years, customers and regulators have been pushing for better quality in the fast-food marketplace. Finally, McDonalds is getting with that trend as the company announced Thursday that it will start using fresh beef patties for their Quarter Pounder hamburgers. Hallelujah.
The switch from frozen to fresh patties will begin mid-next year in the majority of U.S. restaurants. As you may know, McDonalds is the largest fast-food chain in the country, but have been slow to abandon some of their more cost-effective practices. In other words, their spots be ratchet.
Wendy’s and In-N-Out have long promoted their use of fresh beef patties for better-tasting burgers. This move for McDonalds helps to throw their hat in that ring. Though the company will now be using fresh beef for Quarter Pounders, McDonalds promises to maintain the same price.
“We don’t anticipate any significant increase in price,” spokeswoman Becca Hary said. “Individual franchises set their own price.”
McDonalds had been testing fresh beef in 325 restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and 77 in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, thanks to a customer-led initiative. Fortunately, no one has died yet. Feedback has been positive as well, especially with investors. The chain’s shared were up 57 cents to $129.35 midday Thursday. Apparently the Wall Street guys have discovered a correlation between quality product and making money. Who woulda thunk?
Quarter Pounder burgers include a variety of beefy treats: the Quarter Pounder, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe and Signature Crafted Recipe burgers. Unfortunately, the fresh-beef approach has yet to be applied to the Big Mac and McDouble.
Sadly, our disconnected brethren in Alaska and Hawaii will not be making the switch due to the distance.
“Today’s announcement is part of a continuing food journey for McDonald’s,” McDonald’s USA president Chris Kempczinski said in a statement. “Over the last two years, we have accelerated the pace of change around how we source and serve our food. Delivering fresh beef that’s prepared when our customers order their food is just another example of how we are raising the bar. We’re just getting started, and can’t
wait to show you what’s next.”
