In a modern world where extra sauce is the currency of the fast-food kingdom, McDonald’s‘ recent policy update has left the McNugget obsessed feeling a little… saucy.
Bry (@brymarixx) has blown the lid off McDonald’s new sauce allocation strategy with a video that’s as spicy as it is viral, racking up 855,000 views faster than you can say “Sweet ‘N Sour.”
The video, aptly titled “MCDONALD’S WE NEED ANSWERS!!!,” showcases a first-person journey to the drive-through window, where a sign spells out the new sauce policy in black and white: 4pc = 1 sauce, 6pc = 2 sauce… all the way up to 40pc = 8 sauce, with a zinger that extra condiments will now come with an additional charge. The irony of McDonald’s cheerful “I’m lovin’ it” slogan sitting at the bottom of this sign wasn’t lost on Bry—or anyone else for that matter—who quickly declared, “McDonald’s has chosen violence in 2024!”
This sauce scarcity has stirred up a condiment controversy among the masses, with the comments section becoming a battleground for the sauced and sauce-nots. “They literally only give me 3 sauce for a 20 piece most of the time they forget the sauce,” lamented one user, echoing a sentiment that feels all too familiar for the McNugget crowd. Another sleuth did the math, questioning the sauce-to-nugget ratio, “how they only going to give you 8 sauces for a 40pc when they give you 5 for a 20?”
Yet, amid the outcry, some voices of reason emerged. “Y’all mad over sauce? Why do you need more than 3 sauces for a 10 piece?” one user pondered, prompting another to quip, “What do u drink the sauce?”
But let’s step back and look at the broader context. Fast food prices have been on the rise, with McDonald’s menu items not immune to the economic trends that have seasoned the industry with a more than a dash of inflation, a sprinkle of supply chain challenges, and a heaping spoonful of increased labor costs. In this fiscal fryer, McDonald’s decision to charge for extra sauce could be seen as a move to offset rising costs without skimping on the nuggets—though, to the sauce-loving populace, it’s a move as controversial as adding pickles to a McFlurry.
This sauce policy is a microcosm of the fast-food industry’s larger challenges in adapting to a post-pandemic world, where consumer demand for convenience battles with the economic realities of inflation and operational costs. As businesses grapple with these changes, policies like McDonald’s sauce surcharge emerge as solutions to balance the books—though perhaps at the cost of customer satisfaction for some.
@brymarixx MCDONALDS WE NEED ANSWERS!!! #mcdonalds ♬ original sound – brymarixx
In the grand scheme of things, the McDonald’s sauce policy might just be a drop in the bucket. Yet, it reflects a shift in how fast-food giants are navigating the new normal, with Bry’s revelation serving as a reminder that, in the end, it’s the little things—like an extra packet of BBQ sauce—that can stir up the biggest protest.
As the debate rages on, one thing remains clear: In the fast-food world of 2024, sauce is more than just a condiment—it’s a statement. And for nugget lovers everywhere, McDonald’s latest policy has left a taste that’s anything but sweet, just ask this other sauce-obsessed customer.
The Daily Dot has reached out to McDonald’s and Bry via email for further comment.
