It’s been a busy week on the Fast Food Beat. McD’s, Taco Bell and Sonic announced new menu items. Pringles, Lays and M&Ms unveiled new snacks. And I clarify why I write about Fast Food every week, even though it’s so bad for us. Would you believe, journalistic balance?
Testing for a limited time only: McD’s first whack at the Veggie Protein Burger…
Folks ask me why…
… I write about the Fast Food Scene once a week. I tell them that, even though I don’t approve of a diet high in Fast Food or Processed Foods in general, I don’t expect average folks, who have had Fast Food in their faces all their lives, to completely give it up or – much less likely – banish it from their consciousness altogether. Indulging in Fast Food as few times a month won’t hurt you if you otherwise eat responsibly and you can look forward to it as sort of a treat, or a reward for taking that second helping of Broccoli at Sunday supper.
I also like the idea that I’m just giving the whole subject of Fast Food a light touch rather exploring each new menu item announcement in the kind of depth and detail that a regular daily post would imply.
So, why do I give you Fast Food Week every Saturday? For the same reasons that mature, sane political leaders don’t bomb the other side off the face of the earth for shooting down one of their drones. I choose an appropriate, proportional response that minimizes damage to innocent bystanders. Bit of a jest, there, but there are a lot of parallels!
McDonald’s débuts new Plant-Based Burgers
I recall reading a story recently containing a quote from a McDonald’s spokesperson about how the chain usually likes to come out with what it considers a perfect product rather than fiddling with successive approximations for months or years in test-marketing exercising exercises, telegraphing its coming punches to the competition. In what seems a direct contradiction to that stance, the company is testing new Plant-base Burgers in the London, Ontario, Canada area. It’s a first for the North American market. They call it the P.L.T or Plant Lettuce and Tomato Burger, featuring a big Patty from Beyond Meat that’s being developed specifically for McD’s.
“During this test, we’re excited to hear what customers love about the P.L.T. to help our global markets better understand what’s best for their customers,” said Ann Wahlgren, VP of Global Menu Strategy for McDonald’s. “This test allows us to learn more about real-world implications of serving the P.L.T., including customer demand and impact on restaurant operations.”
Sonic: Is Garlic the new Bacon?
Sonic is toeing new waters this coming month offering a new, limited-time Garlic Butter Bacon Burger. It comes in regular or quarter-pound Patty sizes, with the Beef seared in Garlic Butter and topped with Bacon, American (Processed) Cheese, Mayo and Grilled Onions on a toasted Bun. Available at participating Sonic outlets across the U.S. through November 3.
Taco Bell fêting Football season with new Party Pack?
You can make your own Nachos faster and easier than ordering and waiting for them to be delivered. But maybe not if you’re wrapped up in a your nominee for NFL Game of the Week. So, the Bell is offering what it’s calling its Nachos Party Pack, featuring the usual foundation of Corn Chips topped with Refried Beans, Seasoned Beef, Nacho Cheese Sauce, Lite Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo, and Jalapeños. The Party Pack is being tested in the Birmingham, AL, area through the end of the year.
Arby’s floats new ‘Danish Muffin’ for fall
The new desert treat fro the guys who ‘Have The Meat’ is really a Muffin cup of pull-apart Bread morsels (Danish Pastry Dough) dressed with Cinnamon Roll Sugar-and-Spice and drizzled with traditional Cream Cheese Icing. Is this the dawn of an industry-wide wave of Danish Pastry reboots that will carry us trough 2020? Maybe. We could do much worse than to make the venerable, versatile, scrumptious Danish popular again!
Pringles resurfaces with a new flavour
We haven’t heard much from Pringles lately. I guess the originator of the ‘perfect, stackable Potato chip’ was getting along just fine sales-wise without resorting to crazy-hot flavour pranks or collabs with Burger or Chicken joints. But now, Pringles is proud to announce new Fried Onion Ring Flavour, a limited-time offering available only at 7-Eleven stores across the U.S. Look for the purple can…
Lays brings back scorching flavour permanently
Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Chips were originally rolled out as part of Lays’ ‘Turn Up The Flavour Campaign’ alongside , Electric Lime and Sea Salt, and Beer Cheese Kettle-Cooked Chips. So popular was the Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle flavour that Lays felt compelled to bring them back. And not just for the usual limited time only. They’re coming back permanently. That’s truly a rarity in today’s Fast Food universe, where some chains’ menus seem to contain more temporary items than permanent ones.
M&Ms gets jump start on U.S. Thanksgiving with new Flavour
M&Ms is bringing back Pecan Pie flavoured Chocolate candies for Fall, even though its Hallowe’en Cocoa Crisp flavour still has a month to run in stores. They were a hit when they were introduced the first time and will be available this time not just at Walmart, the exclusive retail outlet, but online at Amazon.com in a convenient two-pack.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s likely to make some of us fatter this fall. Back in seven with another edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.