McDonald’s has subtly changed its processes after introducing a new style of lid for certain drinks. Normally, you would get the lid with a hole in the middle with a paper straw whenever you’d order a beverage.
But the fast food juggernaut brought in a lid that has a small opening on the edge to sip from instead. It’s not used for every beverage on offer, but the ones that do come with it now won’t automatically come with a straw.
The issue was first highlighted by 3AW’s Jacqui Felgate, who received a tip off from a concerned customer and now McDonald’s has now confirmed the change with Yahoo Lifestyle.
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“Some drinks in our new McCafé beverage range, as well as iced McCafé drinks, are now served without a straw by default, as they have a specially designed lid that allows them to be sipped for a better customer experience.
“Customers can still request a straw at any time – which we are happy to provide.”
The restaurant chain confirmed straws “should” be provided with all soft drinks, shakes and frozen beverages.
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It added that it appreciated the feedback from customers and “will address this directly with our restaurants”.
Jacqui posted an anonymous message on her Instagram account from a listener, who explained what went down when they recently visited a McDonald’s in Melbourne’s north.
“My son went to McDonald’s in Mernda and didn’t get a straw. When he asked, they said we dint [sic] give out straws anymore,” the listener said.
“And I said actually I got McDonald’s drove [sic] thru yesterday’s and I didn’t get a straw either.”
The new lid allows you to drink from the cup instead of using a straw. Source: Reddit/Getty
The revelation reportedly sparked a wave of calls to 3AW from people who had experienced the same thing.
When Jacqui went to her local Macca’s, she saw a sign in the drive thru that confirmed you now need to ask for a straw for certain McCafe drinks.
McDonald’s didn’t confirm exactly which drinks come with the new lid versus the old lid, so you’d be safe to just ask for one just in case the next time you order.
The new lids were brought in last year and they’re expected to save thousands of tons of plastic in the process.
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They’re made from 100 per cent recycled PET bottles, which is an easily recyclable type of plastic.
According to drinks company Big Springs Water, each 15L returnable PET bottle replaces 1,400 plastic 600ml bottles over its lifecycle.
It’s lightweight, clear, shatter-resistant, and “highly reliable during transport, storage and general handling”.
New South Wales and Queensland were the first to trial the new lids, but it’s now been rolled out to other states and territories.
It was part of McDonald’s’ commitment to have 100 per cent of its guest packaging coming from renewable, recycled, or certified sources by the end of last year.
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