Several fast-food chains have been introducing larger burgers in recent years. The idea is to offer customers a more filling meal.
McDonald’s has also focused on this development. In an interview with CNN in December 2023, the company’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski, said that larger burgers could become an option in more countries.
According to the media outlet Fortune, the chain therefore began testing a new burger in 2024 in countries including Portugal, Canada, and Germany.
In Portugal, the burger was launched in all 205 McDonald’s restaurants in the country, Fortune writes.
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Video went viral
The product received additional attention when Chris Kempczinski posted a video on social media in which he tastes the new burger for lunch.
The video was intended as an informal glimpse into his daily routine. However, reactions online were mixed. According to Fortune, several users felt that the video appeared staged.
Some also commented that the CEO spoke about the burger as if it were a product promotion. Executives from other fast-food chains also joined the humorous criticism on social media.
As a result, a short video developed into a broader debate.
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Nutrition sparks discussion
Part of the discussion also concerns the burger’s contents.
According to Fortune, the burger contains around 1,020 calories. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2020–2025 indicate that adult women typically need 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day, while men generally require around 2,200 to 3,000 calories.
Sports dietitian Melissa Boufounos estimates, according to Fortune, that the burger also contains a high amount of fat.
According to her, a high intake of fat and heavily processed animal products can increase the risk of conditions such as high cholesterol and heart disease.
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The new McDonald’s burger, Big Arch, alone contains more than two-thirds of the daily calorie requirement for many adults.
Sources: Fortune, CNN, and U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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