McDonald’s enthusiasts are expressing discontent following a viral social media post that revealed the price of a hash brown has surged to nearly £2 at certain branches.
The post featured an image of a McDonald’s menu board displaying a £1.99 price tag for a hash brown at the specific restaurant visited by the poster. This post has garnered over 459,000 views and was accompanied by a remark stating, “£2 for a single hash brown. We’re officially calling it quits.”
Reactions poured in, with one individual stating, “It’s getting out of hand; I rarely visit, but it used to be a budget-friendly option.” Another commented, “For that price, you might as well get a sausage sandwich.” A third simply remarked, “Absolutely ridiculous.”
Another commenter expressed, “Those hash browns are amazing, but £2 is just too much.” Someone else recalled, “I remember when they were only 59p.”
In response to the uproar, a McDonald’s spokesperson explained, “Many of our restaurants are independently owned, allowing franchisees to determine their own pricing. While prices may vary, all strive to offer customers a top-notch dining experience and good value.”
This controversy follows McDonald’s announcement of upcoming changes to its MyMcDonald’s Rewards program, where the points required for free items will increase. Presently, items like a Big Mac, Double Fillet of Fish, Double Sausage and Egg McMuffin, and Nine Chicken Nuggets demand 5,500 points. However, starting March 17, the redemption threshold for these items will rise to 6,500 points, with customers earning 100 points for every £1 spent at McDonald’s.
Additionally, the number of points needed for various items will increase, such as a Medium Coffee or Small Fries rising from 1,500 points to 2,000 points. The points required for a regular McFlurry or an Apple Pie will escalate from 2,500 to 3,500, and for a Double Cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, the points needed will increase from 4,000 to 5,000.
McDonald’s representatives justified the loyalty program adjustments by citing escalating food and supply costs. They emphasized that while point requirements have been raised across all tiers, new redemption options like Chicken Selects, Cheese sides, and the new Sausage Sandwich have been introduced to provide customers with more choices.