McDonald’s has long dominated the fast-food industry. The American fast-food business touts its relatively cheap offerings when compared to other franchises, as well as its long list of menu items. Famously, McDonald’s breakfast menu has been a destination for commuters, families, and pretty much anyone who needs a quick fix. And, at certain locations, all-day breakfast is readily available. One popular breakfast offering is at the center of a debate.
According to one man, McDonald’s no longer offers real, authentic bagels. TikToker @vhollywood79 said that instead of using actual bagel bread for its breakfast chains, the chain has switched to “hamburger buns.”
The content creator’s post has more than 9,000 views, but is he correct in thinking that McDonald’s has discontinued its bagel offerings?
History Of McDonald’s Bagels
As it turns out, the McDonald’s bagel has a long history of being removed—and subsequently re-added—to the fast-food chain’s menu. McDonald’s started off its breakfast menu with the iconic Egg McMuffin, alongside some other non-bagel breakfast items, in 1977. Much later, in 1999, McDonald’s added bagels to its breakfast offerings.
For more than 20 years, bagels remained on the menu. Then, McDonald’s discontinued its bagels in response to the pandemic. TODAY reported that McDonald’s removed the bagel in 2020. Mashed, however, cites 2021 as the final fall for “bagel sandwiches.”
But customers fought back against the change. In Michigan, a change.org petition received more than 2,000 signatures. Subsequently, the bagels were reintroduced only in Michigan. Over time, many people advocated for bagels to be reintroduced to the menu. A Facebook group called “Where’s my McDonald’s Bagel?” which now sports over 25,000 members, was created. Their goal? To petition and reintegrate the McDonald’s bagel at locations across the country. So far, they’ve documented bagels at thousands of locations.
Is It A Bagel Or Something Else?
According to the TikToker, McDonald’s no longer offers “real” bagels. The content creator said that when he went to the fast-food chain for a bagel sandwich, he received “two hamburger buns” with a crease in one to look like a hole or divot, emulating a bagel.
The content creator said he noticed that the “bagel” at the location he visited was softer than a bagel usually is. “ As soon as you bite into it, you’re like, ‘Oh, this is a lot softer than a bagel,’” he said.
The content creator continued, “ It’s just a hamburger bun. It’s just two hamburger buns and not a bagel anymore. They put that in there to make it look like it, but I’m telling you, as soon as you pick it up and try it, it’s a hamburger bun. Pretty cheap, McDonald’s.”
There’s no specific evidence that locations that claim to offer bagels are using hamburger buns instead.
“It’s a bagel sometimes they come like that,” one viewer said. The TikToker replied, “That’s like saying when somebody gives you a hotdog and then they just say sometimes a cheeseburger comes like that.”
When another viewer said that the customer received a bagel, the content creator said, “Go try it. It a bagel want to be. Trust me once you feel it. You know that they’re just using maybe some bagel ingredients but it is definitely more like when you pick up a cheeseburger. It’s a lot lighter. It’s softer. It doesn’t taste bad. It’s just not a full bagel.”
@vhollywood79 McDonald’s replaced their bagels with two hamburger bun tops! #mcdonalds #bagel
BroBible has reached out to @vhollywood79 via TikTok direct message and to McDonald’s via email for comment.