There’s nothing quite like saving up all your calories and then sneaking out to your favorite fast-food spot. It’s a small pleasure, but it’s kinda sacred. OK: semi-sacred and super silly. But it’s summer time, and a little McDonald’s never hurt anyone.
Minda T (@minda2.0) says that’s the point. And it’s a small one: so small that she’s driving away feeling scammed and let down. She’s convinced that the large McDonald’s fries she ordered are what used to be sold as a small.
Shrinkflation Hits America’s Favorite Fries?
“Don’t know when the change happened,” Minda says to the camera.
“[But] since when did this become a large fry?” she asks. Then, she spins her bag of fries around to the camera so the world can see. And what she’s holding is a paper bag, not the traditional red cardboard container. The only problem? The sack is legitimately giving smaller-than-normal-size vibes.
Though BroBible could find no statement from McDonald’s corporate offices regarding these downsizing claims, the internet is doing its own sleuthing. On the sleuths’ side is former corporate chef Mike Haracz, who says there are several things the company could be doing to shrink burgers.
“[There are several] things they could do to make it more affordable, with the loophole of it [the meat patty] needs to be a quarter pound before cooking,” Haracz says. He says that the burger titan could be mixing frozen meat in with their fresh meat. Or, they could adjust the lean-to-fat ratio in the beef (the fat renders out during cooking).
As to the fries, Haracz posted a TikTok addressing the cost of the item. He says the cost might be going up for reasons other than inflation. In 2024, one of McDonald’s main suppliers of french fries announced they were closing a processing facility. Because too many people were taking advantage of a $5 value meal that comes with a small fry. People were eating fewer fries and the company was selling less.
Small Sizes = Bigger Profit Margins?
However, none of that addresses the idea that McDonald’s is serving less food and saying it is the same amount. But it’s been such a pervasive and contentious accusation that in 2023 a dissatisfied customer sued McDonald’s and Wendy’s over the size of their burgers. Reuters reported, “U.S. District Judge, Hector Gonzalez in Brooklyn found no proof that the fast-food chains delivered smaller burgers than advertised.”
Once an idea gets planted, though, it can be hard to dislodge it from popular opinion. Especially in an era when big businesses seem intent on squeezing every last cent they can out of every interaction. Others are getting in on the speculation, too. In a YouTube video posted by Gourmet Origins, that source traces the idea of shrinkflation, with examples and dates.
Gourmet Origins alleges that shrinkflation began in the 2010s, saying that everyday goods became smaller or lesser, while prices stayed the same. It claims, “Fast food experienced similar pressures,” and that source says that McDonald’s (specifically) made their fish patty lighter and buns were softer and thinner. These small adjustments had a cumulative effect, and the public purportedly noticed.
But the 2020s were when it really took off. It was then that the phenomenon became a grudgingly accepted part of life. The Filet-O-Fish came under particular scrutiny. With social media commenters comparing patty thickness, bun height, and cheese size.
Back to fries: this source says that while they were “recognizable,” they were noticeably lighter in volume.
But it might all be flawed perception. A current small-size fry order is 80 grams, while a large is 150 grams. The original 1955 serving size (only one option) was 68 grams. So it’s possible that during the “supersize era” (1987-2004) we just got inured to larger portion sizes. And now, what weighs in as large, feels insubstantial. Plus, anyone who’s ever watched a McDonald’s employee scoop up an order of fries can see it’s not exactly science.
‘In This Economy, Let’s Get What We Paid For’
The internet is easily distracted. While some call out shrinkflation by name, others want to talk about carbs, while still others call for a boycott of Ronald McDonald’s favorite place. But no one steps up to defend the practice—or even say it’s not happening.
“I’ve stopped going to McDonald’s. It was always bad for you, but it at least used to be cheap. Now I can get something better for the same price. Apparently I can get something bigger for the same price now too,” says Sara Jean (@sarajean0623).
Another user, Matthew (@matguyver), says, “STOP EATING AT MCDONALD’S! if y’all would quit giving them your money they would either go away permanently or they would do better I used to enjoy McDonald’s french fries but I have principals [sic] so I haven’t eaten there for the last 15 years.”
Then Samantha (@samanthaes13) offers advice, sharing, “I’ve always checked before driving too far away and ask for the receipt. I will go back in to ask for the proper size, what I ordered/paid for! Obviously be polite about it but in this economy, let’s get what we paid for!”
While @kickingitwithkidd says the part many of us suspect, writing, “Corporations hate us.”
As for Minda, she’s saying, “That’s no f—— large. I’m pissed off.”
BroBible reached out to Minda via email and TikTok direct message. We reached out to McDonald’s corporate via email. We will update this if either gets back to us.
@minda2.o feeling scammed