McDonald's Big Breakfast discontinued

[jon0844]

It's also worth noting that following the success in the USA, the breakfast will most likely become all day at some point. McDonalds do still say it won't be the case as their isn't enough room to cook both menus side by side, but they said the same over the pond too. If it ultimately means more income, they'll find a way.

They are also rolling out their gourmet 'signature' collection to many more restaurants. As it was only in 40 or so restaurants for the initial trial, has anyone here sampled the 'signature' collection?

I tried the spicy one and loved it. Pricey though, but presumably that's because there's now a market for expensive burgers thanks to Five Guys, GBK etc.

Not sure about breakfast all day, but always thought it should be until at least 11am. Maybe even 11.30am, perhaps with a crossover. That would mean changes in menus and preparation for that time, rather than all day.

I can't see breakfasts being that popular mid afternoon, as in popular enough to be worth doing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is no fuss, just some people discussing. Don't really know why you posted in this thread.

Quite, I'll miss it (I'm rather partial to the scrambled egg), but I'll just have a double sausage and egg instead so it's hardly the end of the world
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Not sure about breakfast all day, but always thought it should be until at least 11am. Maybe even 11.30am, perhaps with a crossover. That would mean changes in menus and preparation for that time, rather than all day.

I can't see breakfasts being that popular mid afternoon, as in popular enough to be worth doing.

I long thought they should change the changeover to 11am or even 11:30am on weekends which would tie with demand much more. Who wants a Big Mac at 11am on a Saturday or Sunday?

 

[richw]

I long thought they should change the changeover to 11am or even 11:30am on weekends which would tie with demand much more. Who wants a Big Mac at 11am on a Saturday or Sunday?

When I was working for mcds as a manager, I dealt with regular complaints from people wanting main meals at breakfast time, simply didn't have the facilities to even consider it.

The worst one was a parent swearing and shouting because they wanted cheeseburger happy meals at 730am. Giving a kid cheese burger and chips for breakfast is just plain wrong,

 

[radamfi]

Went into yet another branch today and the customer beside me was being told about the withdrawal of the Big Breakfast. He looked disappointed.

 

[ComUtoR]

When I was working for mcds as a manager, I dealt with regular complaints from people wanting main meals at breakfast time, simply didn't have the facilities to even consider it.

I never understood why the separation of breakfast and main. Its a burger ! Yes that is ignorance of the machines and various restaurant set-ups but as a customer it is hard to understand why changing the bun and putting a different burger on the grill is determined by time :/

I am one of those who wants a Saus/Egg Mc Muffin at any time of the day and if breakfast was extended all day then that would be my burger of choice.

I'm generally up and down with McD's but due to its opening times it is often the only thing open at the extreme ends of the clock when you want something warm.

The worst one was a parent swearing and shouting because they wanted cheeseburger happy meals at 730am. Giving a kid cheese burger and chips for breakfast is just plain wrong,

It's not wrong whatsoever.

 

[Gemz91]

I tried the spicy one and loved it. Pricey though, but presumably that's because there's now a market for expensive burgers thanks to Five Guys, GBK etc.

Not sure about breakfast all day, but always thought it should be until at least 11am. Maybe even 11.30am, perhaps with a crossover. That would mean changes in menus and preparation for that time, rather than all day.

I can't see breakfasts being that popular mid afternoon, as in popular enough to be worth doing.

My local 24 hours Mcdonalds doesn't start serving breakfast till 5am (might even be 5:30). Not much use when you start work at 4am, I can never understand why they don't serving breakfast earlier. I can't be the only one up at 3:30 wanting a "proper" breakfast and coffee at that time.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I'd like to be able to get a Big Mac meal at any time of day/night...

 

[jonty14]

If you want a decent breakfast, try a large breakfast at 'spoons.
You won't need to eat again until the evening.

I was about to say the same thing. When I was in the uk I went to Wetherspoons all the time for my breakfast. Very good bargain. Plus coffee for 85p with free refills. Here in Germany I will have to put up with McDonald's breakfasts. Still tasty though.

 

[radamfi]

There is no scrambled egg in German McDonald's, is there? I had a Sausage & Egg McMuffin in Saarbrücken and the sausage was really strong. I could taste it an hour after eating it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There used to be, and it was very nice as noted above. It was also quite entertaining the way they misinterpreted the term "ham and eggs" in a very literal sense.

 

[talltim]

The McDonald's Big Breakfast will be discontinued from 3 February. That's the one with scrambled egg, sausage, muffin and a hash brown.

It has been available since at least the early 90s. I had my first one in Hatfield at the Galleria on a Sunday morning in 1992/3.

I used to go for breakfast (with Jason Priestley's future wife among others!) in the McD's in the Galleria about then when I was at art college over the road, but on weekdays so I wouldn't have seen you. Ah, memories

 

[Peter Mugridge]

McDonalds main meals never fill me up, however Burger King does, always wondered why.

It's because BK use much better quality burgers.

 

[DarloRich]

What will happen to Zig & Zag?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's because BK use much better quality burgers.

But horrible mashed-potato-in-batter chips. Who on earth thought that was a good idea? Slicing and deep frying fresh potatoes is the only way to make chips.

 

[Crossover]

I long thought they should change the changeover to 11am or even 11:30am on weekends which would tie with demand much more. Who wants a Big Mac at 11am on a Saturday or Sunday?

Similar. I don't recall ever having had a McD's breakfast (I once got despatched to get some for some colleagues, but didn't have anything myself) but was going to do before getting a train to Tweedbank a few weeks ago. It was 10:45am ish and was told they stopped serving them, so I ended up with a Sainsburys sandwich instead...

 

[richw]

I never understood why the separation of breakfast and main. Its a burger ! Yes that is ignorance of the machines and various restaurant set-ups but as a customer it is hard to understand why changing the bun and putting a different burger on the grill is determined by time :/

Cross contamination between Pork and beef, food regulations. Cooked on the same grill but it has to be heavily cleaned between breakfast and main menu.

But horrible mashed-potato-in-batter chips. Who on earth thought that was a good idea? Slicing and deep frying fresh potatoes is the only way to make chips.

Burger King have now changed their chips and no longer have these. They were actually a favourite of mine, so I was disappointed when they stopped them in favour of proper chips.

 

[NY Yankee]

I thought sausage was called banger.

McDonald's is not healthy food. It is full of grease and can cause high blood pressure and obesity (I am not exactly a skinny person). Burgers and chips are good once in a while, but it should not be eaten every day. Instead, you should eat at Subway. The sandwiches are delicious and low in fat and cholesterol.

 

[yorksrob]

I thought sausage was called banger.

McDonald's is not healthy food. It is full of grease and can cause high blood pressure and obesity (I am not exactly a skinny person). Burgers and chips are good once in a while, but it should not be eaten every day. Instead, you should eat at Subway. The sandwiches are delicious and low in fat and cholesterol.

I have used them on occasions. Then they started objecting to me having halapeneos and gherkins on my breakfast sandwich, so I knocked it on the head.

 

[Magicake]

My local 24 hours Mcdonalds doesn't start serving breakfast till 5am (might even be 5:30). Not much use when you start work at 4am, I can never understand why they don't serving breakfast earlier. I can't be the only one up at 3:30 wanting a "proper" breakfast and coffee at that time.

Ah I have quite the opposite problem - when we finish a night shift at 5 McDs is the only place open and the last thing I want is a breakfast after a full shift.

I have never understood why they are quite so strict with their times - I have been in a queue at 5.30, the person in front of me been served a big mac and then me been refused as it was breakfast. And they invariably refuse if you arrive just as they are changing over and then try and order.

 

[sprinterguy]

It's not wrong whatsoever.

How do you come to that conclusion? As adults we are all free to make our own ill-advised decisions, but a child being made to eat such a blatantly unhealthy meal as the most important meal of the day during their formative years hardly seems conducive to their physical development.

 

[richw]

Ah I have quite the opposite problem - when we finish a night shift at 5 McDs is the only place open and the last thing I want is a breakfast after a full shift.

I have never understood why they are quite so strict with their times - I have been in a queue at 5.30, the person in front of me been served a big mac and then me been refused as it was breakfast. And they invariably refuse if you arrive just as they are changing over and then try and order.

As above, cross contamination of beef and pork products means they can't serve the two menus alongside each other at the current time. After "changeover" they can only sell what is already cooked of the other menu.

Why should be people wanting breakfasts have to wait longer because people can't get there in time for the other menu before change over?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I thought sausage was called banger.

McDonald's is not healthy food. It is full of grease and can cause high blood pressure and obesity (I am not exactly a skinny person). Burgers and chips are good once in a while, but it should not be eaten every day. Instead, you should eat at Subway. The sandwiches are delicious and low in fat and cholesterol.

Beware, though, the sugar and calories can get up quite quickly
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I have used them on occasions. Then they started objecting to me having halapeneos and gherkins on my breakfast sandwich, so I knocked it on the head.

Utterly bizarre - the whole concept is *you* choose. Though they are all franchises, and some franchise owners are more generous than others

 

[ComUtoR]

How do you come to that conclusion?

As a parent.

As adults we are all free to make our own ill-advised decisions, but a child being made to eat such a blatantly unhealthy meal as the most important meal of the day during their formative years

Unhealthy as in .... ?

I could be at home giving my kids a full english. Is that wrong ? What about Cereal ? Have you actually read the nutritional information on the side of a cereal packet ? What about pancakes ? Mine love pancakes for breakfast they have variety of toppings available too including fruit. Yoghurt, Smoothies ? Jesus have you seen the sugar levels in those ! I'd let them have a salad but some of the salads I can buy have 32g of fat !

What should they have for breakfast ?

I used to be one of those judgemental parents who refused to take their kids to McD's and frowned and pointed the finger at those who would take their kids there for breakfast, dinner and even had parties there.

hardly seems conducive to their physical development.

The consumption of food is only part of their physical development. Physical development is more to do with being active.

I am very mindful of what goes into my kids mouths but I am much more mindful of how their overall development is and to educate them towards food and its social and nutritional impact.

 

[sprinterguy]

Unhealthy as in .... ?

Unhealthy as in just about everything that is churned out by Macdonalds' appears (to me) to be a load of sh*te. I don't really know, I don't eat there - I can count on one hand the number of times I've been into Macdonalds, half of which were for friends' birthdays as a kid, and the other half more recently when drunk mates thought it appealed. In both situations I've been underwhelmed by the look of the food in both advertising material and reality, and by the taste and texture when I've had it myself.

My viewpoint is entirely conjectural and informed by my own prejudices, as I also admittedly don't read the nutritional information on the side of cereal packets (haven't had cereal in a few years, in fact), so I could be completely wrong. Macondalds just strikes me as being the "worst case" option. Certainly even as an adult I can't imagine being able to stomach a burger and chips (or worse, cheap fries) for breakfast (full English breakfasts are, as an adult, a completely different propostion though - wouldn't give one to a kid, mind).

I have great difficulty in believing that a burger and chips, in any form not just products of Macdonalds, could ever work out as a healthier alternative to, say, a bowl of cereal.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have great difficulty in believing that a burger and chips, in any form not just products of Macdonalds, could ever work out as a healthier alternative to, say, a bowl of cereal.

Then you should do more research on what you eat. A burger is not inherently unhealthy (though deep-fried[1] chips are), in the end it's just a beef sandwich. Cereal is not inherently healthy, many types are full of sugar.

[1] Nothing particularly unhealthy about potato slices drizzled lightly with olive oil and cooked in the oven. Yum.
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(full English breakfasts are, as an adult, a completely different propostion though - wouldn't give one to a kid, mind).

Whyever not? Having one every day as an adult or kid is going to make you fat unless you're doing a very active job. Having one once every couple of weeks is not going to do anything bad at all.

 

[sprinterguy]

Whyever not?

It's very rich food to be starting the day with - my distant experience as a former child around other children suggests that children's stomachs are less able to cope with rich, heavy meals early in the day.
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Then you should do more research on what you eat.

I manage fine; I know what works for me.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's very rich food to be starting the day with - my distant experience as a former child around other children suggests that children's stomachs are less able to cope with rich, heavy meals early in the day.

From more recent experience (the Scouts get a fry-up on camp) this is not universally true.

I manage fine; I know what works for me.

You can do what you like, but your view that cereal is universally healthier than burgers is factually false. It can be true or false depending on the cereal or the burger.

 

[sprinterguy]

From more recent experience (the Scouts get a fry-up on camp) this is not universally true.

No doubt; probably wouldn't have affected me much as a kid but I knew of others whom it would.

You can do what you like, but your view that cereal is universally healthier than burgers is factually false. It can be true or false depending on the cereal or the burger.

As long as I'm not actually claiming that one thing is empirically healthier than another, then I'm quite happy to hold onto my ill-informed opinions.

 

[ComUtoR]

The problem with stuff like cereal is the mass consumption of food. For years I believed it was the healthy option but after reading the nutritional information they are filled with sugar, even the healthy ones ! So you kick of the day with sugar, sugar in your yoghurts, sugar in your ham sandwich, sugar in fruit, sugar in your orange juice and then an evening meal.

You say "rich food" but offer no alternative. A good solid breakfast is what sets you up and gets you through to lunch. Sometimes a light easy breakfast may lead to snacking.

I went to school which had a full english + cereal + fruit + juice drink on the menu every single day. I don't remember obesity being an issue for children back then. "fat kids" were rare. Now they are the norm. It isn't because of McDonalds.

Mostly because I'm a parent (and getting chubbier) but I do look more and more at the nutritional labels and I'm stunned that what is considered "healthy" isn't always the best option. You have to maintain a balanced diet and burn as many calories as you consume.

I think that over the years McDonalds has turned around from the greasy days of fast food and "fake egg"


Cheeseburger for breakfast is the least of my worries.

*edit* mostly because I'm bored I went to my cupboard.

Alpen Vs Cheeseburger (no its not scientific)

(per official serving)

Carbs
30g V 31g (shocking ain't it)
(of which sugars)
9.9g V 7.8g (Yikes !)

Fibre
3.2g V 2.4g (that's pretty close)

Protein
5.0g V 16g (obviously the meat content pushes this high)

The rest the cheeseburger loses outright

Whilst not many would have a cheeseburger for breakfast a day you would have Alpen each day and with the Alpen and other cereals you generally exceed the portion size.

I'm not knocking cereal whatsoever but highlighting that something we consume on a daily basis has some pretty shocking nutritional content. FYI I give my kids any cereal they wish and my Daughter will always choose the worst offenders. Thankfully mine are very very active so whilst I'm reticent to give them junk its part of being a parent. I can easily balance it out in the long term anyway.

Flavour of the moth is currently egg/soldiers. (don't get me started about bread.......)

 

[Skimble19]

I tried the spicy one and loved it. Pricey though, but presumably that's because there's now a market for expensive burgers thanks to Five Guys, GBK etc.

Not sure about breakfast all day, but always thought it should be until at least 11am. Maybe even 11.30am, perhaps with a crossover. That would mean changes in menus and preparation for that time, rather than all day.

I can't see breakfasts being that popular mid afternoon, as in popular enough to be worth doing.

Completely agree with all you've said here. The new burgers, whilst pricey, are the only non chicken items I really eat there now and I love them.

As for breakfast, 11 or 11:30 would definitely be a far better cut off time. Normally at the moment if I miss the breakfast cut off it just means I go elsewhere rather than eating the day menu as I usually just don't really want a Chicken Legend at 10:45am..