McDonald's latest move to switch to "sustainable" straws is stirring up frustration among customers who claim the new straws are altering the taste of their favorite beverages.
At restaurants nationwide, the fast-food giant has phased out its classic white straw with a red and yellow stripe and replaced it with a clear alternative.
While the chain has committed to reducing its environmental footprint by using more eco-friendly materials, many fans are reporting that the new straws are affecting the overall drinking experience.
Some say the straws have a noticeable, unpleasant taste that ruins their drinks -- and they're not just imagining it. Mike Haracz, a former corporate chef at McDonald's, revealed how the straws make beverages taste different in a TikTok video.
"McDonald’s has switched out their iconic straw for something that is either a little more sustainable and/or cheaper -- I'm not sure which one because based on everybody's review, and I have tried it as well, straw's not cutting it," Haracz said.
Even McDonald's has admitted their iconic straw made beverages taste better. Their website says one of the reasons "Coca-Cola tastes so great at McDonald's" is because of the straw: "It's slightly wider than a typical straw so all that Coke taste can hit your taste buds."
But not anymore, apparently.
"When you try these beverages with this new straw, it is not the same," Haracz said. "There's a variety of reasons why you perceive beverages in a certain way -- by the volume, by the diameter of the straw, the tactile feel of it. But because it's changed... it's not hitting just right."
He described the new straws as being "flimsy" and unlikely to hold up against thicker drinks like milkshakes -- in the event the ice cream machine isn't broken down.
"As soon as you have to drink, like, a shake... and it's too thick and it collapses, these straws start breaking, these straws start bending, they start cracking and becoming unusable," Haracz added.
As the fast-food giant aims to reduce its environmental impact, some loyal customers are questioning whether the trade-off is worth it.