Salads still getting no love from McDonald’s

“Troubling but temporary.” That’s what I called McDonald’s decision to remove salads from its menu during the early days of the pandemic. 

In a June 2021 column, I recalled that McDonald’s added salads to menus across the U.S.in 1987. By 1992, The Packer reported that industry leaders estimated McDonald’s purchased 2% of the total U.S. lettuce crop at the time. 

In 2007, when The Packer reported on McDonald’s introduction of its Southwest Salad, the chain said that it had sold 520 million salads “to date.”

As we know, the chain dropped salads during the COVID-19 pandemic. My erroneous conclusion a year ago was McDonald’s would bring back salads by the end of 2021.

“The conservative move, as some have pointed out, is to bring the salads back, to give the chain some ability to burnish its faltering health image,” I wrote then. “We all were guilty of making less-than-ideal dietary decisions during the pandemic. At some point, that has to change. Bring back the McSalads!”

Several reader comments to the column expressed wistfulness about McDonald’s out-of-reach salad days:

“The Southwest Salad was delicious.”

“Salads were the only thing I would order from McDonald's besides the chicken nuggets. Now, if I want a salad during my work lunch hour, I have to go to a competitor to get one. Please bring the McSalads back.”

“I miss the Southwest Salads so much it hurts. That was my favorite food to order from McDonald's. I work at McDonald’s, and it just sucks knowing I can't get a darn salad anymore, especially since I want to eat healthier.”

“I agree. I really miss small side salads and I really miss the Paul Newman French Dressing packets, which you absolutely cannot find anywhere now”

No course correction

Recent press indicates that McDonald’s is leaning into its decision, rather than repenting of it.

Coverage of this issue this month from Fortune said the fast-food giant has pared salads and other items from its menu to help deal with labor shortages and improve speed of service.

The story noted that Burger King also had axed salads in December last year.

McDonald’s can’t really talk a good health message by cutting low-calorie options such as salads. The Center for Science in the Public Interest told Fortune that the elimination of salads and other healthy items at McDonald’s is a “huge step backwards.”

I agree. The economic impact to lettuce growers also can’t be overlooked.

I asked the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group, “If you were to give an elevator pitch to McDonald’s on why they should bring salads back to their menus (salads were dropped from the U.S. menu in the early days of the pandemic), what would be your most convincing argument?” Below are some responses.

• Suggest a burger bowl concept. A bowl mixed with field greens and allow consumers to build it — add a burger patty, chicken burger, special sauce, etc. A low-carb alternative for McDonald’s fans.
• Hmm. They have a niche of serving trash food. Boom, there is the problem. Now here’s a solution.

Those are good responses, but McDonald’s doesn’t seem to be listening.

Perhaps it is time for industry advocates to push and prod the Golden Arches to bring back salads, for the better health of all of us.