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McDonald’s is rolling out a new Caesar sauce nationwide — and it’s already prompting customers to ask the fast-food giant the same question: Where are the salads?
The Illinois-based fast-food chain announced that beginning July 21, and for a limited time, participating restaurants nationwide will offer McDonald’s Caesar Sauce, “a creamy, garlicky Parmesan blend infused with notes of lemon that’s giving fan-favorite chicken items a glow-up this summer.”
The Caesar Sauce is designed for chicken items, namely the new Caesar Snack Wrap and the Bacon Caesar McCrispy Sandwich, McDonald’s said. There will also be a Caesar Dip Cup available.
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“Want extra Caesar for dipping and dunking?” McDonald’s said in its news release. “You can order dip cups à la carte at participating restaurants.”
But as McDonald’s promoted the new sauce on Instagram, many commenters focused on what wasn’t on the menu.
McDonald’s introduced a new Caesar dressing that has some fans begging the fast-food chain to bring back its discontinued salads. (McDonald’s)
“To put on what?! Salads still aren’t back,” an Instagram user wrote alongside an emoji rolling its eyes.
“There better be a salad dropping with this,” another user wrote.
“Just bring the shakable salads cups please,” commented another.
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“None of your employees or CEO likes salad?” wrote someone else.
“How about bringing back salads to start first, just a thought,” someone commented.
“Ok but what about salad shakers to go with?” a user wondered.
McDonald’s experimented with salads over the years, including with its line of Premium salads. (John Zich/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Several other Instagram commenters echoed the salad sentiment.
McDonald’s has experimented with salads over the years. The Washington Post reported on the debut of the healthier menu item in 1986. The fast-food chain began testing the McSalad Shaker in 1999.
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“The new salads are packaged in a large, clear cup with a domed lid so that customers can pour in the dressing and toss it evenly,” the Los Angeles Times reported at the time.
The McSalad Shaker was an official McDonald’s item on menus nationwide by 2000.
McDonald’s introduced a series of salads through the years, like this one shown in a display inside a restaurant in 2006. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
“The revolutionary packaging concept makes eating a McSalad Shaker easy and fun,” Gerald Tomlinson, McDonald’s corporate chef, said at the time. “It’s very portable, and the clear packaging allows our customers to see the fresh ingredients from top to bottom.”
“One thing that won’t be returning to U.S. restaurants nationally is salads. The demand just isn’t there.”
By 2003, however, the McSalad Shaker had been replaced by a line of large-format Premium salads, Food & Wine reported. Salads were discontinued altogether during the COVID-19 pandemic when McDonald’s streamlined its menu, according to the publication.
“You know, our founder famously said in 1970, ‘I don’t know what people are going to be eating in the year 2000, but we’re going to serve more of it than anybody else,'” McDonald’s USA president Joe Erlinger said during a 2024 interview at the Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum.
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Erlinger said it’s been his experience that salads aren’t what customers want from McDonald’s.
The president of McDonald’s said there isn’t enough demand for salads at the fast-food chain to offer them on the menu. (iStock)
“One thing that won’t be returning to U.S. restaurants nationally is salads,” Erlinger added.
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“The demand just isn’t there. They’re looking for great french fries. They’re looking for a $5 meal deal. They’re looking for a hot, fresh sandwich, and so that’s what we’re going to continue to provide them.”
Digital reached out to McDonald’s for comment.
