In honor of National Hamburger Day, we compiled a list of facts about McDonald's burgers that might surprise you.
The first McDonald's restaurant before it became the chain it is today wasn't primarily a burger restaurant.
The very first McDonald's Bar-B-Q menu was large and its most famous offering was hot dogs. However, in 1948, the McDonald brothers switched the concept to become a burger restaurant and reduced the restaurant's offerings to just nine items: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, soft drinks, milk, coffee, potato chips, and a slice of pie.
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At the original McDonald's locations, before Ray Kroc revolutionized the company and founded what we know as McDonald's today in 1955, a burger cost just 15 cents.
during its years in operation.
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Today, it's estimated that McDonald's has served billions and billions of burgers, with the Wall Street Journal estimating the chain sold its 300 billionth burger around 2013.
McDonald's reported that its earnings surpassed $112 billion globally in 2021, with sales up 13.8% in the United States. That's a lot of burgers.
Product shot of a McDonald's Big Ma
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The first Big Mac-esque sandwich was created by owner and operator Jim Delligatti of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1967, but it wouldn't be released nationwide until 1968.
It included two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame-seed bun.
for the company's advertising department in 1967, came up with the "Big Mac" name.
Photo: AP Photo/Diether Endlicher
According to the Associated Press, executives and other employees at the time laughed at the name. However, it stuck and went on to become "one of the best-known product names of all time."
It wasn't until 1985 that McDonald's Corp. finally recognized Rose had come up with the name.
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According to USA Today, the company sold roughly 75 burgers every second in 2013, or 4,500 burgers every minute.
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According to the nutritional info listed for a McDonald's hamburger, it contains 25% of your daily value of protein.
While McDonald's food in general may not be healthy for you in excess, there are some menu items that are healthier than others in moderation.
which included a hamburger, small fries, and a small sundae, was called a "Menu Ronald."
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In 1979, McDonald's rolled out its first Happy Meal nationwide. The first one was circus-themed. McDonald's advertising executive Bob Bernstein introduced the idea to swap the small sundae for a plastic toy.
In 2021, McDonald's announced the chain would begin phasing out plastic toys from its Happy Meals in an effort to be more environmentally conscious.