What’s New in Fast Food in 2020

McDonald’s introduced new breakfast pastries this week, marking the first time in more than eight years it has offered new items in its McCaféⓇ Bakery lineup. To entice customers to give them a try, they’re giving them away for free.

With the purchase of a hot or iced coffee ordered through the mobile app, customers may choose from the new apple fritter, blueberry muffin or cinnamon roll. The promotion runs Nov. 3 through Nov. 9.

The fast-food breakfast space has become increasingly competitive, with rivals like Wendy’s launching their own breakfast lineup in March, as well as Dunkin’ and Starbucks luring customers into grabbing a morning bite along with their coffee. Major restaurant chains across the board have struggled to maintain strong morning sales as the pandemic disrupted consumer routines.

McDonald’s introduced its first breakfast item, the iconic Egg McMuffin, in 1971. Since then the menu has grown to include breakfast burritos (1991), McGriddles (2003) and a commitment to sourcing all cage-free eggs in the next 25 years (2015).

Read on for more new fast-food offerings 2020 has brought in hopes of boosting business.

Burger King: Reduced Methane Emissions Whopper

Whoppers in select Burger King locations in five cities (Austin, Texas; Miami; New York; Los Angeles; and Portland, Oregon) have had a special air about them since July, when the burger chain replaced the usual beef with meat from cows fed a special emissions-reducing diet.

Burger King says the new formula, which includes lemongrass as a digestive aid, reduces cows’ gas emissions by about 33%. (Popular Science poked holes in this claim, however, saying the actual reduction is closer to 3%.)

This move adds to Burger King’s larger push toward sustainability, having proven in 2019 that plant-based meat options like the Impossible Whopper would win fans in the fast-food arena. Others have since followed, including Dunkin’ with its meatless Beyond SausageⓇ Breakfast Sandwich last year and the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich Starbucks introduced in July.

Dunkin': Spicy Ghost Pepper Donut

Jumping on the sweet/spicy train is Dunkin’, rolling out its Spicy Ghost Pepper Donut earlier this month in what mostly sounds like a dare to its customers. The pastry is a basic yeast doughnut but it’s topped with strawberry-flavored icing blended with cayenne and ghost pepper, plus red sugar sprinkles. This limited-time item will only be available until December, so get ‘em while they’re, uh, hot. (Sorry.)

Read More: Dunkin’ Donuts Is Closing Hundreds of Stores

Wendy's: Classic Chicken Sandwich

In a crowded field of chicken sandwiches, Wendy’s has made a big push for its new Classic Chicken Sandwich, billed as a “crispier, juicier” upgrade to the previous Homestyle Chicken Sandwich, according to a Wendy’s press release. Everything else about it sounds predictably chicken-sandwichy: mayo, tomato, lettuce, pickles and a toasted bun.

They’re even giving it away for free through Nov. 8, by ordering either in person or via the mobile app (limit one per customer per week).

KFC earlier played its hand by upping the ante with not one, but two donuts in its Fried Chicken & Donut Sandwich released nationwide in March.

Wendy’s also re-entered the breakfast game to give McDonald’s a run for its money in March, debuting items like the Breakfast Baconator (sausage patty, fried egg, American cheese, six strips of applewood smoked bacon) and the Maple Bacon Chicken Croissant (chicken breast, applewood smoked bacon and maple butter on a croissant bun).

Chick-fil-A: Kale Crunch Side

And now for some lighter fair (phew!): Chick-fil-A is offering a healthy antidote to all the aforementioned gut punches. The Kale Crunch Side was added to its side item offerings in January, featuring curly kale and green cabbage, apple cider and Dijon vinaigrette, and optional roasted almonds. It clocks in at only 120 calories and doesn’t include an upcharge. The Kale Crunch Side replaced the Superfood Side, which had been on the menu since 2016.

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About the Author

Cody Bay

Cody Bay is an award-winning writer, editor and media ace based in Seattle, WA. With a focus on social good storytelling and content strategy, she recently led the Microsoft News for Good initiative at MSN, creating content experiences to inform and empower readers to take action on the causes they care about. She has contributed to a wide variety of local and national publications, including Microsoft’s IT Showcase, The Seattle Times, Seattle magazine, The Travel Channel and the Puget Sound Business Journal, and was previously a multimedia editor at The Associate Press in New York.

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