McDonald’s mozzarella sticks were a popular menu item that customers loved. However, in 2016, McDonald’s made the decision to stop selling mozzarella sticks at all of their locations in the United States. This removal of a fan favorite left many customers wondering why McDonald’s would get rid of such a tasty appetizer. There are a few potential reasons that McDonald’s may have decided to axe mozzarella sticks from their menu.
Potential Reasons for Removal
Lack of Popularity
One potential reason is that mozzarella sticks simply weren’t popular enough to warrant staying on the menu. McDonald’s has a massive amount of data on the sales of each menu item. If mozzarella sticks were not selling well enough across all McDonald’s locations, then discontinuing them would make sense from a business perspective. Removing low selling items allows for simpler menu boards, faster service, and reduced costs.
High Preparation Time
Another possible factor is the time required to prepare mozzarella sticks versus McDonald’s other menu items. McDonald’s prides itself on fast service, with customers expecting to get their food within minutes of ordering. However, mozzarella sticks require a multi-step cooking process that takes several minutes. The sticks must be coated in batter, fried, and drained before being served hot and melty. This process caused a bottleneck compared to McDonald’s burgers and nuggets which can be cooked more rapidly. The high prep time led to longer wait times that customers disliked.
High Labor Costs
Preparing mozzarella sticks was also labor intensive for McDonald’s employees. The dipping, battering, frying, and plating process required workers to invest more time and effort compared to other items. With wages rising, the additional labor costs of mozzarella sticks may have become too expensive for McDonald’s to justify keeping them on the menu. Simplifying the menu likely allowed some labor savings in the kitchen.
Messy Eating Experience
Some customers noted that mozzarella sticks could be rather messy to eat, especially in a car or on-the-go. The melty cheese and marinara sauce tended to drip, creating a cleanup issue that customers disliked. McDonald’s focuses heavily on food that can be easily eaten in the car or while walking around. Mozzarella sticks failed to live up to this convenience promise for some customers.
Nutritional Concerns
With rising rates of obesity and diet-related diseases, McDonald’s has tried to offer healthier menu options. However, mozzarella sticks are high in calories, fat, sodium, and carbohydrates. The unhealthy nutritional profile does not align with McDonald’s efforts to provide more salads, wraps, fruit, and milk options. Removing mozzarella sticks allowed for a slightly more health-conscious menu.
When Were Mozzarella Sticks Removed?
McDonald’s began phasing mozzarella sticks out in late 2015 and early 2016. By the summer of 2016, the appetizer had been completely removed from menus across the United States. Some international locations continued offering mozzarella sticks for a few more years. However, today the item is discontinued globally.
Here is a timeline of when mozzarella sticks began disappearing from McDonald’s menus:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2015 | Mozzarella sticks removed from some U.S. Midwest locations |
| January 2016 | Mozzarella sticks no longer available on East Coast |
| March 2016 | Removal from West Coast and western states |
| June 2016 | Mozzarella sticks fully discontinued in the U.S. |
| July 2018 | Removed from international menus |
As this timeline shows, the removal of mozzarella sticks occurred gradually over the course of about 3 years until they were gone for good by the middle of 2016.
Customer Reactions to the Discontinuation
Many McDonald’s customers were upset and disappointed when they learned the mozzarella sticks had been cut. Reactions on social media showed just how popular the menu item was, with some of the strongest backlash McDonald’s had faced in regards to removing a food item.
Here are some examples of customer reactions on Twitter when the mozzarella sticks were discontinued:
| Tweet |
|---|
| “Nooo! @McDonalds got rid of mozzarella sticks. My life is ruined.” |
| “McDonald’s stopped selling mozzarella sticks!!!! Whhhyyy?? Bring them back, I’m heartbroken 💔” |
| “I will never forgive McDonald’s for getting rid of the mozzarella sticks” |
| “Who do I write to in order to complain about McDonald’s mozzarella sticks being gone? This is an outrage!” |
As the tweets show, fans of the mozzarella sticks did not quietly accept the removal. The appetizer clearly had an enthusiastic following who felt disappointed by McDonald’s decision.
Some customers even started online petitions asking McDonald’s to reinstate mozzarella sticks on the menu. One on Change.org gathered over 5,000 signatures from aggrieved mozzarella stick lovers. However, McDonald’s stood by their decision and did not bring the item back despite the complaints.
Other Discontinued McDonald’s Menu Items
While the mozzarella sticks discontinuation got a big reaction, there have been many other popular McDonald’s foods that got the axe over the years:
McLean Deluxe Burger
This lower fat burger was introduced in 1991 but lasted less than a year on the menu. It failed to replicate the taste of McDonald’s regular beef patties.
Onion Nuggets
These onion pieces coated in tempura batter were served with dipping sauce in the 1970s. They were removed due to high cost and low popularity.
Pizza
McDonald’s served personal pan pizzas from 1989 to 2000. They took too long to prepare compared to burgers and fries.
McHotDog
Hot dogs were trialled on menus in the 1990s but never expanded to nationwide availability. Customers found them lower quality than burgers.
McSoup
Soups were added in the 2010s to appeal to more health-conscious diners. Selections included broccoli cheese and chicken enchilada. But the soups were unpopular and required too much labor to prepare.
McSpaghetti
This unusual pasta dish was served in the Philippines in the 1990s and early 2000s. It failed to catch on long-term in the U.S. or globally.
Salads
McDonald’s has periodically added salads to appeal to health trends. Options like bacon ranch and chef salad have been rotated on and off menus over the years.
So the mozzarella sticks were far from the first food to get removed from McDonald’s due to poor sales or operational challenges. The company is constantly tweaking its menu to maximize profitability.
Is There Any Chance Mozzarella Sticks Will Return?
Given the passionate demand from mozzarella stick devotees after they were discontinued, could McDonald’s ever add them back to the menu? Unfortunately, there is little chance of mozzarella sticks returning to McDonald’s locations. The operational issues that caused them to be removed still exist, especially the time-consuming preparation that slows down service.
McDonald’s menu strategy today centers around fresh beef burgers, chicken sandwiches, and simplified ordering. There isn’t a logical place for labor-intensive mozzarella sticks in the lineup. The equipment and kitchen layouts are now optimized for speed, efficiency, and volume. Bringing back mozzarella sticks would run counter to McDonald’s current business model and menu composition strategy.
While customers might enjoy having the melty, cheesy appetizer option back, from McDonald’s perspective, the headaches of preparing mozzarella sticks outweigh the benefits. The discontinuation was likely a permanent removal for this menu item. McDonald’s has given no indication of any plans to ever bring mozzarella sticks back in the future.
Conclusion
McDonald’s mozzarella sticks were removed from menus in 2016 due to a combination of factors. Lack of popularity, high prep time, high labor costs, and nutrition concerns all contributed to the decision to discontinue selling this appetizer. Customers were vocal in their love for mozzarella sticks but McDonald’s stood firm on the removal. Operations are now streamlined around faster service that leaves no room for mozzarella sticks. It is unlikely this menu item will ever make a comeback at McDonald’s. Fans will have to get their mozzarella stick fix elsewhere if they want to enjoy this cheesy, breaded appetizer.