Decoding McDonald’s Protein-Rich Menu: Unveiling the Mystery Behind the Callout Badges
McDonald’s has introduced visual “badges” for 17 menu items to help customers easily identify protein-rich options. These badges, also known as “callouts,” are displayed next to select items on the McDonald’s app and online menu. The badges highlight protein-forward items like the Egg McMuffin® and 10-piece Chicken McNuggets®. Despite only 17 items receiving badges, McDonald’s menu actually includes 30 items with at least 15 grams of protein. Some items with lower protein content have badges, while others with higher protein content do not, leading to confusion among customers.
It remains unclear how McDonald’s determined which items would receive the protein “callout” badges. The distinctive yellow text bubbles currently appear next to 11 items on the McDonald’s online menu, including the Egg McMuffin, Sausage Burrito, McDouble, Cheeseburger, Filet-o-Fish, 3-piece McCrispy Strips, 6-piece Chicken McNuggets, 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, Ranch Snack Wrap, Spicy Snack Wrap, and 4-piece McNuggets Happy Meal. It is uncertain if McDonald’s plans to add more badges to its menu in the future.
While McDonald’s is not the only restaurant chain to highlight protein-rich menu items, other major chains like Blaze Pizza, Chipotle, Dunkin’, El Pollo Loco, Jack in the Box, Shake Shack, Smoothie King, and Subway have also introduced high-protein options to cater to the protein-forward diet trend. Customers can now easily identify protein-rich choices at McDonald’s with the new badges, making it simpler to order meals that align with their dietary preferences.