In 2015, McDonald's pledged to source 100% cage-free eggs in the U.S. by 2025. The chain accomplished this goal two years early, announcing this achievement in February.
Last year, McDonald's announced it would make more than 50 changes to its burgers to offer a hotter, juicier product.
Burgers aren't the only new arrivals to land on McDonald's menu this year. The fast-food chain has debuted several new, limited-time items this year, most recently launching a Kit Kat Banana Split McFlurry.
Following mounting customer criticism over rising prices, McDonald's directed its focus on affordability by rolling out a new value deal this summer. On June 25, the chain began offering its $5 Meal Deal at locations nationwide.
At the end of 2023, McDonald's opened its first CosMc's—a beverage-focused spinoff restaurant—in Bolingbrook, Ill. Since then, McDonald's has added more locations, opening new restaurants in the Texas communities of Arlington, Dallas, and Watauga.
McDonald's presence is getting even larger—both this year and beyond. During a February earnings call, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski shared that the chain plans to open more than 2,100 restaurants in 2024.
Select McDonald's locations have been selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts since the fall of 2022, when the chain first tested the dessert at nine locations.
After announcing that it will phase out all of its self-serve drink stations at restaurants across the U.S. by 2032, McDonald's revealed another drink-related change this year: the potential end of free refills.
While fans have mourned the loss of McDonald's bagels since the item's 2020 discontinuation, select restaurants have been bringing the breakfast staple back. For customers searching for their favorite bagel sandwich, there's even a public spreadsheet compiling the list of locations where this offering has been spotted.