McDonald's Won't Bring Back Dozens of Menu Items in Foreseeable Future

There will be some big changes under the Golden Arches. McDonald's drastically streamlined its menu during the COVID-19 crisis to cope with staff shortages and limited supplies. The company said it is ready to revive certain items this summer but plans to keep items like salads, bagels, and yogurt parfaits, off the menu until further notice.

According to CNBC, the pandemic-driven slimmed-down menu helped the fast food chain fill drive-thru orders more quickly. It focused on simple, easy-to-prepare offerings. Now, McDonald's announced it plans to bring back seven food items foods like vanilla cones, chocolate chip cookies, two kinds of the Quarter Pounder and the Bacon McDouble, as well as hot tea to its franchises in July.

"We are reintroducing some of our iconic offerings while keeping our menu streamlined-focusing on expert preparation, great service, and, as always, quality ingredients," said McDonald's USA in a statement, according to CNBC.

As their dining rooms reopen, McDonald's said it will continue to examine menu offerings and include more variety. According to The Wall Street Journal, the chain, like many and  other fast food eateries, stripped down its menu to simplify store procedures and supplies during the COVID-19 crisis.

"We heard overwhelmingly the need to simplify our menu," Morgan Flatley, McDonald's chief marketing officer for the U.S. said, according to the Journal. The company said it would probably bring back salads down the road.

There will be new offerings, too. The company plans to introduce a crispy chicken sandwich and a new bakery selection for breakfast. The vast majority of franchise operators stated they wanted to abolish the all-day breakfast option that was suspended during the pandemic, but McDonald's said in a presentation, it had not made a company-wide decision on this matter. During the height of the pandemic, limited breakfast options were available only in the morning, according to CNBC.