Fast food giant McDonald's has increased the size of its quarter-pounder beef patties from 4 ounces when raw to 4.25 ounces, according to the company's website.
CNBC reports that the Golden Arches quietly increased the size of its Quarter Pounder sandwich from 4 ounces before cooking to 4.25 ounces before cooking and hasn’t yet decided if more beef should equate to a higher cost.
While McDonald’s didn’t provide details on how much the burger weighs after it hits the grill, the previous 4 ounce version clocked in at 2.8 ounces after cooking.
The change was first spotted on McDonald’s nutrition webpage, which provides descriptions of its menu items – including their weight before cooking.
The Quarter Pounder with Cheese is described as "a quarter pound of 100% pure beef simply seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper, two slices of melty cheese, slivered onions and tangy pickles all on a sesame seed bun. Weight before cooking 4.25 oz (120.5g)."
According to CNBC, the more sizable burger comes after McDonald’s reported an uptick in beef prices, saying on an earnings call recently that costs rose about 1% in the last quarter.
McDonald's also recently revealed that it would be toasting its buns for an extra five seconds, making them 15 degrees warmer, and changing how the beef patties are seared and grilled in order to make them juicer.
"These little things add up to big differences for our customers," McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook said at conference in May in New York, according to Bloomberg. "We’re recommitting to tastier food across the menu."
McDonald's is making major changes to its menu and business following seven straight quarters of same-store sales declines in the US, where the chain is battling a pervasive public perception that its food is processed and unhealthy.
The company has also been hurt by a series of food-safety scandals in Asia, which contributed to a 15% loss in net income last year.
