What Happened To McDonald's McDLT Burger

The McDLT was a burger offered by McDonald's in the 1980s, known for its unique packaging that aimed to keep the hot and cold components separate until the customer was ready to eat. The burger came in a two-sided Styrofoam container, with one side holding the hot beef patty and the bottom bun, while the other side housed the lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, sauces, and top bun. This packaging design was marketed as a way to maintain the freshness and temperature of the ingredients, ensuring that the lettuce remained crisp and the patty stayed warm. Despite its innovative approach, the McDLT faced criticism for its environmentally unfriendly packaging, as Styrofoam was not biodegradable and contributed to increasing waste. As environmental awareness grew, McDonald's began to phase out Styrofoam containers in favor of more sustainable packaging. The McDLT was eventually discontinued in the early 1990s as part of this shift, reflecting both the company's response to environmental concerns and changing consumer preferences. The discontinuation of the McDLT marked an end to one of McDonald's more unique ventures in burger presentation, leaving it as a nostalgic memory for those who experienced it.
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The McDLT couldn't unseat the Whopper

McDonald's was consistently striving to create a burger that could rival Burger King's Whopper in its quest to maintain its status as the largest fast food burger chain globally, boasting nearly 42,000 locations by 2024. When the McDLT failed to rise to that challenge, McDonald's replaced it with the lower-fat McLean (another burger that has since been discontinued) in 1991. However, in the early 1980s, McDonald's believed they had discovered the perfect solution.

In 1984, brothers Nick and Gus Karos, who owned McDonald's franchises in Cleveland, Ohio, developed a sandwich they called the Lettuce and Tomato Special (LTS), as detailed in "All about the Burger: A History of America's Favorite Sandwich." A franchisee from Louisiana, Will May, created the crucial packaging for the product. By November 1985, the burger, now known as the McDLT, was launched nationwide. Unfortunately, it was short-lived; after less than six years on the menu, McDonald's decided to discontinue the McDLT. While this burger, like many other beloved items that are no longer available, is gone for good, I must say that younger generations truly missed out.

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