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McDonald’s slammed by customers after new paper straws are branded ‘unusable’

Aleesha Badkar Aleesha Badkar
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    • McDonald’s has faced backlash from customers over their new paper straws.

    In an effort to reduce plastic waste and support the environment, last June McDonald’s announced that they would be phasing out plastic straws in all the of their UK restaurants in favour of a more eco-friendly paper alternative.

    However, now that the news straws have become widely available in branches across the country, upon using them customers are claiming that they are not fit for purpose and have even started a petition to bring back their plastic predecessors.

    An online petition has seen nearly 40,000 signatures in just three days as a response to the ‘soggy’ paper straws now being distributed in McDonald’s restaurants.

    And Twitter users have jumped on the bandwagon too, with many claiming that the new straws are particularly problematic when it comes to drinking the restaurant’s classic milkshake.

    ‘Right I understand why we have them,’ wrote one frustrated customer, ‘but those new straws at McDonald’s are f***ing gross. The soggy cardboard feel is not what I want while drinking my milkshake’

    ‘@McDonalds what good is a straw when its made of cardboard and becomes unusable,’ raged another Twitter user, ‘yh trying to recycle etc but this is not tue way to go’.

    ‘Can @McDonalds send me the instructions for how to drink a milkshake with a paper straw,’ added another. ‘Thanks in advance.’

    However, many have said that avoiding the negative environmental impacts of plastic is worth the ‘disgusting’ straws, with comments including: ‘We shouldn’t keep destroying the planet with plastic straws all because you want a McDonald’s milkshake’ and ‘if you signed the petition for mcdonald’s to bring back plastic straws unfollow me now! save the turtles and stop your moaning’.

    One resourceful fan suggested that McDonald’s use the same sturdier cardboard for the new straws as they do for their cups, to eliminate any issues.

    The fast food restaurant responded saying: ‘Hi, Thanks for the suggestion. We completely understand your concerns and can reassure you that whilst paper straws will be introduced to all restaurants, we’ll be working on retaining an alternative option for those that require one.’

    And several McDonald’s fans even suggested for customers to invest in reusable steel straws as a solution to both problems and a happy medium, while some said they now lean towards fast-food restaurant KFC because of the change.

    ‘The Government’s ambitious plans, combined with strong customer opinion, has helped to accelerate the move away from plastic,’ said CEO of McDonald’s UK and Ireland Paul Pomroy when the plan first came into place, ‘and I’m proud that we’ve been able to play our part in helping to achieve this societal change.’

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