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Small details that actually matter when you order

• Some items are fresher than others. Ordering the right version can mean better quality for the same price.

• Sugar hides in safe choices. Drinks like sweet tea and Coke pack more sugar than most people expect.

• Small tweaks save money. Customizing orders or downsizing often delivers the same flavor for less.

McDonald's has mastered speed and consistency better than almost any restaurant on earth. But that efficiency also hides a lot of small details that most customers never notice.

The folks at Delish.com gathered some interesting insights from a former corporate chef at McDonalds to reveal where quality really shows up, where sugar and shortcuts sneak in, and how small ordering tweaks can change both taste and cost.

Heres a deeper look at the most useful takeaways and how to put them to work the next time you pull into the drive-thru.

The fries arent vegetarian

Maybe this explains why the fries at McDonalds are some of the absolute best around, in my humble opinion, of course.

According to Delish, in the United States, Mickey Ds fries actually contain natural beef flavor and milk derivatives, which means they arent vegetarian or vegan at all, despite the one main ingredient, the potato.

Smart tip: If dietary restrictions matter to you, dont assume fries are a safe no meat default. Always check the ingredient lists or opt for alternatives like apple slices or a side salad.

The Coke really is different

Ever notice how a Coke from McDonalds just hits a little bit different?

McDonalds follows strict fountain guidelines from Coca-Cola, including pre-chilled water and syrup, plus a syrup ratio designed for quicker ice melt.

But the secret just might be in the wider straws. The former corporate chef at McDonalds says they deliver more liquid per sip, which adds to a bolder taste.

Smart tip: Downsize your drink. You just might find a small McDonalds Coke tastes as strong as a medium or large elsewhere.

Sweet tea is a sugar overload

No surprise here but McDonalds sweet tea is made in massive batches with pounds of sugar mixed in. A small sweet tea contains about 40 grams of sugar, which puts it nearly on par with a soda.

Smart tip: Ask for half sweet, half unsweet tea. You still get the flavor without drinking nearly a full days worth of added sugar.

The best eggs arent on every breakfast sandwich

I mentioned this one in my fast-food ordering hacks article, and it was confirmed by Delish.

The round egg on Egg McMuffins is cracked fresh and cooked on-site. Their folded eggs, which are used on their biscuits and bagels, arrive pre-cooked and frozen before being reheated.

Smart tip: If youre ordering breakfast regularly, stick with McMuffins or customize your sandwich with a round egg for better texture and flavor.

Big Mac sauce doesnt include ketchup

Despite the color, Big Mac sauce gets its tint from paprika, not ketchup.

Its actually a blend of mayo, relish, mustard, vinegar, and a blend of other spices. Its the tinge of vinegar that probably has many assuming there is ketchup involved.Heres aTikTok videoof exactly how its made.

Theres no secret menubut there are shortcuts

McDonalds doesnt offer an official secret menu like In-N-Out Burger does.

This is because every item must have verified nutrition information. Still, ingredient swaps are definitely allowed and widely used.

Smart tip: Consider customizing existing menu items instead of ordering premium burgers. Small swaps often cost way less than upgrading outright.

Burger seasoning is surprisingly basic

McDonalds burger seasoning is simply salt and pepper mixed at a specific ratio. Theres absolutely no proprietary spice blend or secret ingredient involved.

Smart tip: Skip overpriced copycat seasonings at the store. You can easily recreate the McDonalds flavor at home with the shakers you have on your table right now.

Some locations still sell birthday cakes

If you're of a certain age, you probably remember when Mickey D's sold birthday cakes and they were quite popular.

Well, it turns out that a limited number of locations still stock chocolate or vanilla birthday cakes, depending on regional demand and the owner-operator.

Smart tip: Call ahead. Even if your location doesnt stock them, some managers can still special-order cakes with advance notice.

Youcan recreate McGriddles at home

According to Delish, the Trader Joes Dutch Griddle Cakes are one of the closest shortcuts to a McGriddle when microwaved instead of toasted.

Trader Joes shoppers often use them to create their own DIY breakfast sandwiches.

Smart tip: Making McGriddle-style sandwiches at home can easily save several dollars per meal, especially for large families.

But the median price is still well below $3 a gallon

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The nations average price of gasoline has risen 3.1 cents over the last week and stands at $2.76 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

• The national average is down 8.6 cents from a month ago and is 32.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

• The national average price of diesel fell 1.0 cents in the last week and stands at $3.465 per gallon.

After nearly two months of steady declines, U.S. gas prices have edged higher, signaling a potential turning point for motorists who have benefited from falling fuel costs since late last year. The modest increase comes as oil prices rebound toward the $60-per-barrel mark, reversing part of their recent slide.

After seven straight weeks of declines, the national average price of gasoline has moved higher, breaking the streak as oil prices have climbed back near $60 per barrel after dipping into the mid-$50s, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

While the uptick may concern drivers, De Haan noted that prices could still revisit recent lows before longer-term upward pressures take hold.

That window, however, may be limited. California is expected to begin transitioning to cleaner summer gasoline blends soon, with the rest of the country following in a little over a month. These seasonal shifts typically increase refining costs and place upward pressure on prices.

Localized discounts are possible

Still, a surplus of winter gasolinebuilt up after sizable inventory increases in recent weekscould lead to localized discounts as refiners and retailers work through excess supplies.

Oil markets remain a key driver behind pump prices. Crude prices softened slightly in early trading this week after easing tensions with Iran and a pause in threats of U.S. action there.

West Texas Intermediate crude slipped to about $59 per barrel, while Brent crude hovered near $64. Even so, prices remain higher than they were just a few weeks ago, supported by ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

Geopolitical tension

Markets continue to watch global developments closely, including renewed rhetoric from President Trump involving Greenland and NATO relations, the possibility of additional sanctions affecting Europe, and ongoing instability in Venezuela. The U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro has added fresh uncertainty around the countrys future oil production, a factor that could ripple through global supply balances.

On the supply side, the Energy Information Administrations latest Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 3.4 million barrels and remain about 3% below the seasonal average. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve also increased slightly.

Gasoline inventories jumped by 9.0 million barrels and now sit roughly 4% above the five-year seasonal average, helping to cushion prices despite higher crude costs. Distillate inventories, which include diesel, were essentially flat and remain below seasonal norms.

Refineries are running hard, with utilization climbing to more than 95%, while implied gasoline demand rose to just over 8.3 million barrels per day, suggesting steady consumption even in the heart of winter.

Wide price dispersion

At the pump, price dispersion remains wide. The most common price paid by U.S. drivers is $2.49 per gallon, while the median price stands at $2.69. The cheapest 10% of stations average $2.20 per gallon, compared with $3.88 among the most expensive. Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana currently offer the lowest statewide averages, while Hawaii, California, and Washington remain the most expensive.

Several Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states saw the sharpest weekly increases, led by Michigan and Indiana. As seasonal factors and global oil markets continue to evolve, drivers may see uneven price movements in the weeks aheadthough for now, gas remains significantly cheaper than it was a year ago.

The ready-to-eat product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Suzannas Kitchen is recalling nearly 13,720 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken products after potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, according to federal officials.

• The recalled chicken was produced on Oct. 14, 2025, and distributed to foodservice locations in eight states.

• No illnesses have been reported, but consumers and foodservice operators are urged not to use the product.

Suzannas Kitchen is recalling approximately 13,720 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast fillet products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product was distributed in seven states.

The recall involves fully cooked grilled chicken breast fillets with rib meat produced on Oct. 14, 2025. The affected product was shipped in 10-pound cases containing two 5-pound bags. The cases and packages bear lot code 60104 P1382 287 5 J14 and establishment number P-1382 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the recalled chicken was distributed to foodservice distribution centers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio. The FSIS categorized the recall as Class I the highest threat level.

Third-party lab test

The issue was identified after a third-party laboratory test returned a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of the ready-to-eat product. FSIS noted that no confirmed illnesses have been linked to the recalled chicken to date.

Listeria monocytogenes is a potentially serious foodborne pathogen that can cause severe infections, particularly in older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems. FSIS advises foodservice operators and distributors to stop using the affected product and ensure it is properly disposed of or returned.

Consumers who believe they may have become ill after consuming the recalled product should contact a healthcare provider.

What to do

Questions about the recall can be directed to Dawn Duncan, Customer Service Director at Suzannas Kitchen, via email at dduncan@suzannaskitchen.com.

For general food safety questions, consumers may contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854. Complaints related to meat, poultry, or egg products can also be submitted through the USDAs Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System, available 24 hours a day.

Not without some help

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Trump cant cap credit card interest rates on his own: Under the Constitution, only Congress can regulate interest rates.

• High rates reflect riskbut defaults remain relatively low: Average credit card APRs exceed 20%, which banks say offsets the risk of unsecured lending.

• A rate cap could limit access to credit: Banks warn that a 10% cap would make lending to higher-risk borrowers unprofitable, likely leading to fewer approvals, lower credit limits, and account closures.

President Trump says credit card interest rates are too high and wants to cap them at 10%. But the president who has gotten things done with executive orders will have to go through Congress to achieve this goal.

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to write laws regulating commerce and financial markets including interest-rate limits on credit cards. Trump has called for a one-year cap at 10%, but no such law currently exists, and a presidential proclamation alone doesnt change private-sector interest rates.

A bill has been introduced in both the House and Senate with bipartisan support to impose the cap, but neither has moved out of committee yet, meaning they havent been submitted for votes.

Banks have made it clear that they strongly oppose a cap, and even if such a bill is passed and signed into law, banks and industry groups could still challenge it in court, arguing limits on interest rates interfere with contracts and financial markets.

So, for there to be a cap on credit card interest rates, heres what has to happen:

1. Congress drafts, debates, and passes a law capping credit card interest rates.

2. The President signs that law.

3. The law withstands legal challenges in federal courts.

Until then, Trumps proposal is effectively a policy objective, not a binding rate cap.

Are rates really too high?

On the face of it, the answer seems obvious. However, banks point out that an average rate of north of 20% protects them from credit card users who default. There is no collateral to seize in case of non-payment.

But how common is credit card default? Federal Reserve data from the third quarter of 2025 show the credit card delinquency rate (30+ days past due) is around 3% of outstanding balances. Delinquency rates have risen from the unusually low pandemic levels, but are not extremely high historically.

The charge-off (default) rate deeper than standard delinquency is around 3.9% of credit card debt (Q3 2025) based on Federal Reserve figures, meaning lenders have recognized nearly 4% of balances as losses.

Personal loans are also unsecured but usually have lower interest rates than credit cards. The rate on a personal loan might be as low as 12%, not much higher than Trumps proposed cap.

Unintended consequences

Banks say a cap on credit card interest rates would result in reduced access to credit for higher-risk consumers. The banking industry warns:

• Many subprime and near-prime borrowers are only profitable to lenders at rates well above 10%.

• Banks would likely respond by:

  • Denying more applications

  • Lowering credit limits

  • Closing inactive or marginal accounts

This mirrors what happened after state-level usury caps and after the Military Lending Act capped rates for service members.

According to banks, credit becomes cheaper but harder to get. Consumers with good or excellent credit would benefit, especially if they carry a balance. Consumers with questionable credit might have trouble qualifying for a credit card.

Advocates say current rules are outdated and unrealistic

• The U.S. Department of Education will delay plans to seize tax refunds and garnish wages from struggling student loan borrowers

• Consumer advocates say current collection rules are outdated and risk pushing families and seniors into poverty

• The pause renews calls for reforms to reflect todays cost of living

The U.S. Department of Education has announcedthat it will delay plans to resume aggressive debt collection against student loan borrowers who have fallen behind on their payments, including seizing tax refunds and garnishing wages.

The move offers temporary relief to millions of borrowers still struggling with rising living costs after years of pandemic-era payment pauses and policy changes.

Todays announcement throws a lifeline to working and middle class families who are buckling under the weight of outdated student loan policies that dont reflect todays high cost of living and affordability crisis, said Abby Shafroth, managing director of advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center.

Advocates warn collection rules are decades out of date

Consumer advocates say the departments existing collection policies were set decades ago and have not kept pace with inflation or housing, food, and health care costs.

Under current rules, the Department of Education protects only the first $217.50 per week in wages from garnishment a threshold set in 2009. According to advocates, the buying power of that amount has fallen by more than 30% since then and now sits well below the federal poverty line.

Similarly, the department protects just $750 per month in Social Security benefits from seizure, a figure established in 1996. Today, that amount is less than 60% of the poverty line, putting older borrowers at particular risk.

Without changes, advocates warn that restarting collections largely paused since 2020 could push working families and retirees into poverty.

Calls grow for broader reforms before collections resume

Shafroth said the delay should be followed by structural changes to how the federal government collects student loan debt.

The Department of Educations current collection policies are outdated and can trap people already struggling to keep up with rising costs deeper in debt and even push them into poverty, she said. Thats the opposite of what our financial aid policies are supposed to do.

Consumer advocates are urging the administration to increase the amount of income protected for basic living expenses, shield anti-poverty benefits such as Social Security and the Earned Income Tax Credit from seizure, and cap collections at the amount borrowers are actually behind on payments.

They are also calling for simpler pathways for borrowers who fall behind to enroll in repayment plans or other options that help them manage their loans successfully.

For now, the departments decision delays the resumption of some of the governments most punitive collection tools but advocates say long-term relief will depend on whether those tools are reformed before they are turned back on.