mcdonalds milkshakes- varible quality

[Qwerty133]

Over the last couple of years I have noticed that a 'strawberry milkshake' is not the same product consistently, even within the same branch. Some of the most extreme examples include a bright red one that was clearly just the syrup, a white one with absolutely no taste and a runny one that was not very cold and nearly everything in between. This seems to be worse in london as out of 4 milkshakes only 1 was of an 'acceptable' quality, there are also branches which seem to never provide one that isnt way too strong.
Has anyone else noticed this or have I just been extremely unlucky?

 

[Nym]

Asside from the fact they're not milkshakes, they're Gypsum Shakes, no, I havn't noticed...

 

[bnm]

Where on earth have you got the idea that McD's shakes contain gypsum?

There's no Calcium Sulphate in the ingredients list. The main ingredient is er, milk. Making them milkshakes.

 

[Mr Spock]

If only one in four is of acceptable quality why do you keep buying them?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I only have ever had one of these "milkshakes" once which was of the consistency of extremely thick sea ice slush just before total freezing occurs. Needless to say, I spoke to the "captain" who was on duty, who, to give him his due, gave me an immediate refund without any arguments.

 

[Qwerty133]

If only one in four is of acceptable quality why do you keep buying them?

if you notice that is just in london, where i dont live and only visit infrequently and its only in 2 visits (They always replace it once i complain) and in 2 different branches. and the quicker a milkshake place opens in leicester the better
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I only have ever had one of these "milkshakes" once which was of the consistency of extremely thick sea ice slush just before total freezing occurs. Needless to say, I spoke to the "captain" who was on duty, who, to give him his due, gave me an immediate refund without any arguments.

Just how it should be to be fair and the nicest ones are like this!!!!

 

[Ferret]

If only one in four is of acceptable quality why do you keep buying them?

On a similar theme, we all know McDonalds is cack and while it may be fast, I'm not convinced that it should be called 'food'!

 

[bnm]

I don't think it's cack. I'm lovin' it®.

 

[richw]

Having previously worked for set company, it will be down to the machines calibration for the colour and flavour. From memory it should give 30ml of syrup in a medium shake to give perfect colour and flavour. This is easily adjustable by the staff, and tends to get turned down to about 20-25 ml to bring in the profit. 20-25 ml of syrup gives a good flavour and colour. If the syrup tank is low it also underflavours, this is down to staff not changing it.
The being too runny is because too many people are buying shakes and the machine cant keep up with freezing down the shake mix. I believe the machine capabilities was 2 shakes per minute, however we used to have to pour 4-5 shakes per minute in summer.

Ingredients list is:

Milkshake Base :
Skimmed Milk, Sugar, Cream, Whey Powder, Glucose Syrup, Stabiliser (Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Carob Gum).
Strawberry Flavour Milkshake Syrup :
Water, Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Strawberry Juice Concentrate, Beetroot Juice, Acidulant (Citric Acid), Strawberry Flavour, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate).

All McD ingredients lists can be found here http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/Food.html

 

[Qwerty133]

On a similar theme, we all know McDonalds is cack and while it may be fast, I'm not convinced that it should be called 'food'!

At least it doesn't contain horse... unlike some of their competitors

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just how it should be to be fair and the nicest ones are like this!!!!

Perhaps the Macdonalds' definition of a milkshake is somewhat different to that type of drink that was served in my much more younger days in the 1950's which was usually flavoured milk with ice cream added then given a vigourous machine mixing. It was smooth and cold, but able to be drunk easily. If I had tried to drink what was in the Macdonalds' offering, I would have had to wait a period of some time before this was possible.

 

[district]

The reason this has happened is because the shake syrup is low and needs to be changed, or the shake syrup has not been primed correctly. You should prime the shake machine after every change, which tests that the syrup can be drawn from the bags correctly. If it has not been primed after changed then the milkshake may be bland and tasteless.

 

[SS4]

Perhaps the Macdonalds' definition of a milkshake is somewhat different to that type of drink that was served in my much more younger days in the 1950's which was usually flavoured milk with ice cream added then given a vigourous machine mixing. It was smooth and cold, but able to be drunk easily. If I had tried to drink what was in the Macdonalds' offering, I would have had to wait a period of some time before this was possible.

I did a variant of that at home with milkshake powder, ice cream, milk and sugar. It was nice enough although as you can imagine far from being good for oneself

I've not had a McDonald's milkshake in ages but have always been irked over a lack of vanilla milkshake. Instead I get vanilla or butterscotch flavour from sainsburys

 

[richw]

I did a variant of that at home with milkshake powder, ice cream, milk and sugar. It was nice enough although as you can imagine far from being good for oneself

I make them with my smoothy machine, I use Milk, Ice Cream and some kind of chocolate bar or fruit, or sweets

 

[district]

On a similar theme, we all know McDonalds is cack and while it may be fast, I'm not convinced that it should be called 'food'!

It is quite clearly food, I do not think anyone say otherwise. Bad food quality exists when procedures are not been followed. When it is done correctly and with pride, the product is perfect.

 

[richw]

It is quite clearly food, I do not think anyone say otherwise. Bad food quality exists when procedures are not been followed. When it is done correctly and with pride, the product is perfect.

Since I left the company I now always look at the time cards, and decide whether to order "no onions" or "no mustard" etc, or alternatively if the staff dont know me I'll order a mystery shopper style order.

 

[deltic1989]

The reason this has happened is because the shake syrup is low and needs to be changed, or the shake syrup has not been primed correctly. You should prime the shake machine after every change, which tests that the syrup can be drawn from the bags correctly. If it has not been primed after changed then the milkshake may be bland and tasteless.

This is the most likely explanation if the shake machine in your local store is manufactured by Taylor. These machines from my memory are rather awkward to use and maintain. If the machine is not properly primed then the product will not be up to the correct standard. also one common mistake I observed whilst working for the company was people forgetting to place the pressurized air line on the top of the canister that contains the syrup resulting in the machine not being able to draw the syrup.

I object also to the remarks that Mc Donalds cannot be described as food. It can because it is. When you get an employee that is enthusiastic about providing a quality service then you will get good food, (it might even look like the picture), but if you get an employee you doesn't give a stuff then you will get a sub standard product. But in my experiance there are controls in place to prevent sub standard food being served.
Well there was when I worked there anyway, we always had a Manager on Wrap and Call who would check the product before wraping it and placing it in the transfer bin.

 

[richw]

also one common mistake I observed whilst working for the company was people forgetting to place the pressurized air line on the top of the canister that contains the syrup resulting in the machine not being able to draw the syrup.

The machines have been modified about 5 years ago it must have been and no longer use the pressurised canisters. Now just plug in the syrup bag and it acts like a straw.

 

[DarloRich]

The quality at McDonalds is never variable, it is always sh*t! - the only time i eat there is if i have a dreadful hangover, when for some reason their McBreakfast burgers take on magical powers!

 

[district]

Gapbuster!

Agreed, sometimes if the food in the bin is coming close to the time I'll order a grill, something like 'no seasoning'. I know that 'Fries no Salt' is used a lot when people disagree that fries are fresh/hot.
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Yes our machines are from Taylor but we don't use pressurised canisters, just plug in the bag and prime it.

Would also agree that a good Wrap person can control quality very easily.

 

[richw]

Gapbuster!

Medium standard EVM with soft drink, i.e. nuggets, chicken sandwich, quarter pounder with cheese, big mac meal. With Fries and a fizzy drink.

Order just 1 of these meals and watch the shift manager drop everything to do your order.

Only rules are must be eating alone and between 12 and 2, and 5 and 7.

If the manager doesnt drop everything suggests they've already had their monthly mystery shops.

 

[district]

The quality at McDonalds is never variable, it is always sh*t! - the only time i eat there is if i have a dreadful hangover, when for some reason their McBreakfast burgers take on magical powers!

There is a major difference between "the quality is poor" and "I don't like the food". In what way is the quality poor?

 

[richw]

Would also agree that a good Wrap person can control quality very easily.

Fuly know what you mean. I used to have my staff cooking constant small runs, whereas I know some of my former colleagues filled the production bin up and stood around for ages doing nothing.

 

[DarloRich]

There is a major difference between "the quality is poor" and "I don't like the food". In what way is the quality poor?

In my opinion and allegedly it is cheap greasy horrible crap food with the texture of rubber served in nasty card board boxes which uses up your daily calorific intake merely looking at the picture of a foot high burger that bears no resemblance to the tepid patty of sludge you are served by the, at best, apathetic staff.

will that do?

We all know what it is yet we all buy it.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's not fantastic food, but for the cost and convenience it's reasonable. It's very good to be able to get hot, reasonably priced, relatively tasty food quickly without the risk of food poisoning all the chicken and kebab shops where I work have!

I have no idea about all this timecard and ordering fresh stuff though. I just say what I want and they bring it!

 

[Lrd]

Medium standard EVM with soft drink, i.e. nuggets, chicken sandwich, quarter pounder with cheese, big mac meal. With Fries and a fizzy drink.

Order just 1 of these meals and watch the shift manager drop everything to do your order.

Only rules are must be eating alone and between 12 and 2, and 5 and 7.

If the manager doesnt drop everything suggests they've already had their monthly mystery shops.

Also, make sure you ask for a receipt!

 

[richw]

cheap greasy horrible crap food with the texture of rubber served in nasty card board boxes which uses up your daily calorific intake merely looking at the picture of a foot high burger that bears no resemblance to the tepid patty of sludge you are served by the, at best, apathetic staff.

This comes down to poor management controls. if controls that the company have in place and well managed the food goes out hot and tasty. Problem is so many staff dont care. From experience I would always look to get served by a 30+ female as they seem in general to be the staff that actually care about what they are serving. This was the case in each of the stores I worked in. Teenage male staff dont seem to care at all.

This is a generalisation from my time with the company, having worked and been transferred between 5 stores for the same franchisees
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Also, make sure you ask for a receipt!

When they think that you are the Gapbuster the majority of staff hand it to you without asking.

 

[Lrd]

I have no idea about all this timecard and ordering fresh stuff though. I just say what I want and they bring it!

I can't remember the full details but the food should only stay in the 'production bin' for 10mins before being thrown out if not sold. Timecards are a simple system to keep track of the times the food went out and when they need to be thrown out.

 

[causton]

Also, make sure you ask for a receipt!

Last time I went in they asked me for a receipt. Does that mean my order was a prime mystery shop example? :P

(In which case they bloody failed as when I returned to work I realised my large meal had small fries. I returned to the manager and they gave me large fries and drink for the price of a small meal in my next order which is fair enough!)

Now is anyone going to explain the numbers on the metal dividers on the "transfer bin" if I'm using the correct terminology

 

[Lrd]

Now is anyone going to explain the numbers on the metal dividers on the "transfer bin" if I'm using the correct terminology

Using a clock in the kitchen, there are two rings, one on the outside of the clock and the other on the inside. The outside ring is the number you use when the food goes out and the one on the inside is the one you use to see when it should be binned. Like I said earlier, the food should only be in there for 10mins max.