It is with t-shirts. Back home I am medium, but here I am a large. Everything miniaturised here; ovens, clothes, food portions, people, cars, houses, carbon-footprint.
While I on visits to the USA had to realize that I am "Small", that small food portions are sufficient for me, and that cars I regard as fairly large and spacious are "compacts" there.
Also, of course it is made "better". They have feck all customers, so have plenty of time to make the burger. They have feck all customers because McDonalds in Switzerland is expensive.
My first day here, I paid CHF12 for a big mac meal.
Wasn't given ketchup, when I asked for some, she wanted *more* money!!!
Not really. The problem with the US is that there are too many obese people. In NYC the mayor banned super-sized drinks so it looks like US needs to go on a diet-but by force! There is no "social pressure" per say to be thin in Switzerland. It's just that in Switzerland people eat in portions, which means that food isn't thrown on your plate to be gulped down in anticipation for the next meal. In fact, I have found when over-weight people come to Switzerland they lose weight naturally, just from eating better and being more active.
I find the best thing about MacDonalds is mostly their fries, wedges and coffee if its a McCafe type MacDonalds, then the main other benefit is being able to use the toilet. As for the rest of their menu its over priced and over rated. But for the items list it is a nice easy bite and then go somewhere else for some proper food.
Good call. Even CSI labs can't tell where a Big Mac comes from. I have have had Mickey Dees in about thirty countries including Egypt and India and a Big Mac tastes the same in all of them; i.e. not great but better than risking a dose of the trots at the local kebab shop.
I actually gained weight since I got here, because I resort to eating more junk, as there aren't really other alternatives for regular food during the day.
There is one in every crowd. I said "their substitutes tasted exactly as one would expect". I don't expect the chicken version of the Big Mac to taste exactly like a Big Mac, however it tastes exactly like one would expect a Maccas chicken burger or whatever to taste like. Millions of people can't be wrong.
And the fries are cooked in veg oil, not tallow, which changes the taste a lot. I would say one of the reasons for McDonald's success is their ability to adapt for local tastes and customs.
My understanding (from friends who have worked their) is that they have been cooked in Canola for years.
Anyway, you flat earth types can carry on all you like about Maccas being different or you have better palates than the CSI labs. We will continue to use it as an global option.
You may be right now - it was a big issue in India when it was reported in the Western press that US vegetarian fries were anything but, being cooked in tallow. McDonalds outlets in India were ransacked and the company essentially had to start again. That's despite the fact they always used veg oil in India.
Coming back to the standardisation debate, I think it may be more accurate to say their success is built on the standardisation of the consumer proposition - it's a burger, fries, and a drink plus the associated child-targetted marketing. The product is adjusted as necessary for local norms.
No lard in the US, only healthy (and much less tasty), non-allergenic oils.
I think there should always still be at least one no-compromises greasy-spoon joint in a given municipality/area. There's always at the very least a psychological/emotional need for rich comfort food, IMHO.