Posted on 06/11/2006 12:55:28 PM PDT by billorites
Wendy's International Inc. (NYSE:WEN - news), the No. 3 U.S. hamburger chain, on Friday said it would remove the term "Biggie" from its french fries and drinks, switching to the well known terms small, medium and large.
However, the new designations may confuse some diners who are used to such sizing at other restaurants.
At rival McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD - news), the largest burger chain, a 32 ounce soft drink is designated a large. At Wendy's, a 32 ounce drink will now be called medium, instead of Biggie.
Wendy's is also adding a 42-ounce soft drink -- the equivalent of 3-1/2 cans of soda -- as its large. The large drink will come in a more durable, portable plastic cup that fits in a car cup holder for diners on-the-go.
"We felt like the Biggie designation is not what most customers were used to. Most people were used to small, medium and large," a spokesman said.
Wendy's had used the term Biggie since the early 1990s.
Previously, Wendy's sold a 16 ounce soft drink as a small, a 20 ounce soft drink as medium and a 32 ounce soft drink as Biggie. Now, a 20 ounce drink is a small, a 32 ounce drink is a medium and the new 42 ounce drink is a large. The company will still sell a 16 ounce drink on its 99 cent value menu.
At McDonald's, a 16 ounce drink is called a small, a 21 ounce drink is a medium and a 32 ounce drink is a large.
McDonald's famously removed the "Super Size" option from its combo meals after the 2004 release of the film "Super Size Me" -- a documentary in which filmmaker Morgan Spurlock ate nothing but McDonald's fare for a month and tracked his increasingly poor health.
Kids' sized drinks at both chains are 12 ounces.
Under Wendy's new program, the sizes of its combo meals will be small, medium and large. A medium combo will cost 49 cents more than a small, and a large combo will cost 89 cents more than a small.
Customers can still substitute a bottle of Dasani water for a soft drink, and items such as a side salad, chili or yogurt and granola for french fries, regardless of the combo size.
Wendy's has four different sizes of french fries, ranging from the 3.2 ounce kids' size to a 6.7 ounce large size. At McDonald's, a small fries is 2.6 ounces, medium is 4 ounces and large is 6 ounces.
The new sizing terminology, which Wendy's is promoting in stores, comes just a day after the chain said it would virtually eliminate artery-clogging trans fats in its fries and breaded chicken items.
Wendy's restaurants in the United States and Canada will switch to a new blend of corn and soy oil for french fries and breaded chicken items starting in August. The move will reduce trans fats in fries to just zero to 0.5 grams, depending on serving sizes, while all of the breaded chicken will have zero grams of trans fats.
Peace out playa, my fav tribute was when Puff Daddy dedicated I'll Be Missing You to him.
That's about 570 junk calories in a large Mello Yellow. Nice.
And does anyone wonder why obesity/being overweight/type II diabetes is an epidemic in our society?
I think stores should also ban 2 liter sodas. Because, you know, folks might drink the whole thing in one sitting.
I also think KFC should ban "buckets" of chicken. I hear some folks buy a whole bucket and don't share with anyone. Also, pizza by the slice only. No one needs a whole pizza.
I agree.
No one wonders why, but what's that have to do with taking away choices from people? Last time I saw someone forced to eat all these high-fat foods was...never.
Yeah, and we should hire federal "food marshalls" to watch us as we order to be sure we don't overdo it. After all, our insurance premiums will rise if too many people get too fat.
Shhhh! You're ruining my claim for my trumped-up lawsuit that I want to file someday! How can I claim victim status uless I establish that I was forced to "Biggie Size" my meals at Wendys??
Who is taking choice away from anyone? They introduce a 570 calorie drink on their menu, and people show up on this thread in flocks crying about choices being taken away.
From now on, the burger will be named "Seems Bigger Than It Really Is."
Sorry--the Wendy's Health Police guy was standing over my shoulder as I typed that.
Down with Wendy's! We need guvernmint intervention to stop this whole "freedom to choose" thing before it gets out of hand! Only rabbit food that's good for you, at all meals, always! Down with the fascist fast food force-feeding!
LMAO !!!!!!!
Did you read the article and the response to which I was commenting on? It might instruct you before you spout off.
They introduce a 570 calorie drink on their menu, and people show up on this thread in flocks crying about choices being taken away.
We have to combat the people showing up on this thread in flocks crying about how bad it is that there are choices THEY don't like in the world.
I went on that atkins diet and boxes of popeyes chicken were my best friend. I ate at least 2/3rds of a box 3 times a week. It was pricy but good and in the end I lost about 10 pounds. Its too bad I didn't get to eat any biscuits.
I never wanted to be heard in public saying, "Biggie-size that, please." Or, "I'd like a biggie coke."
I was a little surprised by Richard Simmons feelings about resturaunts reducing serving sizes. He was on one of the news shows the other day calling overeating a (gasp) personal choice.
Goodbye, Mickey D's.
Hello, Wendy's.
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