McDonald’s Australia backflips on major menu change after being slammed by furious customer
Newcastle man Russ is a chemical engineer by trade but has won the hearts of hungry Australians everywhere with his hilarious and often rude food reviews
McDonald’s Australia has reversed its unpopular decision to replace Sprite with Sprite No Sugar – following backlash from its customers.
The controversial decision was rolled out long before the fast food giant announced it, causing a stir among the foodie community.
Russ of Russ Eats made a video in November 2022 complaining about the switch – and the fact that it felt like a secret.
He told Femail that fans will have to wait for his opinion on the chain’s ‘downshift’.
McDonald’s has revealed that the switch to Sprite sugar was in direct response to customer feedback.
“McDonald’s will transition from Sprite Zero Sugar to Sprite in restaurants nationwide from April to June,” a spokesperson said.
“Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Frozen Coke Zero Sugar remain available for customers looking for low-to-no sugar alternatives.”
When Russ, who is from Newcastle, first heard that Sprite would be replaced, he went to his local restaurant in disbelief.
“I don’t think it makes any sense, so let’s see if it’s true,” he said.
He spoke to the woman through the order box and asked for a ‘medium Sprite, a nice sweet Sprite’.
She took the order without hesitation and told him the price, but the order on the screen showed that she had entered a Sprite Zero.
“WTF doesn’t even tell me it’s Sprite Zero,” he wrote in the caption, remaining polite in real life.
In his latest video, the Australian prankster who posts under Russ Eats tests the wild theory that McDonald’s restaurants will no longer serve Sprite
“Do you have a normal Sprite,” he asked her, before pressing her to confirm that the rumors were true.
She said they no longer serve Sprite and that “as far as she knows” it won’t be coming back.
McDonald’s Australia has since confirmed the move to FEMAIL.
“McDonald’s Australia recently moved to Sprite No Sugar for its restaurants nationwide. We look forward to customer feedback on the new beverage option,” a spokesperson said.
Shocked, Russ ordered a burger and walked to the last window where he picked up his meal and sugar-free drink.
And he wasn’t particularly impressed when the burger he ordered was wrong and the people at the window forgot his straw.
‘No sugar, no straw, no bacon, what an experience that was. We have confirmed that the rumor is true.”
Then he took a long sip of the drink.
“Yes, we confirmed it tastes like piss,” he said.
Russ’ followers were just as outraged, with some revealing they found out about the sugar-free switch ‘the same way’.
He quickly confirmed the rumors after asking for a Sprite and having to pay for a sugar-free option
‘Ordered Sprite and they automatically put it on the order as Sprite Zero. At least warn me I don’t get this sugar crap,” one man complained.
‘It took me five times. I asked for sprite without ice cream but kept thinking they thought I said no sugar,” said another.
Others slammed the popular chain.
“Piss weak from Maccas,” said one man.
“Forcing people to eat Sprite zero in a fast food restaurant makes absolutely no sense,” chimed a second.
And a worker came in to dish out the gossip.
“No idea why they changed it, but it happened about two months ago,” they revealed.
The video was posted on Tuesday and has been viewed 18,500 times on Instagram.