Fast Food Critic - Reviews, News and Nutrition Information about Fast Food.

Gas is $4 a gallon, it costs $9 for a movie ticket, and my electric bill for a small apartment during this blazing hot summer is over $200 per month. So I guess it should come as no surprise the $1 Double Cheeseburger at McDonald’s is in danger. The rising cost of beef and dairy is something even the fast food giant can’t overcome. In a newly posted interview with The Wall Street Journal, the president of McDonald’s said the company has plans to change their Dollar Menu by next year, and have already begun testing ways of making the burger cheaper to produce.

Some restaurants are selling it with one slice of cheese instead of two, and billing it as a “double hamburger with cheese.” Others are offering a double hamburger without cheese. — Don Thompson, president McDonald’s U.S.

Thanks to my friend — Craig Russell at 94.3 The Fox FM — for the heads up.

Sonic Drive-In is introducing the Fried Ice Cream Blast, a new version of the company’s popular frozen dairy treat. Soft serve ice cream, cinnamon crisps, caramel and whipped cream topping are combined to create the new sweet summer special. It’s scheduled to be available on August 1st, however you might find some locations already serving it. When I first heard the name, I thought it was actually a type of fried ice cream. I was ready to be shocked and amazed. As it turns out, “fried” is simply a reference to the cinnamon crisps, which are in fact deep-fried.

Apparently I’m not the only one confused by the title, as they’ve added the following disclaimer to their advertising and website — “Product consists of soft serve, rather than fried ice cream”. — Frankly I find this type of labeling to be silly and misleading, but they don’t consult me on these things. Visit SonicDriveIn.com to learn more.

Mars Corporation, makers of Snickers, has pulled it’s latest advertising campaign for the peanut filled candy bar after complaints that it was homophobic. But thanks to the Internet and YouTube, you can still view the commercial and decide for yourself.

Now that you’ve watched the video, head over to UTalkMarketing for the details on why the advertisement has been cancelled, and what the company is saying about it.

I think the basic idea of Mr.T firing Snickers bars at people from a Snickers machine gun is pretty funny, but is this version of that concept Anti-Gay? I suppose the remarks “Disgrace to the man race” and “Time to run like a real man” were too much for people to handle. The slogan “Get some nuts” probably didn’t help. What do you think?

Do you notice anything unusual about this “Drive-Thru Speed” survey? Before I tell you the problem, see if you can figure it out yourself by looking at the chart below.

So what’s wrong? — The #1 and #3 rated restaurants DO NOT have drive-thrus.

How can a company be considered tops in their class, when they don’t even offer the service they’re rated so highly for? This is what I kept asking myself this morning after reading the survey. I’ve never seen a Quiznos with a drive-thru. The same for Chipotle. In fact, I remember hearing somewhere that Chipotle was against the whole drive-thru concept, fearing it would negatively affect their image and customer’s experience.

But, maybe I missed something, so I decided to contact the companies. Sure enough, both confirmed they have “zero” drive-thrus. Something is definitely wrong here.

The survey is done by a group called “Corporate Research International” which can be found at CorpRI.com and also MysteryShops.com. You can read the entire fast food results at their other website: RealPeopleRatings.com, along with many other surveys from various industries like Airlines, Hotels, Electronics and Convenience Stores.

I’ve used the CRI website contact form to send a message attempting to clarify this puzzling issue. As soon as I hear back something, I will post an update.

Carl’s Jr. has just introduced a new breakfast item called the Monster Breakfast Sandwich. It’s big, featuring two eggs, two strips of bacon, a sausage patty, Swiss and American cheese, all stacked inside toasted sourdough bread. This also begins a new advertising campaign for the company using the tagline “Breakfast as big as our burgers”. The new sandwich will sell for $2.89 on it’s own, or $4.49 as part of a breakfast combo. For more information, or to find a restaurant location near you, visit CarlsJr.com.

Jack in the Box has contacted FFC to announce the introduction of an interesting new item, Cheesy Macaroni Bites. They’re calling it a tasty twist on the traditional dish. Featuring wedges of macaroni noodles and real Kraft cheese enveloped in a crunchy tempura-style coating. Easy to eat on the go, and a perfect snack or side order.

“Mac ‘N’ Cheese is an American classic that’s universally loved,” said Teka O’Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. “Our new Cheesy Macaroni Bites offer the same great flavor of the original dish, but in a unique, finger-food style that’s very convenient and portable.” Jack’s new Cheesy Macaroni Bites are priced at $1.69 for three pieces and $2.99 for six pieces. Available today!

Reports are starting to trickle in, saying Anheuser-Busch has agreed to a 52 billion dollar buyout by InBev. After going back and forth for several weeks, the deal appears to be done now. With the purchase of America’s #1 brewer, the Belgium based company will become the largest beer maker in the world. The thought of Budweiser (”The Great American Lager”) being owned and operated by folks outside the USA, is something that doesn’t sit right with many folks, but the almighty dollar has spoken. Official announcement soon.

This Friday, 7/11/08, 7-Eleven stores celebrate the company’s 81st birthday by giving customers a Free Slurpee. Pick you favorite flavor and help yourself to the frozen treat in a special 7.11 ounce cup. They are also introducing the first Slurpee Energy Drink called Black Ice. The new black-colored drink will include a full dose of the popular Monster Energy. This is the first frozen Monster beverage, and the first variety not sold in a can. Now you can experience brain freeze and a rush of energy at the same time. Thanks to my pal John Cauley of WZZO-FM 95.1 radio in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, for alerting FFC of this frozen freebie.

On my visit to Arby’s today I discovered the Chocolate Turnover is back for a limited time. Unfortunately the store manager could not tell me how long it’s going to be around, and since it’s a holiday weekend I’m unable to reach my regular PR contact. So I cannot guarantee your local stores will have them, but if you plan on eating at Arby’s soon, definitely keep your eyes open because they’re delicious. They are made by Pepperidge Farm using Hershey’s cocoa. You can read my review here.

I will update that review with the new photo above, and others. It was one of my first reviews after starting the site, and those old images were taken with a cellphone.

By the way — Happy 4th of July to Everyone — God Bless America.

Dunkin’ Donuts continues to expand their oven-toasted menu, with the addition of the new Southwest Chicken Flatbread Sandwich, which features grilled chicken, cheddar cheese, red and green peppers, onions, and a maple-chipotle sauce, pressed inside a warm toasty flatbread shell. DD’s oven-toasted menu launched earlier this year as the most significant change to their product lineup since the company launched espresso-based beverages back in 2003.

In order to introduce the new menu, Dunkin’ Donuts shops received an entirely new cooking platform. New cooking ovens, using patented technologies, deliver the “Oven-Toasted” result. In addition to the new Southwest Chicken, three other classic flavors are available: Turkey, Cheddar and Bacon - Ham and Swiss - Grilled Cheese.

Visit DunkinDonuts.com to find a location near you.