McDonald’s enthusiasts are expressing discontent following a viral social media post highlighting that the cost of a hash brown has surged to nearly £2 at certain outlets. The post features an image of a McDonald’s menu board where the price of a hash brown is specified as £1.99 in that specific location.

The post, which has garnered over 459,000 views, was accompanied by the statement: “Paying £2 for just one hash brown. We’ve had enough.” Reactions poured in, with one person stating, “It’s becoming outrageous, I rarely visit but it used to be a budget-friendly choice.” Another individual commented, “For that price, you could buy a sausage sandwich.” Yet another simply remarked, “Unbelievable.”

Another user chimed in, saying, “Those hash browns are fantastic, but £2 is excessive.” Someone else reminisced, “I recall when they were priced at 59p.”

A spokesperson from McDonald’s addressed the situation by explaining that a considerable portion of their outlets are operated by franchisees, who have the authority to set prices independently. Consequently, pricing for individual items may fluctuate, yet all maintain a commitment to offering customers a top-notch dining experience and good value for money.

This development follows McDonald’s announcement of an upcoming adjustment to the redemption points required for free items through MyMcDonald’s Rewards. Currently, 5,500 points are needed for items like a Big Mac, Double Fillet of Fish, Double Sausage and Egg McMuffin, and Nine Chicken Nuggets. However, starting March 17, the points required to redeem these items will increase to 6,500 points, with customers earning 100 points for every £1 spent at McDonald’s.

Moreover, the points needed for items such as a Medium Coffee or Small Fries will rise from 1,500 to 2,000 points. The threshold for items like a regular McFlurry or an Apple Pie will increase from 2,500 to 3,500 points, and to get a Double Cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, 5,000 points will be required, up from 4,000 points.

A representative from McDonald’s informed The Sun that the loyalty scheme modifications are a response to escalating food and supply expenses. They emphasized that while points requirements have been adjusted to align with cost increases, new redemption options like Chicken Selects, Cheese sides, and the new Sausage Sandwich have been introduced to enhance customer choice.