Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search


McMuffin Man Dead at 89

Posted Mar 27, 08 2:45 AM CDT in Arts & Living Business 

(Newser) – The inventor of the Egg McMuffin has died in his Southern California home at the age of 89,  AP reports. Herb Peterson began working with McDonald's in the advertising department, and later switched to the hands-on side of the business, owning six restaurants in the Santa Barbara area. Peterson, a big fan of eggs Benedict, came up with the idea for the breakfast-on-the-run Egg McMuffin in 1972, inspiring a host of imitators.

Former McDonald's president Ray Kroc first thought Peterson's English muffin combo with egg, Canadian bacon and cheese was a "crazy idea—a breakfast sandwich," he recalled in his autobiography. But Kroc was sold after a single taste, and the chain moved into the lucrative breakfast business. Peterson remained active in his restaurants until his health started to fail last year. "He would talk to the customers, visit with the employees," said a company spokesman. "He loved McDonald's."

Source Associated Press

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
McDonald's food quality and safety experts as Egg McMuffin sandwiches are prepared on a recent tour of a restaurant in Oak Brook, Ill.   (AP Photo)
A vehicle turns into the driveway of a McDonald's restaurant Monday, March 10, 2008, in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Patrons line up at a McDonald's restaurant in Chicago, in this July 24, 2007 file photo. Breakfast menu offerings have helped McDonald's revive sales over the last year.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, file)
Herb Peterson, the creator of the Egg McMuffin, shows off his invention in this April 1997 file photo, at one of his McDonald's franchises in Santa Barbara, Calif.   (AP Photo/John Hayes)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
1970s Egg McMuffin ad,   (WVECSpirit (YouTube))

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)



Loading...

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Business Stories


What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »