Fast-Food Star of Recession: $5 Footlong

(NEWSER) - Now that the recession’s supposed to be just about over, it’s time to survey the battlefield and pick out winners, and nobody was a bigger winner than the Golden Arches, writes Daniel Gross for Slate. McDonald’s sales grew more in 2008 than in 2006 or 2007, and it opened 600 more stores even as its competitors were closing theirs down. So far, it’s had same-store sales boosts in every month of 2009. How’d Ronald do it? More»

Who doesn't associate world-class athletes with the McDonald's lifestyle?

(NEWSER) - Nothing symbolizes physical fitness better than ... McDonald's, right? The fast-food chain is a major London Olympics sponsor, and it has some pretty big plans—literally. The world's largest McDonald's will open this summer in Olympic Park. The AP describes it as a "cathedral-like restaurant" whose two stories house room for 1,500 diners. If spectators can't find a seat there, they'll have three other locations from which to choose in Olympic Park, and a fifth location will be set up in the athletes' village. More»

By 2017, all eggs, pork will come from cage-free animals

(NEWSER) - If you typically start your day with a Croissan'wich, go ahead and pat yourself on the back: You'll soon be supporting cage-free farming. Burger King made major fast-food news this morning with the announcement that it will exclusively use eggs and pork from cage-free chickens and pigs by 2017. It's the first national chain to vow to do so. The Humane Society, which pressed the move, is, unsurprisingly, thrilled. "So many tens of thousands of animals will now be in better living conditions," says a spokeswoman. More»

Same products contain less salt in Europe, Australia

(NEWSER) - If you're craving some Chicken McNuggets, you're better off getting them in Europe than on this side of the pond. With 1.6 grams of salt per 100 grams of nugget, the American version is packed with more than twice the salt of British McNuggets, which contain 0.6 grams of salt, a study finds. Australian, Kiwi, and French McNuggets all have far less salt than American and Canadian ones, though the UK has the least—perhaps thanks to voluntary limits in the country, NPR reports. More»

It's being tested now in Nashville

(NEWSER) - Just when you thought Burger King might be getting a smidgeon health conscious comes its new ... bacon sundae. Soft-serve vanilla ice cream, caramel and chocolate syrups, and a strip of bacon aim to please ham hogs, notes ABC News . The sizzling new dessert has been spotted by foodies in a Nashville Burger King, apparently ground zero for down-home menu testing. No nutritional info is available because the dessert isn't official yet. The company "does not have plans to expand the test to additional markets at this time," a spokesman tells CBS —unless Burger King gets really piggy. More»