Food and Drink Fast food restaurants dilluting soda? - Page 3

aturnis · 08-15-2011, 07:28 PM

So it seems like for the last year or so, every time I go to a fast food drive thru, my soda tastes less and less like what I ordered.

At first, I was called crazy when I mentioned it to family/friends/co-workers. Then finally, after it what seems like the next "kickback" in syrup, a few of them reluctantly agreed with me.

It seems like they are trying to stretch a bag of syrup for all it is worth. Is the economy that bad to where I can't get a decent soda anymore? Do they REALLY need to squeeze one or two more drinks out of that bag?

I have since been forced to switch my preferred fast food beverage to teas, hi-c's or whatever else they couldn't possibly screw up.

So has anyone else noticed this tightening of the fast food industries belt?

Consistent1 · 08-15-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listopencil

I very rarely go to McD's anymore. I'm tempted to go in and check it out. That's just very bad business.

Never have seen it happen once myself.

listopencil · 08-15-2011, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefaholic

Back in the late 80's we received metal tanks of syrup from the truck at Mcdonalds. Back then we calibrated the syrup to water ratio ourselves. Currently they have people from Coke who calibrate the machines for them. So I doubt they're cutting back on the syrup to save costs. The cup and lid cost far more than the drink does anyway.

We had Pepsi Food Service at Taco Bell. Bladders full of syrup in cardboard boxes. I had a handy man on call for refrig. and pump but we did everything else. We had a different company (Sierra Airgas) to supply the tanks of CO2. I don't know, I have heard that McD's was all about making every single location exactly like every other one and that you had very little leeway in running things. Pepsi expected you to act like you owned the place, and treated you that way.

Spott · 08-15-2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listopencil

I very rarely go to McD's anymore. I'm tempted to go in and check it out. That's just very bad business.

It's not all of them. I think it's just certain storeowners that do it. A couple of them I've noticed doing it are at exits off of major highways.

listopencil · 08-15-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spott

It's not all of them. I think it's just certain storeowners that do it. A couple of them I've noticed doing it are at exits off of major highways.

Heh, I live in a town that exists between the exits of a major highway and freeway.

**Baby Lee** · 08-15-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listopencil

That plastic bottle is designed to be the perfect soda container for maintaining specific flavor. A fountain drink will not taste like a bottled soda.

It's weird, Coca Cola and 7-up, unparalleled carbonation in a plastic bottle.
Mountain Dew, gotta go with the fountain for adequate carbonation.

listopencil · 08-15-2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

It's weird, Coca Cola and 7-up, unparalleled carbonation in a plastic bottle.
Mountain Dew, gotta go with the fountain for adequate carbonation.

I got used to fountain Mountain Dew and prefer it myself.

**Rain Man** · 08-15-2011, 09:03 PM

None of the restaurants owned by Pepsi should be doing this. A good way to test the theory would be to see if it's happening only at chains that don't do this.

aturnis · 08-15-2011, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Quiktrip - Certified fountain quality

QT's replaced here by Road Ranger. Don't eat Road Rangers food.

aturnis · 08-15-2011, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

None of the restaurants owned by Pepsi should be doing this. A good way to test the theory would be to see if it's happening only at chains that don't do this.

Good point. Actually I may be wrong in saying that all of them are affected. I know for sure McDonalds is. I guess I don't eat at all that many Pepsi restaurants lately b/c it's rarely the choice. I think you're right though. Now that I think about it, the Cherry Pepsi tasted just fine.

**Rain Man** · 08-15-2011, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aturnis

Good point. Actually I may be wrong in saying that all of them are affected. I know for sure McDonalds is. I guess I don't eat at all that many Pepsi restaurants lately b/c it's rarely the choice. I think you're right though. Now that I think about it, the Cherry Pepsi tasted just fine.

I'm actually a fan of McDonald's, but their sodas are never right. I go to McDonald's in spite of the sodas, not because of them.

**BigMeatballDave** · 08-15-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm actually a fan of McDonald's, but their sodas are never right. I go to McDonald's in spite of the sodas, not because of them.

I shudder when I think about eating McDs.

**BigMeatballDave** · 08-15-2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

We had tanks at a hotel I worked at about 6 years ago.

6 yrs ago? I figured those tanks were long gone.

veist · 08-16-2011, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

6 yrs ago? I figured those tanks were long gone.

The 5 gal tanks are pretty common in beer these days actually. Good way to get a beer on tap without having it take up a bunch of space in the cooler.

Thig Lyfe · 08-16-2011, 12:29 AM

Weird, I had a soda at McDonald's last week that was way too syrupy.

**Saulbadguy** · 08-16-2011, 08:25 AM

Anyone seen the Coca Cola Freestyle machines? They have one here at a Wendy's. You can add flavoring to nearly any soda, lots of combinations.

08-15-2011, 07:28 PM
aturnis MVP Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Iowa Casino cash: $9975811	Fast food restaurants dilluting soda? So it seems like for the last year or so, every time I go to a fast food drive thru, my soda tastes less and less like what I ordered. At first, I was called crazy when I mentioned it to family/friends/co-workers. Then finally, after it what seems like the next "kickback" in syrup, a few of them reluctantly agreed with me. It seems like they are trying to stretch a bag of syrup for all it is worth. Is the economy that bad to where I can't get a decent soda anymore? Do they REALLY need to squeeze one or two more drinks out of that bag? I have since been forced to switch my preferred fast food beverage to teas, hi-c's or whatever else they couldn't possibly screw up. So has anyone else noticed this tightening of the fast food industries belt?
Posts: 13,873

08-15-2011, 09:03 PM	#37
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2768491 VARSITY	None of the restaurants owned by Pepsi should be doing this. A good way to test the theory would be to see if it's happening only at chains that don't do this. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
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08-16-2011, 12:29 AM	#44
Thig Lyfe Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Thigpen's America Casino cash: $10004900	Weird, I had a soda at McDonald's last week that was way too syrupy.
Posts: 25,680

08-16-2011, 08:25 AM	#45
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2106966	Anyone seen the Coca Cola Freestyle machines? They have one here at a Wendy's. You can add flavoring to nearly any soda, lots of combinations. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 46,974