McDonald's is facing accusations of shrinkflation, a trend where companies reduce product sizes while maintaining prices. The controversy gained traction after a Reddit user posted a side-by-side comparison of a small soda received from the fast-food chain alongside a small plastic cup, highlighting the drink's diminished volume.
The user expressed frustration in a post on the r/McDonald’s subreddit, describing the soda as "action figure-sized" and lamenting that it was gone after "a few f—ing sips." They noted paying $1.91 for the small portion and called for the return of a promotion offering "$1 ANY SIZE SOFT DRINKS."
The post resonated with many users who agreed that shrinkflation has become a pervasive issue. Comments on the thread included observations that the small size offered was comparable to what might be given for a free water in some locations, and one user claimed that McDonald's had allegedly switched from 16oz to 12oz cups for small drinks, further compounded by excessive ice.
This incident follows similar accusations leveled against other major brands. In April, Chick-fil-A was criticized after a Reddit user shared photos suggesting their Deluxe Sandwich had become smaller and less substantial compared to a 2021 version. Additionally, Costco customers noted in 2025 that their brown butter sugar cookies package reportedly contained 21 cookies, a reduction from the previous count of 24.
The New York Post has reached out to McDonald's for comment regarding these customer complaints. The phenomenon of shrinking product sizes for existing prices has become a frequent topic of discussion among consumers across various retail sectors.