A traveler ordered a Big Mac in France for $7, then got a burger that was ‘smaller than a McChicken’

This might be “shrinkflation” at its peak. A traveler on Reddit posted a photo of a Big Mac in France on Reddit’s r/mildlyinfuriating, pointing out how small McDonald’s iconic burger is. “[Paid] €6.40 in France for a “Big Mac” that’s smaller than a McChicken.”

The photo showed the sandwich in the traveler’s hand, turning a single meal into a broader complaint about whether the Big Mac still lives up to its name. “To answer ‘Why McDonald’s?’ Every time I travel outside of the United States, I like to compare McDonald’s from that country and see if the quality is indeed better,” the traveler added.

“After this experience, my “try out McDonald’s” experience in other countries has likely ended,” he concluded. By comparing the Big Mac to a McChicken, the first poster turned a single photo into a broader critique of portion size and consistency.

‘Big Mac’ has become ‘Little Mac’

In the comments, the conversation caused a debate mostly about why they stopped going to McDonald’s because it no longer felt cheap, fast, or dependable. One user commented, “In France (I don’t know about elsewhere), eating at McDonald’s has become way more expensive than eating at a real restaurant. McDonald’s has turned ridiculously expensive for cold burgers and fries, plus missing items in your order. In my opinion, McDonald’s has become the ultimate scam. I stopped eating there when my usual order jumped from €12 to €17.”

“Baffles me that anyone either bothers with McDonald’s anymore,” the top comment read. Commenters suggested comparing a burger’s price to meals at nearby restaurants, considering alternatives such as Burger King or Quick, or simply skipping the purchase if the portion didn’t seem worth the current price.

However, some pushed back on the size complaint, and one commenter pointed to an older Snopes fact-check as supposed proof to the contrary. “Granted it’s a couple of years old, but Snopes suggests that the Big Mac has not become smaller over time,” they asserted. The Snopes fact-check article exists, but it appears to address the American Big Mac. Additionally, some commenters noted that despite the numerous complaints, people still end up eating at McDonald’s. “[This] has been a problem for years and yet people still go to McDonald’s,” another commenter said.

France isn’t the only McDonald’s location facing accusations of “shrinkflation.” This phenomenon occurs when companies reduce a product’s size or quantity but keep the price the same. Shrinkflation has expanded beyond grocery stores: one McDonald’s customer, for example, reported receiving a half-size Filet-O-Fish for nearly twice the usual price. According to the Financial Times, more restaurants are shrinking portions as they adapt to rising costs of food, labor, and energy.