It’s official -- no more free unlimited supply of curry, barbecue and sweet & sour sauces at McDonald’s in Singapore.
On Monday, the fast food giant officially implemented an island-wide quota on its three most popular sauces to reduce wastage under its “Love more, waste less" policy.
Here’s the lowdown.
For meals involving between zero to four nuggets, no free sauces will be given — although you will be entitled to one pack of it “only by request”. For these meal-eaters, second and subsequent packs of sauce are charged at 30 cents each.
Six or nine-piece Nuggets orders will receive one and two free packets (of either curry, barbecue or sweet & sour sauce). The “additional pack on request” option is also available to them at no cost.
Hardcore 20-piece McNugget eaters will receive four free packets of sauce, with the additional one available on request. Anything extra and you’ll have to fork out 30 cents.
Details of McDonald's new nugget sauce quota. Click for larger version. (McDonald's website)
McDonald’s implemented the policy after conducting a test over the last few weeks in North area outlets.
“We need your support to save our sauces,” the copy on its website detailing the change reads, even as it acknowledges the “love affair” its customers have with “our tender Chicken McNuggets and mouthwatering sauces”.
News of the new quotas was met with mixed reactions, with some of Yahoo! Singapore's readers saying it was reasonable, while others worrying it will be a slippery slope of rising prices.
"So we abuse the ketchup/chilli sauce pump, what will they do next? Ration the chilli sauce again? The serviettes? The salt and pepper? Where does it stop?" asked Sharon Ng.
"(In my honest opinion) it is reasonable enough," said another reader, Tan Boon Huat. "I usually get 9-piece nuggets and (receive) two sauces, (so) it won't affect me."
Another user, Wong Teng, said he also feels there is nothing wrong with charging for more packets of sauce. "I have seen lots of customers wasting the sauce when they took more than they need(ed)," he added.
"Seems reasonable to me," wrote reader Donnie Tian. "If you need any more sauce than those they are giving out free, you are likely to be abusing the privilege anyway. We don't work for free and we shouldn't expect others to do it either."
Fast food lovers -- looks like it’s time to increase your bite, or hone your sauce-dipping technique.