The Mac Daddy
Invented near Pittsburgh in 1967, The Big Mac gained instant popularity and has changed the fast food and American food culture since. Many Americans know the Big Mac chant by heart: two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. The 45 cent sandwich established itself on every American McDonalds’ menu within a year. It has been the subject of glory and criticism, blamed for childhood obesity and is a symbolic proponent of American globalization and imperialism. The Big Mac is so widely popular, in fact, The Economist has developed a purchasing power parity (PPP) to asses the value of a currency (the price of a Big Mac) against other world economies. At the time of this writing, Switzerland’s Big Mac cost is 6.75 USD, 80 percent higher than the $3.71 burger of the United States. The Economist has been using this price comparison as part of their “Burgernomics” index since 1986. The index is based on one standard Big Mac (mutton Big Macs from India are not included) and based on prices from two locations within the country. The burgers are then compared to international exchange rates in comparison to the dollar.
What makes the Big Mac so special? The two patties are only 1.6 ounces, and the lettuce and pickles are the same on every other McDonald’s burger. Indeed the differences that separate the Big Mac from the rest of McDonald’s fare is the middle bun or “club layer” and the special sauce. The sauce, dispensed from a caulking gun-like apparatus is an anomalous amalgamation of tasty, tasty goodness. No other sandwich uses the Special Mac Sauce, comprised of mayonnaise, French dressing, relish, onion, vinegar, sugar, and salt.
The importance of the Big Mac to the McDonald’s has grown so huge in recent times that the fast food giant had offered five dollars to rappers who mentioned their product in their songs every time the song was played. McDonalds conjured up the offer after realizing the appeal of hip-hop artists toward 18-34 year olds within the United States. One rapper Mad Skillz sardonically incorporated the name Big Mac into his “2005 Wrap Up” song (start at 1:29).
"BBC NEWS | Business | 'Return of the Mac' - Coming Soon." BBC News - Home. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
Economist.com." The Economist - World News, Politics, Economics, Business & Finance. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
"» History of the Big Mac." Cheese-Burger.net » Burgers, Cheeseburgers and Stuff… Yes a Website about Burgers. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
