Big Mac

Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

The Big Mac was apparently inspired by a similar doubledecker hamburger sold by the Big Boy chain since 1936. The burger was invented by McDonald's franchisee Jim Delligatti at a location in Uniontown, Pennsylvania before being picked up chain-wide. Mr. Jim Berardi, a biology teacher at Uniontown Area High School in Uniontown PA, claims to have served the first Big Mac to a customer when he worked at the old McDonalds at the shopping center on Morgantown Street as a teenager. The McDonalds owned by Jim Delligatti was demolished around 2001, and a new restaurant built in the same plaza about 300 feet away.

According to a famous advertising jingle, it consists of "two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun." However, the most distinctive feature is a middle layer of bread that is used to stabilize the contents of the hamburger to prevent spillage.

In some places, McDonald's also offers a "Double Big Mac" or "Mega Mac" with four patties and an extra slice of cheese. In Germany, larger burgers and buns are used to make a "Bigger Big Mac." In the UK, the "Mega Mac" was once available but has since been discontinued along with the Super-size option as a part of the healthier McDonald's menu. Despite criticism from various UK MP's McDonald's is pressing ahead with plans for a limited edition World Cup 2006 burger distinctly larger than the current Big Mac [1]. The Mega Mac is currently available in Ireland (current date May 7th, 2006).

The Big Mac is known worldwide, and is often used as a symbol of American capitalism. The Economist has used it as a reference point to determine the cost of living in different countries — the Big Mac index — as it is so widely available and the product largely comparable across markets.

In 2005, McDonald's began offering product placement rewards to hip hop artists who namechecked the Big Mac in their music, giving US$5 to the artist for every time a song mentioning the hamburger was played on the radio. [2] This offer quickly spawned a satirical backlash from a group called the Gatbustaz, in the form of the song, "McGangsta." [3]

Having consumed over 20,000 Big Macs, Don Gorske is possibly the world's greatest Big Mac eater. He was featured in the 2004 documentary film Super Size Me.

In India, the Big Mac is called the Maharaja Mac and is made with lamb instead of beef.[4] The mutton Maharaja Mac was available in 1998 but is not available at least since 2002. A Chicken Maharaja Mac sandwich is also available. There are also variations in other countries, especially to the condiments.

Burger King made a competing product called the Big King (or "Big K") burger which had similar ingredients and taste to a Big Mac.

The Big Mac has 560 calories, 47 grams of carbohydrates and 25 grams of protein.

Many have applauded the fact that Big Macs have gotten smaller over the years as McDonald's has become increasingly responsive to the demand for lighter and healthier fare. McDonalds enjoys slightly higher profits from smaller Big Macs with the same price, although there is no linear relation, as (fixed) labor cost accounts for the major part of a Big Mac's cost structure (that's why "Super Size Menues" are so attractive for Fast Food Chains).