McDonald's CEO roasted over awkward video of him trying his own 'product'

The McDonald’s CEO has come under fire for the way he described a fast-food item, with social media users claiming the phrase ‘scared’ them.

2026 has been a big year for McDonald’s. The return of Changeables was announced alongside news that the Shamrock Shake was re-launching in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

The gold-winning US Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey team were treated to burgers at the White House, and it was revealed that the Big Arch burger was potentially heading stateside.

The Big Arch is described as Maccies’ ‘best burger’ ever by fans, and is already loved in territories such as the United Kingdom.

Another fan is Chris Kempczinksi, the 57-year-old businessman who has starred as McDonald’s CEO since taking over from Steve Easterbrook in 2019.

The father-of-two took to Instagram last month to report his view on the Big Arch burger, claiming: “I love this product. “It is so good.”

Kempczinski went on to open the Big Arch, praising how ‘big’ the burger was. “There’s so much going on with his,” he said before taking his first bite.

“That’s so good… It’s distinctively McDonald’s. Only McDonald’s could do this type of burger, but it also is unlike anything else on our menu. It’s a delicious product.”

The clip, shared on 3 February, has racked up more than three million views, with many users taking issue with the McDonald’s CEO describing the Big Arch as a ‘product’, rather than a menu item.

“It scares me when you call food ‘product’,” remarked one Instagram viewer.

A second joked: “That's a nice looking product, I'll take two units please.”

“Product!…That’s put me right off! just call it a burger my friend ur not working in a chemist!!!” someone else commented.

A fourth added: “I've never seen someone so uncomfortable around a hamburger in my life. Oh my bad, around ‘product’.”

Another Instagram user used the now-viral opportunity to point out a second awkward detail in the video.

“Even the CEO’s fries box is half filled. Don’t feel so bad now,” they wrote.

People have also been using the video to voice their complaints about the amount of fries they recieve when ordering from the fast-food titan.

McDonald’s fries usually come in three different sizes: Small (80-82g/2.90z), Medium (114-115g/3.7oz), and Large (150-159g/5.06oz).

However, some Redditors have complained about portions in the past, with one alleging: “They always screw you at the drive-thru.”

But it appears that may not be the case, with a former McDonald’s employee typing: “When I worked there from 2013-2015 the policy was to stuff them in and put as many as you can in. Overfilled fries = costs the company a few cents, basically ensures customer happiness and frequent returns.”

While some of us like to snack on fries, others are convinced the McDonald’s staple is a ‘hack’ when it comes to curing migraines.

Dr Myro Figura, a Los Angeles-based board-certified anesthesiologist and academic medical educator, took to TikTok last week to discuss the claims.

While explaining that fast food is a dopamine hit - bound to ‘make anyone feel better after anything’ - Dr Figura said it was perhaps the salt content which was the most beneficial in this circumstance, as reported by LADbible.

“Those French fries are going to have a ton of salt on them, which is going to hydrate you just like an electrolyte tablet would,” he explained.

According to the McDonald’s website, the amount of salt varies by size, generally ranging from 160mg in a small to over 300mg in a large portion.

Some research suggests that limiting salt intake may increase the risk of migraine attack, which is why eating the fries may help, as per experts at Medical News Today.

However, studies have also claimed the opposite, and that too much can act as a pain catalyst. So, it may be worth checking with your medical practitioner before you start chowing down on McDonald’s.