McDonald’s enthusiasts are expressing frustration over a viral post that unveiled the soaring price of a hash brown, nearing £2 at select outlets.

The viral post displayed a snapshot of a McDonald’s menu board, highlighting the startling cost of £1.99 for a single hash brown at the specific restaurant visited by the individual.

Shared widely with over 459,000 views, the post was accompanied by a remark stating, “£2 for one solitary hash brown. We are officially done.”

Reacting to the escalating price, one person expressed, “It’s becoming unreasonable; it used to be a budget-friendly choice.” Another commented, “For that price, might as well opt for the sausage sandwich.” A third succinctly stated, “This is madness.”

Further feedback included, “Those hash browns are exceptional, but £2 is just too much.” Another reminisced, “I recall when they used to cost 59p.”

A spokesperson for McDonald’s clarified, “Many of our restaurants are independently owned and operated, giving them the liberty to set prices. Nonetheless, all uphold our commitment to offering customers a top-notch dining experience and great value.”

This development follows McDonald’s announcement of an impending increase in points required for redeeming free food under the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program.

Presently, 5,500 points are needed for items like a Big Mac, Double Fillet of Fish, Double Sausage and Egg McMuffin, and Nine Chicken Nuggets. However, starting March 17, the requirement will rise to 6,500 points for these items, where customers earn 100 points per £1 spent at McDonald’s.

The loyalty program adjustments also impact redemption thresholds, with the points needed for a Medium Coffee or Small Fries set to increase from 1,500 to 2,000 points. Similarly, items such as a regular McFlurry or an Apple Pie will now require 3,500 points instead of 2,500, and a Double Cheeseburger or McChicken sandwich will demand 5,000 points, up from 4,000.

A McDonald’s representative cited that the loyalty scheme modifications align with escalating food and operational costs, while introducing new redemption options like Chicken Selects, Cheese sides, and the new Sausage Sandwich to cater to diverse customer preferences.