US tourist’s ‘shock’ at detail in Australian McDonald’s McFlurry

An American exchange student has exposed the difference between a popular McDonald’s menu item here and in her home country.

An American tourist has weighed in on one of customers’ most common gripes with Australia’s version of Macca’s beloved McFlurry.

In a TikTokvideo viewed by more than 361,000 people, Sydney-based exchange student Sammy shared her surprise that, unlike in the US, the dessert isn’t “flurried” by a special machine.

“Hold your shock: Australian McFlurrys are not blended. Like, they are just ice cream with the toppings on the top. That’s it,” she said.

“And they have chocolate ice cream at McDonald’s here, and a full coffee bar that you can order from at McDonald’s. Very interesting stuff, very interesting.”

A tourist has weighed in on one of the most frustrating things about the beloved dessert. Picture: TikTok

'Hold your shock: Australian McFlurrys are not blended.' Picture: TikTok

'They are just ice cream with the toppings on the top. That’s it.' Picture: TikTok

Hundreds of people took to the comments to weigh in, with one writing: “I miss them actually mixing it. It’s why I don’t get it any more.”

“They used to be blended but aren’t now,” another commented.

“I miss the spoons,” a third said.

While a forth wrote: “I’m Aussie and tbh I agree we should blend the toppings. But then add toppings on top too.”

‘I miss the spoons.’ Picture: Supplied

At Macca’s in Australia, a McFlurry isn’t served with the dessert’s “signature spoon” – which is hollow and has a hook on the end so it can be attached directly onto a special machine that whips the toppings and soft serve together.

A McDonald’s Australia spokesperson previously told Buzzfeed the McFlurry machines took up too much benchspace, which is why we no longer have them Down Under.

“This change was made a number of years ago, but you will be pleased to know our McFlurry is still as popular as ever,” the spokesperson explained at the time.

“The machines took up considerable space in our kitchens, so the decision was made that they would be hand-stirred – with love – by our crew. If you like yours a little more ‘flurried’, let the crew know and they will be sure to give it a more vigorous stir.”

The McFlurry machine at work. Picture: TikTok

What a McFlurry looks like after it's been 'flurried' by the machine. Picture: Twitter

In America, the machines seem to constantly be plagued by mechanical issues – to the point it’s been investigated by the United States Federal Trade Commission, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2021.

“Owners of McDonald’s outlets have long complained the devices are overly complicated and their breakdowns hard to fix,” the piece by The WSJ read.

“The machines require a nightly automated heat-cleaning cycle that can last up to four hours to destroy bacteria. The cleaning cycle can fail, making the machines unusable until a repair technician can get them going again, owners say.”

According to repair website iFixit, which last August got hold of one of the McFlurry machines and dismantled it, it usually defaults because it gets too hot.

“The machine overheats if it’s used too much within a certain time period. This results in mushy goop coming out or the machine completely shutting down and refusing to work until it resets and cools down,” iFixit Teardown Tech Sharam Mokhtari said in a YouTube video.

“The error codes are nonsensical, counterintuitive, and seemingly random, even if you spent hours reading the manual.”