CBS News
McDonald’s to revamp McFlurry containers after ditching plastic spoons
Big changes are coming to McDonald’s McFlurry dessert starting September 10.
In addition to the introduction of a smaller version of the treat for those who want to indulge in moderation, the ice cream snack will be served in more sustainable containers, McDonald’s said this week in a statement.
That means the fast-food giant is ditching the plastic lids previously used to encase the milkshake-like dessert. As early as next week, McFlurry’s will be served in “a more environmentally friendly four-flap cup,” McDonald’s said.
McDonald’s
Last year, the golden arches did away with the dessert’s hollow-handle plastic spoon in favor of a smaller, more sustainable plastic utensil.
“Packaging updates like this matter,” McDonald’s chief impact officer for North America, Michael Gonda, said in a statement. “Not only is this a fun new way for our U.S. fans to enjoy the McFlurry, we’re also moving one step closer to fulfilling our packaging and waste commitments.”
McFlurry’s are already served in four-flap cups in some international markets, including Canada and Indonesia.
The move brings McDonald’s closer to its goal of sourcing all of its packaging from renewable, recycled or certified materials by the end of the 2025, according to the restaurant chain. That includes transitioning to environmentally friendly containers and utensils, reducing hard-to-recycle plastics, such as bags, cutlery and straws.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Yellowstone hiker burned when she falls into scalding water near Old Faithful, park officials say
Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. — A New Hampshire woman suffered severe burns on her leg after hiking off-trail in Yellowstone National Park and falling into scalding water in a thermal area near the Old Faithful geyser, park officials said.
The 60-year-old woman from Windsor, New Hampshire, along with her husband and their leashed dog were walking off a designated trail near the Mallard Lake Trailhead on Monday afternoon when she broke through a thin crust over the water and suffered second- and third-degree burns to her lower leg, park officials said. Her husband and the dog weren’t injured.
The woman was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho for treatment.
National Park Service / Jacob W. Frank
Park visitors are reminded to stay on boardwalks and trails in hydrothermal areas and exercise extreme caution. The ground in those areas is fragile and thin and there’s scalding water just below the surface, park officials said.
Pets are allowed in limited, developed areas of Yellowstone park but are prohibited on boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry and in thermal areas.
The incident is under investigation. The woman’s name wasn’t made public.
This is the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone in 2024, park officials said in a statement. The park had recorded 3.5 million visitors through August this year.
Hot springs have injured and killed more people in Yellowstone National Park than any other natural feature, the National Park Service said. At least 22 people have died from hot spring-related injuries in and around the 3,471-square-mile national park since 1890, park officials have said.