Why McDonald's Will Probably Never Bring Back This Iconic Sandwich From The '80s

In the 65 years that it's been in business, McDonald's has had plenty of menu items for hungry customers to choose from. Sadly, not all have stood the test of time. McDonald's has discontinued many signature burgers like the Big N' Tasty, its competitor to the Burger King Whopper. One McDonald's burger that many remember fondly — but which we'll likely never see again — is the McDLT, a cheeseburger that came with fresh tomato and leaf lettuce.

The primary reason the McDLT is gone for good has little to do with the sandwich itself; rather, its demise came about because of its packaging. McDonald's used a double clamshell package made out of polystyrene foam to separate the hot cheeseburger from the cool lettuce and tomato, which would have wilted if kept in contact with the burger for too long. The foam packaging was not environmentally friendly, and since it was double the size of a typical clamshell package, its environmental impact was arguably even worse than other menu items.

The McDLT was officially discontinued in November 1990, when the McDonald's company made the switch from polystyrene packaging to paper, part of a push by the company to become more eco-conscious in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund. As the foam was phased out, so were items that relied on it, like the McDLT, transforming it into yet another of the discontinued chain restaurant meals we're unlikely to get back.

Of course, environmental awareness isn't the only reason you can't find a McDLT today. Part of it is due to the ingredients. When cold lettuce meets a hot sandwich, it doesn't have long before it turns into a mushy, wilted mess — hardly appetizing. Without the double packaging, keeping them separate "is a very difficult problem," as Edward Rensi, then-president of McDonald's, told The New York Times in 1990. It was apparently easier to discontinue the sandwich entirely than find a fix to the soggy lettuce problem.

Another reason McDonald's is unlikely to ever bring the McDLT back: money. Larger and more specialized packaging means more spent on materials and manufacturing, so the company may not wish to cut into its profits by making special containers for something that's not guaranteed to be a success. This holds especially true considering McDonald's best-sellers aren't even its burgers (that honor goes to the chain's fries).

There also likely wouldn't be much point in bringing back the McDLT. These days, you can easily customize McDonald's burgers and have lettuce and tomato added, both online and in person. Making an entirely new menu item, complete with marketing and special packaging, just for something you can easily recreate by modifying your order is fairly redundant.