McDonald’s has been working ’round the clock all year to find new ways to keep its menu top of mind for consumers. 

First, the brand assessed quality, rolling out the new and improved burgers nationwide that it had sold regionally in 2023. Next, it addressed size, testing the large-format Big Arch burger in international markets for a potential U.S. release. The chain is also courting customers with value, releasing a $5 meal deal to lure customers put off by high fast food prices. It’s also beckoning customers with nostalgia, thanks to a limited-time Collector’s Meal with special collectible cups. 

Now, McDonald’s latest strategy is to… go smaller? 

Starting September 10 at participating McDonald’s restaurants, guests can order a Mini McFlurry, which, according to the chain, is about a third the size of the regular one. According to the McDonald’s press release, the offering is designed to appeal to those who just want a small treat in the middle of their day. 

“Got a friend who always wants ‘just a bite’? Instead of grabbing an extra spoon, you can grab them a Mini McFlurry of their own,” the press release says. “Or maybe you’re looking for a quick afternoon pick-me-up… the Mini McFlurry is perfect for you, too.”

More than just another cute option, McDonald’s is doubling down on its sustainability efforts.

There are other benefits of a Mini McFlurry that go unmentioned in the press release. For one thing, it creates less food waste by giving customers the option to order only as much ice cream as they want. Secondly, it offers a lower-priced option for those put off by rising fast food costs. Third, a small-format dessert encourages customers to tack one onto their orders and increase their ticket size, whereas the regular McFlurry might seem like too much. The Mini option will extend to any limited-time flavors, too. 

Beyond that, the Mini isn’t the only change coming for the McFlurry—every size of the frozen treat is getting an eco-friendly update as well.

Back in 2018, McDonald’s finally got a little bit serious about climate change, promising to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, introduce regenerative agriculture practices into the supply chain, and add renewable energy sources to its operation by 2030. A big part of this involves a reduction in plastics, which feature heavily in the packaging and utensils of any McDonald’s meal—particularly the McFlurry, which has historically been served not only with a domed plastic lid but also a thick, rigid plastic spoon that also functions as the spindle on the McFlurry machine as the treat is being made. 

The spoons were phased out in 2023, swapping in a more typical plastic spoon that’s smaller and uses less plastic. Going forward, McDonald’s is ditching the McFlurry’s plastic domed lid, too — both the new Mini McFlurry and the regular McFlurry will feature a new cup with no detachable lid at all. Instead, the cardboard cup will feature four interlocking flaps that fully cover the top. McDonald’s says this change will “help reduce waste and advance our goal of sourcing 100% of primary guest packaging from renewable, recycled, or certified materials by the end of 2025.”

But one very important (and practical) question remains. 

The four-flap cup is already available in other international markets — including Indonesia and Canada — so presumably we can trust that any kinks in the design have long since been ironed out. But there is one question customers have about the Mini McFlurry: In such a small amount of ice cream, can the mix-ins actually get mixed in? 

“I don’t know if they’re going to be able to actually mix the ingredients with the McFlurry in a mini version,” said former McDonald’s corporate chef Mike Haracz in a TikTok video discussing the new menu item. “Many of you have reported that your local McDonald’s is not even blending the ingredients together, they’re just adding it on the top.”

“But of course, all of this does not matter if the ice cream machine is broken,” Haracz added. He has a point.