Shamrock Shake stirs student opinion

The Shamrock Shake is back in participating McDonald’s locations through March 23, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

Michael Gonda, McDonald’s senior vice president and chief impact officer of North America, said in a press release: “Our long-standing tradition of the Shamrock Shake is a testament to the joy we bring to our customers.”

Reactions to the return of the seasonal menu item have been mixed, with some students only having a vague idea of the mint dessert and others having an apprehension toward McDonald’s altogether.

“‘I’ve seen it scrolling on Instagram or something, but I don’t eat stuff from McDonald’s, so it doesn’t even interest me,” said junior music major Kiana Romero. “I’ve just heard [McDonald’s] has so many bad ingredients in their meals.”

The sentiment seems to come from a desire for more nutritious options on the McDonald’s menu.

“I just wish those meals would be a little bit healthier. We don’t know what’s in them, and if we were to know what’s in [the meals], I’m pretty sure people wouldn’t be eating them,” Romero said.

The appeal of a seasonal item outweighs any nutritional deficiencies for some. Sophomore exercise science major Mikhail Cartwright enjoys the Shamrock Shake and understands why it is so compelling.

“I feel like [seasonal items] encourage you to go and get them more. When they come back, you want to go get them,” Cartwright said.

Sophia Desciscio, sophomore law major, said the scarcity of the dessert is a part of the draw.

“Honestly, I enjoy it because I like it, and I look forward to the Shamrock Shake coming out every year,” Desciscio said.