Chick-fil-A is receiving backlash over a change that might put the chicken chain in the doghouse. The change is…the switch from Styrofoam cups to paper, and it’s causing many to admonish the brand for taking away their comfort container.
The chain started replacing the Styrofoam cups last May, quietly market by market, a change that hasn’t been all at once…but little by little. And customers noticed, not happy with the new cups.
A viral video on TikTok documented one customer discovering the switch in real time, trying to come to grips with the new reality.
Aleesha Thomas recorded herself as she left the drive-thru, holding a paper cup, and visibly disturbed:
“OK I had to pull over because I’m distraught…ok, what is this? Chick-fil-A…where’s my Styrofoam cup“?
She has the look of someone shell-shocked as she continues:
“That was like my comfort cup. Like that’s how I knew my Diet Dr. Peppers would be extra crispy because they were in a Styrofoam cup,”
She notes that she asked the employee at the window if they got rid of the Styrofoam cups, and he said yes.
From the comments on the video, it’s looking like this switch may be unforgivable as she’s scores of customers are vowing never to return:
@Chickfila we do not want paper cups! We want our styrofoam cups! I drive out of my way to get a [Chick-fil-A] drink because of the styrofoam cup.”
According to Chick-fil-A’s website, the new technology makes them stronger and keeps beverages cold, for a longer period of time than the single-wall paper cups and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic cups. The Styrofoam cups are made from paper sourced from “sustainably managed forests”.
The plastic to paper switch-over has been going into effect over the past few years in select markets nationwide. Plastic bags have been banned in major metropolitan areas in favor of reusable bags (which are causing their own recycling foibles).
And the replacement of plastic straws for paper straws was also a contentious hot topic among fast food customers. Multiple chains, convienance stores, and restaurants have switched to paper, causing an outcry among patrons complaining about soggy, non-usable straws.
There are a few rare places that still have plastic straws. And Wawa is one of them but they started hiding their straws behind the counter, available upon request like they’re locked down in Fort Knox.
The crazy thing is that now there’s a question of if paper straws are actually just as bad as plastic ones for the environment.
Hopefully the switch from Styrofoam to paper is actually a positive thing and it doesn’t turn out to be worse than the poison it’s replacing…
