Burger King Whopper Changes follow customer complaints with glazed bun, boxed packaging and new AI tool
For the first time in nearly a decade, Burger King says it updated its recipe for its famous Whopper, and the company linked the move to direct guest feedback; burger king whopper changes include a glazed bun, reformulated mayo and redesigned packaging meant to keep the sandwich intact. CBS News 24/7 takes a bite of the new recipe.
Burger King Whopper Changes roll out after testing and guest feedback
The updates were developed over a process spanning years and tested in select markets, in an email; the enhancements were informed by direct guest feedback that focused on bun quality, topping freshness, flavor balance and overall consistency. Customers complained, and the chain moved to address those specific elements rather than change the burger’s core proteins or produce.
What changed: glazed bun, mayo reformulation and a box
Burger King is updating its core Whopper Burger with a new glazed bun, redesigned packaging and reformulated “better-tasting, creamier mayo, ” in an email. The chain is swapping the previous paper wrapping for a box to maintain the integrity of the sandwich, and it emphasized there has been no change to the burger’s meat or to its lettuce, tomato and onion toppings.
Patty: a voice-AI headset assistant joins kitchen operations
As part of broader operational changes highlighted at an investor day, Burger King is deploying a voice-AI tool through its restaurant headsets called “Patty” to assist workers and managers and remove stockouts from digital menus and the brand’s app. Patty is meant to unify point of sale, kitchen equipment, inventory, and digital ordering into one command center and was designed using an OpenAI voice model.
Patty can remove out-of-stock items from digital ordering channels, answer questions about menu item preparation and product details without interrupting service, and analyze drive-thru audio to promote order accuracy and provide coaching insights. The investor day presentation positioned Patty alongside longer-running franchise support work, including refranchising and marketing fee adjustments.
RBI strategy: refranchising, menu shifts and marketing fees
Restaurant Brands International outlined four strategic initiatives at investor day: changes to core menu items, broader operational use of artificial intelligence, extending a higher marketing fee rate and continuing the refranchising of restaurants formerly operated by Carrols. these shifts continue its work to reposition and modernize Burger King in its core market; the Reclaim the Flame program will continue with a renewed emphasis on core menu food quality and accelerated refranchising.
Burger King declined to share the specific impact of the changes on cost-of-goods-sold for franchisees, but said it and franchisees have invested in the sandwich while working to ensure costs did not increase. The chain has focused for several years on boosting the four-wall profits of its franchisees following several major operator bankruptcies.
Industry context and comparisons
The fast-food sector’s competitive pressures were part of the backdrop: quick-service restaurants’ pricing advantage over fast casual has eroded, and other chains are testing premium menu items. McDonald’s is currently testing the Big Arch Burger, a large burger with two patties and premium elements including a custom-designed sauce and white cheddar cheese; Burger King’s Whopper update is likely a response to similar pressures.
Other quick-service brands are investing in back-of-house automation as well; Yum Brands launched an in-house tech system called Byte that includes an AI-powered restaurant coaching app active across thousands of restaurants.
Other headlines and brief items from the coverage
The broader coverage that ran with the Whopper reporting included these distinct items: the S&P 500 was on track for double-digit earnings growth with more than half of companies having reported Q4 results so far; Yahoo Finance analyzed 20 auto insurers to find which offers the best rideshare insurance for Uber, Lyft and other gig drivers in 2026; and Apple revealed details about its F1 coverage, including five-feed Multiview streaming.
Other disparate items noted alongside the Whopper coverage were: a note that you don't have to splurge on designer styles to bring home celebrity-approved shoes and that some styles are warm, waterproof and up to 70% off; a line that the Netflix and Paramount Skydance financial negotiations to acquire Warner Bros Discovery may be nearing an end; a sports note that Edwards' throw reportedly hit a fan sitting at the other end of the court; guidance that consumers can bypass ads with a subscription to YouTube Premium; and a corporate update that eBay announced it is cutting about 800 jobs as part of a strategic realignment.
When Reclaim the Flame launched in 2022, unclear in the provided context.
What comes next is unclear in the provided context.
