Former chef explains why Five Guys prices are ‘out of control’ after criticism for cost of one meal
Topics: Food and Drink, Five Guys
Lucy Devine
Featured Image Credit: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images / Eduardo Parra/Getty Images
Topics: Food and Drink, Five Guys
A former chef has spoken out about Five Guys' prices after people complained about the cost of a meal for one person.
It's no secret that the chain has always had a higher price point compared to some fast food outlets.
However, customers are becoming increasingly frustrated with how much it now costs to get a burger.
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One customer took to social media recently to share a receipt which came to a total of $24.10 for just one person.
This included a bacon cheeseburger for $12.49, a regular soda for $2.89, and portion of fries for $5.19.
While Five Guys can be more expensive, there are a few points to note. For one, while the burgers cost more, any extras such as ketchup or pickles are included in the initial price, so there aren't any extra charges for more toppings.
The chain also uses fresh ingredients rather than frozen, as well as cooking their fries in peanut oil - which is more expensive.
Former chef, Andrew Zimmern has spoken about the rising prices of fast food, and why this might be.
One reason is soaring meat costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is predicting that Americans may see the highest beef prices ever this year due to the lowest number of cattle in seven decades.
This is down to a few reasons, including an increase cost of feed (resulting in farmers having less cattle) and recent wildfires which killed over 7,000.
Zimmern also pointed out that prices for buns, frying oil, tomatoes, potatoes and lettuce (essentially all components of a fast food meal) are on the rise.
Then there is, of course, making sure staff have a fair wage.
"I have been very noisy over the last few years over the fact that service and restaurant companies, anywhere where someone is making food and cooking it, selling it, has to start selling food and charging a price sufficient to keep their company in business, pay their employees a fair wage, give them fair benefits and operate as a real business," he told Fox 28.
Although people have been outraged at soaring costs, one said that, given how expensive some ingredients are, the price of some fast food chains was actually reassuring in a way.
They wrote: "My controversial opinion is that given the price of bacon and beef if you’re paying less than ~ $12 for a burger you probably really shouldn’t eat it."
UNILAD has reached out to Five Guys for comment.