McDonald’s added the Big Mac to its national U.S. menu in 1968. The burger had first been created and tested by franchisee Jim Delligatti in the Pittsburgh area in 1967.
The sandwich was designed to compete with larger hamburgers sold by rival restaurants. Its two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and three-part bun gave customers a larger meal than McDonald’s standard hamburger offerings.
The Big Mac’s national launch helped turn it into an international symbol of McDonald’s. It was later introduced in markets around the world, although ingredients, names, and availability can vary by country.
The launch date is sometimes confused with 1967, the year of the regional test and creation. Another commonly cited date is 1986, when The Economist popularized the Big Mac Index as a lighthearted measure of purchasing-power differences between currencies.