"The lettuce and tomato burger's popularity is best understood in the time capsule-esque commercial starring future "Seinfeld" actor Jason Alexander, which included an earworm-worthy song about keeping the hot and cold ingredients properly separated. Though this discontinued McDonald's menu item isn't missed by many, there's no denying how catchy the jingle was. Another important feature of this classic cult favorite is the temperature-keeping technology, which is now so notable that it has earned a spot in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History."
"The famed styrofoam double clamshell packaging came with the promise of keeping the sandwich's cold and hot ingredients separate until the eater was ready to combine them for optimal enjoyment. With the bottom bun and burger patty on one side and the top bun, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sauce, and pickles on the other, this was the height of '80s fast food technology. But despite these achievements, the McD.L.T. is one fast food menu item that likely won't be making a comeback."
The McD.L.T. debuted in 1985 as a lettuce-and-tomato burger emphasizing separation of hot and cold ingredients. A commercial featuring Jason Alexander included a memorable jingle about keeping components properly separated. The sandwich used a styrofoam double clamshell to keep the bottom bun and burger patty hot on one side while the top bun, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sauce, and pickles stayed cold on the other. The temperature-keeping technology earned a place in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. McDonald's shifted packaging from polystyrene to paper by 1990, which led to removal of the clamshell and discontinuation of the McD.L.T.
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