McDonald’s Tests Oatmeal

CHICAGO—McDonald’s Corporation has begun testing a new breakfast item, brown-sugar oatmeal, in restaurants around Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The oatmeal comes with apples, raisins cranberries and cream. A company spokesperson noted the test breakfast item has been “well received by customers.”

McDonald’s is attempting to instill some new life into its breakfast daypart in the wake of faltering sales amidst a troubled economy. Breakfast has historically been the most-successful meal for the fast-food giant.

After Starbucks added oatmeal to the menu in 2008, it quickly became the chain’s top-selling breakfast food item. Caribou Coffee added oatmeal to its menu earlier this year, and Jamba Juice began serving oatmeal in 2009.

McDonald’s is also planning to add frappes and smoothies to the menu in the near future.