McDonald's Is Bottling Pickle Juice and Giving It To Athletes, Here's Why

McDonald's just made a pickle juice sports drink for athletes, and as it turns out, this creative concoction actually has a scientific basis. Sadly, the fast food giant isn't bringing the beverage to the U.S. right now. But if you want to know more about Mickey D's latest venture (and how it could potentially help your muscles to recover after a strenuous workout), keep reading.

Football in New Zealand (that's soccer to those of you in the United States) is getting a new and refreshing sideline selection. McDonald's recently announced a partnership with Auckland FC to bring leftover pickle juice to the club.

If you're thinking to yourself (or rather, shouting out loud), "What kind of juice was that, again?", you didn't misread anything. The chain is, in fact, bottling leftover pickle juice and giving it to professional football (again, soccer to Americans) players.

As fast food connoisseurs know, McDonald's burgers are packed with pickles. And those salty, savory, zesty chips come in vats of juice. Instead of wasting all of that beautiful brine, McD NZ is turning it into a remedy to soothe muscle cramps.

Why Give Pickle Juice to Sports Stars?

Does pickle juice really work? Bede Christey, Lead Physiotherapist at Auckland FC, said in a press release, "Cramps can come on quickly and stop a player in their tracks. Pickle juice is an option for us when cramps strike, and having it readily available on the sideline just makes sense."

While the McDonald's-sports team combo might seem pretty obvious in light of Christey's statements, Simon Kenny, Head of Communications at McDonald's New Zealand, also explained, "We kept spotting players reaching for pickle juice during games and thought, why not lean into it? At the same time, we've got plenty of pickle juice in our kitchens. This felt like a simple way to connect the two."

Kenny continued, "If our leftover pickle juice helps keep players moving, whether they're playing professionally or with their mates on the weekend, then we're all for it."

Is McDonald's Pickle Juice Available in the U.S.?

While American McDonald's stores haven't jumped on the pickle-drink-for-pros bandwagon yet, there's always time. Gatorade or leftover pickle brine? While the zesty juice sounds like an interesting option, maybe stick with something sweeter.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 12:15 PM.