79-632: McSpicy is the name used by the fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's for burgers in various markets. In Singapore, a chicken burger called the McSpicy is the chain's top-selling burger. The McSpicy burger is sold in Singapore , Hong Kong , Sri Lanka the Philippines and Indonesia contains a spiced fried-chicken cutlet made of leg meat, accompanied by lettuce and mayonnaise . The burger
158-424: A McJob ". The word McJob, first attested in the mid-1980s and later popularized by Canadian novelist Douglas Coupland in his book Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture , has become a buzzword for low-paid, unskilled work with few prospects or benefits and little security. McDonald's disputes this definition of McJob. In 2007, the company launched an advertising campaign with the slogan "Would you like
237-491: A synth and tweak sounds with special effects. On the river Elbe in Hamburg, Germany, is the world's only "McBoat," a float-through service (similar to drive-through ) for people on the river. In 2006, McDonald's introduced its "Forever Young" brand by redesigning all of its restaurants, the first significant redesign since the 1970s. It resembles a coffee shop, with wooden tables, faux-leather chairs, and muted colors;
316-569: A "Walk-Thru" service in place of Drive-Thru. McCafé is a café -style accompaniment to McDonald's restaurants. The concept was created by McDonald's Australia, starting with Melbourne in 1993. From 2015 to 2016, McDonald's tried a more flexible burger service and restaurant concept based on other restaurants such as Shake Shack and Grill'd . It was rolled out for the first time in Australia in early 2015 and expanded to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Arabia, and New Zealand, with ongoing trials in
395-476: A bid to tap into the ethical consumer market , McDonald's switched to using coffee beans taken from stocks that are certified by the Rainforest Alliance , a conservation group . Additionally, in response to pressure, McDonald's UK started using organic milk supplies for its bottled milk and hot drinks, although it still uses conventional milk in its milkshakes, and in all of its dairy products in
474-408: A career with that?" on Irish television, asserting that its jobs have good prospects. In an effort to respond to growing consumer awareness of food provenance, the fast-food chain changed its supplier of both coffee beans and milk . UK chief executive Steve Easterbrook said: "British consumers are increasingly interested in the quality, sourcing, and ethics of the food and drink they buy". In
553-590: A deal with the Israeli franchisee, Alonyal, to buy back all 225 outlets to the corporation. McDonald's has been involved in a number of lawsuits and other legal cases, most of which involved trademark disputes. The company has threatened many food businesses with legal action unless it drops the Mc or Mac from trading names. In April 2007, in Perth , Western Australia, McDonald's pleaded guilty to five charges relating to
632-651: A notice that was being displayed inside one of its restaurants in China saying that " black people are not allowed to enter." In October 2020, the Azerbaijan branch of McDonald's was criticized for Facebook and Instagram posts endorsing Azerbaijan's military actions against Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh . While McDonald's restaurants exist in Armenia, as of January 2020, none of them were franchises of
711-651: A press release". In April 2024, a McDonald's in Nantong , China apologized to a customer after the word " shǎbī " was written on his receipt for a refund. They assured the employee responsible has been reprimanded, and promised to improve staff training and customer service procedures. Although McDonald's has a policy against abuse of staff, reports in the UK have shown numerous cases of sexual and racial abuse by managers towards younger employees. Since McDonald's began receiving criticism for its environmental practices in
790-808: A prototype restaurant in Chicago in 2009, intending to use the model in its other restaurants throughout the world. Building on past efforts, specifically a restaurant it opened in Sweden in 2000 that was the first to incorporate green ideas, McDonald's designed the Chicago site to save energy by managing storm water, using skylights for more natural lighting, and installing partitions and tabletops made from recycled goods, among other measures. In 2012, McDonald's announced they would trial replacing styrofoam coffee cups with an alternative material. In 2018, McDonalds switched from plastic straws to paper ones in Ireland and
869-580: A restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald , in San Bernardino, California , United States. They rechristened their business as a hamburger stand and later turned the company into a franchise , with the Golden Arches logo being introduced in 1953 at a location in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1955, Ray Kroc , a businessman, joined the company as a franchise agent and, in 1961, bought out
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#1732797759652948-676: A seasonal basis, McDonald's offers the McRib sandwich. Some speculate the seasonality of the McRib adds to its appeal. During March of each year, McDonald's offers a Shamrock Shake to honor Saint Patrick's Day . In addition, the chain also sells some items within the United States on a regional basis; for example, the Hatch Green Chile Double Cheeseburger, which is topped with New Mexico green chile ,
1027-515: A shopping mall. Other McDonald's are located in Walmart stores. McStop is a location targeted at truckers and travelers who may have services found at truck stops . In Sweden, Happy Meal boxes can be used as goggles, with the game Slope Stars . In the Netherlands, McDonald's has introduced McTrax that doubles as a recording studio; it reacts to touch. They can create their own beats with
1106-407: A single arch for the architecture of their buildings. Although the "Golden Arches" logo appeared in various forms, the present version was not used until November 18, 1968, when the company was granted a U.S. trademark. The present corporation credits its founding to franchised businessman Ray Kroc on April 15, 1955. This was the ninth opened McDonald's restaurant overall, although this location
1185-635: A small amount of complex carbs to aid in satiety more quickly. There are over 36,000 McDonald's restaurants globally. Over a third of these (14,146 restaurants) are in the United States alone. The second highest number is in Japan, with 2,975 restaurants, followed by China, with 2,700. These three countries make up the majority of global McDonald's stores. In the United States, most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter service and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, Pay and Drive, or "McDrive" as it
1264-405: A small group known as London Greenpeace (no connection to the international group Greenpeace ) distributed leaflets entitled What's wrong with McDonald's? , criticizing its environmental, health, and labor record. The corporation wrote to the group demanding they desist and apologize, and, when two of the activists refused to back down, sued them for libel leading to the " McLibel case ", one of
1343-453: A statement that said only certified halal cakes are allowed inside its restaurants nationwide. The longest-running legal action of all time in the UK was the McLibel case against two defendants who criticized a number of aspects of the company. The trial lasted 10 years and called 130 witnesses. The European Court of Human Rights deemed that the unequal resources of the litigants breached
1422-405: A suburb or in new developments on traditionally rural land. McMansions are often built in multiples that are difficult to distinguish from one another, like assembly-line factory parts or fast-food hamburgers. In 2006, an unsanctioned McDonald's Video Game by Italian group Molleindustria was released online. It is a parody of the business practices of the corporate giant, taking the guise of
1501-649: A tycoon style business simulation game. In the game, the player plays the role of a McDonald's CEO, choosing whether or not to use controversial practices like genetically altered cow feed, plowing over rainforests, and corrupting public officials. McDonald's issued a statement distancing itself from the game. In January 2014, McDonald's was accused of having used a series of tax maneuvers to avoid taxes in France. French authorities have billed McDonald's France in 2016 for 300 million euros for unpaid taxes on profit. In April 2020, McDonald's apologized after footage showing
1580-574: Is accused of paying less with arbitrary schedule adjustments and pay delays. McDonald's former CEO, Steve Easterbrook , earned an annual salary of $ 1,100,000. In September 2017, two British McDonald's stores agreed to a strike over zero-hours contracts for staff. Picket lines were formed around the two stores in Crayford and Cambridge . The strike was supported by then Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn . Workers at
1659-558: Is also made with chicken breast. In India , McDonald's launched the McSpicy Chicken Burger, McSpicy Paneer Burger, McSpicy Chicken Wrap and McSpicy Paneer Wrap in 2011. The McSpicy Chicken Burger is made from chicken thigh. After its introduction, the McSpicy Paneer Burger was so popular that restaurants sold out every week. In May 2020, McDonald's India added a fried chicken product to its menu using
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#17327977596521738-457: Is best known for its hamburgers, cheeseburgers and french fries , although their menu also includes other items like chicken, fish, fruit, and salads. Their bestselling licensed item is their french fries, followed by the Big Mac . The McDonald's Corporation revenues come from the rent, royalties , and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants. McDonald's
1817-519: Is customized to reflect consumer tastes in their respective countries. Restaurants in several countries, particularly in Asia, serve soup. This local deviation from the standard menu is a characteristic for which the chain is particularly known and one which is employed either to abide by regional food taboos (such as the religious prohibition of beef consumption in India) or to make available foods with which
1896-561: Is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders while the customer remains in their vehicle; it was first introduced in Sierra Vista , Arizona in 1975, following the lead of other fast-food chains. The first such restaurant in Britain opened at Fallowfield , Manchester, in 1986. In 1994, McDonald's attempted Hearth Express, a prototype specializing in homestyle takeout meals. Among
1975-416: Is more than double that of battery cage systems, will require new research to mitigate. The facilities have higher ammonia levels because feces are kicked into the air. Producers raised concerns about the production cost, which is expected to increase by 36 percent. Criticism of McDonald%27s The American restaurant chain McDonald's has been criticised for numerous aspects of its business, including
2054-547: Is one of the most littered brands worldwide. In 2012, a Keep Australia Beautiful study found that McDonald's was the most littered brand in Queensland . In 2009, Keep Britain Tidy likewise found McDonald's to be the leading producer of fast-food litter on British streets, accounting for 29% of the total. An early protest against this practice was "Operation Send-It-Back", launched by London Greenpeace in 1994 in response to
2133-458: Is only available in the southwestern state of New Mexico . Products are offered as either "dine-in" (where the customer opts to eat in the restaurant) or "take-out" (where the customer opts to take the food off the premises). "Dine-in" meals are provided on a plastic tray with a paper insert on the floor of the tray. "Take-out" meals are usually delivered with the contents enclosed in a distinctive McDonald's-branded brown paper bag. In both cases,
2212-500: Is optimal from an animal welfare perspective." Though the company objected, the term "McJob" was added to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in 2003. The term was defined as "a low-paying job that requires little skill and provides little opportunity for advancement". Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary also contains the word " McMansion ", a critical, pejorative term used to describe an overly large, ostentatious, sometimes poorly designed or constructed house, often found in
2291-499: Is the world's second-largest private employer with 1.7 million employees (behind Walmart with 2.3 million employees), the majority of whom work in the restaurant's franchises. McDonald's has been subject to criticism over the health effects of its products and its participation in various legal cases. Siblings Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald's at 1398 North E Street at West 14th Street in San Bernardino, California , on May 15, 1940. The brothers introduced
2370-476: The Georgie Pie fast food chain it bought out in 1996. In Greece, the signature hamburger, Big Mac, is changed by adding Tzatziki sauce and packaging in a pita. In the United States and Canada, after limited trials on a regional basis, McDonald's began offering in 2015 and 2017, respectively, a partial breakfast menu during all hours its restaurants were open. All-day breakfast was phased out from menus at
2449-401: The "Speedee Service System" in 1948, putting into expanded use the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant that predecessor White Castle had put into practice more than two decades earlier. The original mascot of McDonald's was a hamburger-headed chef who was referred to as "Speedee". In 1962, the Golden Arches replaced Speedee as the universal mascot. Clown mascot Ronald McDonald
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2528-761: The 1970s, it has significantly reduced its use of materials. For instance, an "average meal" in the 1970s—a Big Mac, fries, and a drink—required 46 grams (1.6 oz) of packaging; today, it requires 25 grams (0.88 oz), a 46 percent reduction. In addition, McDonald's eliminated the need for intermediate containers for cola by using a delivery system that pumps syrup directly from the delivery truck into storage containers, saving two million pounds (910 tonnes) of packaging annually. Weight reductions in packaging and products, as well as increased usage of bulk packaging, ultimately decreased packaging by twenty-four million pounds (11,000 tonnes) annually. McDonald's efforts to reduce solid waste by using less packaging and by promoting
2607-512: The Grimace article, arguing that the effort he placed into sourcing and writing the article was thrown down the drain in order to promote the product. Steinmetz further credited wikis as among the last places where people share knowledge unconditionally, stating to multiple outlets that the move by Fandom set a "really bad precedent that an IP holder can approach Fandom or whoever and have user generated content basically ‘suppressed’ and replaced with
2686-668: The McDonald brothers. Previously headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois , it moved to nearby Chicago in June 2018. McDonald's is also a real estate company through its ownership of around 70% of restaurant buildings and 45% of the underlying land (which it leases to its franchisees). McDonald's is the world's largest fast food restaurant chain by number of locations , serving over 69 million customers daily in over 100 countries in more than 40,000 outlets as of 2021. McDonald's
2765-466: The McDonald's franchise at Saint-Barthélémy, Marseille , occupied the restaurant in protest against its planned closure. Employing 77 people, the restaurant is the second-biggest private sector employer in Saint-Barthélémy, which has an unemployment rate of 30 percent. Lawyers for Kamel Guemari, a shop steward at the franchise, claimed an attempt was made to kill him when a car drove at him in
2844-513: The McResource website amidst negative publicity and criticism. McDonald's plans to continue an internal telephone help line through which its employees can obtain advice on work and life problems. The Roosevelt Institute , a liberal think tank , accuses some McDonald's restaurants of actually paying less than the minimum wage to entry positions due to "rampant" wage theft . In South Korea, McDonald's pays part-time employees $ 5.50 an hour and
2923-486: The McSpicy name: McSpicy Fried Chicken. In Malaysia , it goes by the name of Spicy Chicken McDeluxe, with cornmeal bun in place of the toasted sesame seed bun. In May 2017, a vegetarian McSpice burger was introduced in Norway ; without the cheese it is vegan-friendly. McDonald%27s McDonald's Corporation , doing business as McDonald's , is an American multinational fast food chain , founded in 1940 as
3002-608: The U.S., including the hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, double Quarter Pounder with Cheese and the Big Mac. Nevertheless, the pickles will still be made with an artificial preservative, although customers can choose to opt out of getting pickles with their burgers. In November 2020, McDonald's announced McPlant, a plant-based burger, along with plans to develop additional meat alternative menu items that extend to chicken substitutes and breakfast sandwiches. This announcement came after
3081-665: The US market. In dedicated "Create Your Taste" (CYT) kiosks, customers could choose all ingredients, including the type of bun and meat, along with optional extras. CYT food was served to the table on wooden boards, fries in wire baskets, and salads in china bowls with metal cutlery at a higher price. In November 2016, Create Your Taste was replaced by a "Signature Crafted Recipes" program designed to be more efficient and less expensive. McDonald's playgrounds are called PlayPlaces. Some McDonald's in suburban areas and certain cities feature large indoor or outdoor playgrounds . The first PlayPlace with
3160-591: The United Kingdom and Australia in an effort to reduce plastic pollution. The Netherlands followed suit in 2020, so did Germany in 2021. In January 2021, McDonald's Arcos Dorados, the largest independent McDonald's franchise in the world which operates stores in Latin America and the Caribbean, introduced food trays manufactured by UBQ Materials that use a mix of food waste by-products to reduce
3239-718: The United States. According to a report published by Farmers Weekly in 2007, the quantity of milk used by McDonald's could have accounted for as much as 5 percent of the UK's organic milk output. McDonald's announced in May 2008 that, in the United States and Canada, it has switched to using cooking oil that contains no trans fats for its french fries , and canola -based oil with corn and soy oils, for its baked items, pies and cookies, by end of 2018. With regard to acquiring chickens from suppliers who use CAK/CAS methods of slaughter , McDonald's says that it needs to see more research "to help determine whether any CAS system in current use
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3318-602: The area. In this trial, waste from the restaurants was collected by Veolia Environmental Services and used to produce energy at a power plant. McDonald's announced plans to expand this project, although the lack of biomass power plants in the United States would prevent adoption of this plan as a national standard there anytime soon. In addition, in Europe, McDonald's has been recycling vegetable grease by converting it to fuel for its diesel trucks. In an effort to reduce energy usage by 25 percent in its restaurants, McDonald's opened
3397-1132: The company's targeting of activists in the McLibel Trial . Participants in Operation Send-It-Back returned 30 sacks of McDonald's litter to the company. In the 2010s, similar individual protests took place in New Zealand and England. During the 2023 Israel-Gaza war , amidst the Israeli blockade of supplies in Gaza, McDonald's in Israel was condemned after giving free food to the Israel Defense Forces who were accused of committing war crimes against Palestinians . The hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds gained worldwide traction on social media. There were also large gathering outside restaurants in Lebanon and Egypt protesting
3476-455: The defendants rights to freedom of speech and biased the trial. The result was widely seen as a "PR disaster" for McDonald's. The 1994 court case Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants examined a McDonald's practice of serving coffee so hot that when spilled, it caused third degree burns requiring weeks of hospitalization and skin grafting surgery. The trial outcome was an award of $ 2.86 million (equivalent to $ 5.33 million in 2023) for
3555-630: The employment of children under 15 in one of its outlets and was fined A$ 8,000. In April 2017, Irish fast-food chain Supermac's submitted a request to the European Union Property Office to cancel McDonald's owned trademarks within the European Union, claiming that McDonald's engaged in "trademark bullying; registering brand names... which are simply stored away in a war chest to use against future competitors", after
3634-564: The end of 2024 as a test. The outlets will have a smaller real-estate footprint than regular McDonald's restaurants and are focused on selling coffee and other drinks to afternoon customers. The name for the new brand comes from CosMc, a McDonaldland mascot that appeared in advertisements in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In October 2024, an E. coli outbreak occurred associated with contaminated Quarter Pounder burgers from McDonald's. As of October 30, one person died, 27 were hospitalized, and 90 were sickened across 13 US states. Since
3713-443: The expense of people's health and the social conditions of its workers. The book also brought into question McDonald's advertisement techniques in which it targets children. While the book did mention other fast-food chains, it focused primarily on McDonald's. In 2002, vegetarian groups, largely Hindu and Buddhist , successfully sued McDonald's for misrepresenting its French fries as vegetarian, when they contained beef broth . In
3792-641: The familiar crawl-tube design with ball pits and slides was introduced in 1987 in the US, with many more being constructed soon after. McDonald's Next uses open-concept design and offers "Create Your Taste" digital ordering. The concept store also offers free mobile device charging and table service after 6:00 pm. The first store opened in Hong Kong in December 2015. Some locations are connected to gas stations and convenience stores, while others called McExpress have limited seating or menu or may be located in
3871-613: The familiar golden arches, the restaurants feature "semi-swooshes" (half of a golden arch), similar to the Nike swoosh . McDonald's began banning smoking in 1994 when it restricted customers from smoking within its 1,400 wholly owned restaurants. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic , McDonald's closed most seating and all play areas in its United States restaurants. It transitioned to drive-thru and curbside orders at locations and online food ordering delivery services. In July 2020, for
3950-469: The fare offered were meatloaf, fried chicken, and baked ham. This experiment started with a single location in Darien, Illinois but closed in only one year. In some countries, McDrive locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service. There are also a few locations, mostly in downtown districts, that offer
4029-465: The film premiered, McDonald's announced that it was eliminating the super size option, and was creating the adult Happy Meal . A counter-documentary called Fat Head purported to point out inconsistencies in Super Size Me . In response to public pressure, McDonald's has sought to include more healthy choices in its menu and has introduced a new slogan to its recruitment posters: "Not bad for
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#17327977596524108-437: The global chain. June 2023 saw McDonald's receive scrutiny for removing and replacing content on the fan-run McDonald's Wiki on Fandom with advertising. The company paid Fandom an undisclosed amount to temporarily replace the page about Grimace , which originally detailed the history of the character, into an advertisement promoting the chain's Grimace Shake . The decision was vocally protested by Nathan Steinmetz, author of
4187-546: The health effects of its products, its treatment of employees, the environmental impact of its operations, and other business practices. In the late 1980s, Phil Sokolof , a millionaire businessman who had suffered a heart attack at the age of 43, took out full-page newspaper ads in New York, Chicago, and other large cities accusing McDonald's menu of being a threat to American health, and asking them to stop using beef tallow to cook their french fries. In 1990, activists from
4266-770: The individual items are wrapped or boxed as appropriate. Since Steve Easterbrook became CEO of the company in 2015, McDonald's has streamlined the menu which in the United States contained nearly 200 items. The company has looked to introduce healthier options and removed high-fructose corn syrup from hamburger buns . The company has removed artificial preservatives from Chicken McNuggets , replacing chicken skin, safflower oil and citric acid found in Chicken McNuggets with pea starch, rice starch, and powdered lemon juice. In September 2018, McDonald's USA announced that they no longer use artificial preservatives, flavors and colors entirely from seven classic burgers sold in
4345-493: The late 1990s, McDonald's has attempted to replace employees with electronic kiosks that would perform actions such as taking orders and accepting money. In 1999, McDonald's first tested "E-Clerks" in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and Wyoming, Michigan , with the devices being able to "save money on live staffers" and attracting larger purchase amounts than average employees. In 2013, the University of Oxford estimated that in
4424-521: The longest cases in English civil law. A documentary film of the McLibel Trial has been shown in several countries. In 2001, Eric Schlosser 's book Fast Food Nation included criticism of the business practices of McDonald's. Among the critiques were allegations that McDonald's (along with other companies within the fast food industry) uses its political influence to increase its profits at
4503-463: The most common theme on the McDonald's Facebook wall was concern for hens. By September 2014, McDonald's heeded the criticism and declared they would strive to eliminate caged eggs by 2017. By January 2018, McDonald's accounced they had succeeded in meeting their goal. In 2015, McDonald's pledged to stop using eggs from battery cage facilities by 2025 for all American restaurants. McDonald's met their goal nearly two years ahead of schedule, announcing
4582-504: The move. McDonalds in other countries like Turkey and Pakistan , distanced themselves from the Israeli brand . In January 2024, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the backlash, stating, "Several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonald's". In April 2024, McDonald's reached
4661-878: The option of fixed contracts instead. A study released by Fast Food Forward conducted by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research showed that approximately 84 percent of all fast food employees working in New York City in April 2013 had been paid less than their legal wages by their employers. From 2007 to 2011, fast food workers in the U.S. drew an average of $ 7firstbillion of public assistance annually resulting from receiving low wages. The McResource website advised employees to break their food into smaller pieces to feel fuller, seek refunds for unopened holiday purchases, sell possessions online for quick cash, and "quit complaining" as "stress hormone levels rise by 15 percent after ten minutes of complaining." In December 2013, McDonald's shut down
4740-401: The ordering process (along with others working in the kitchen or other back-of-the-house roles). There was no seating in this restaurant. On August 5, 2013, The Guardian revealed that 90 percent of McDonald's UK workforce are on zero-hour contracts , making it possibly the largest such private sector employer in the country. In April 2017, due to employee strikes, they gave all employees
4819-420: The red was muted to terracotta, the yellow was shifted to golden for a more "sunny" look, and olive and sage green were added. The warmer look has less plastic and more brick and wood, with modern hanging lights for a softer glow. Many restaurants feature free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Other upgrades include double drive-thrus, flat roofs instead of the angled red roofs, and fiberglass instead of wood. Instead of
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#17327977596524898-539: The regional market is more familiar (such as the sale of McRice in Indonesia, or Ebi (prawn) Burger in Singapore and Japan). McDonald's restaurants in China include fried buns and soybean milk on their breakfast menus. In Germany and some other Western European countries, McDonald's sells beer. In New Zealand, until 2020, McDonald's sold meat pies after local affiliate McDonald's New Zealand partially relaunched
4977-525: The restaurant car park. In March 2015, McDonald's workers in 19 U.S. cities filed 28 health and safety complaints with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration , which allege that low staffing, lack of protective gear, poor training, and pressure to work fast resulted in injuries. The complaints allege that, because of a lack of first aid supplies, workers were told by management to treat burn injuries with condiments such as mayonnaise and mustard . The Fight for $ 15 labor organization aided
5056-404: The same year, Spanish band Ska-P released a song titled "McDollar" in their album ¡¡Que Corra La Voz!! criticizing McDonald's. Morgan Spurlock 's 2004 documentary film Super Size Me claimed that McDonald's food was contributing to the increase of obesity in society and that the company was failing to provide nutritional information about its food for its customers. Six weeks after
5135-580: The start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In partnership with the Central Food Technological Research Institute in India , McDonald's has introduced millet -based buns on September 4, 2024. Three major ( Pearl millet , Sorghum , and Finger millet ) and two minor ( Proso and Paspalum scrobiculatum ) millets are used which makes up 22% of the bun. It provides more calcium, iron, and protein in addition to
5214-973: The succeeding decades, there was a 92% probability of food preparation and serving becoming automated in fast food establishments. By 2016, McDonald's "Create Your Taste" electronic kiosks were seen in some restaurants internationally where customers could custom order meals. In 2017, McDonald's launched an app in the United States that allows customers to skip the ordering line inside or drive through and order online. Many McDonald's locations have special parking spaces for such orders. In September 2019, McDonald's purchased an AI-based start-up, Apprente, to replace human servers with voice-based technology in its US drive-throughs. In early 2023, McDonald's opened its first largely automated restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas . The restaurant in question would de-emphasize human contact when ordering, with employees available if there were problems but who would otherwise be absent from
5293-620: The successful elimination of caged eggs in February 2024. Since McDonald's purchases over 2 billion eggs per year or 4 percent of eggs produced in the United States, the switch is expected to have a major impact on the egg industry. It is part of a general trend toward cage-free eggs driven by consumer concern over the harsh living conditions of hens. The aviary systems from which the new eggs will be sourced are troubled by much higher mortality rates, as well as introducing environmental and worker safety problems. The high hen mortality rate, which
5372-615: The successful testing of Beyond Meat plant based meat substitutes. In late 2022, McDonald's announced the addition of the Double McPlant at all restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting January 4 due to the success of the McPlant. In 2024, select McDonald's in the UK were testing vegan ice cream called Choco Scoop and Strawberry Scoop and receiving positive reviews. The company often introduces items temporarily or brings them back after long absences. McDonald's Menu
5451-458: The trademarks had prevented Supermac's from expanding out of Ireland. The EUIPO ruled in Supermac's favour, finding that McDonald's "has not proven genuine use" of many trademarks, cancelling McDonald's owned trademarks such as "Big Mac" and certain "Mc"-related trademarks within the European Union. Burger King responded by "trolling" McDonald's by giving their sandwiches names that included
5530-569: The use of recycled materials were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . In 1990, McDonald's worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to stop using " clam shell "-shaped styrofoam food containers to store its food products. In April 2008, McDonald's announced that 11 of its restaurants in Sheffield , England, were engaged in a biomass trial program that cut its waste and carbon footprint by half in
5609-421: The use of virgin plastic. McDonald's uses a corn-based bioplastic to produce containers for some products. The environmental benefits of this technology are controversial, with critics noting that biodegradation is slow and produces greenhouse gases, and that contamination of traditional plastic waste streams with bioplastics can complicate recycling efforts. Studies of litter have found that McDonald's
5688-502: The words "Big Mac", that also mocked the original burger, which included, "Like a Big Mac But Juicier", "Like a Big Mac, But Actually Big" and "Big Mac-ish But Flame-Grilled of Course". On September 8, 2009, McDonald's Malaysian operations lost a lawsuit to prevent another restaurant calling itself McCurry. McDonald's lost in an appeal to Malaysia's highest court, the Federal Court. On December 29, 2016, McDonald's Malaysia issued
5767-499: The workers in filing the complaints. McDonald's has been criticized for using factory farmed fast growing chicken breeds in their supply chain. These breeds are more likely to suffer from welfare issues such as broken or fractured bones, leg deformities and heart failure. Throughout 2014, the Facebook page for McDonald's Australia was inundated with posts about McDonald's use of caged eggs. For 87 consecutive days during mid-2014,
5846-536: The year's second quarter, McDonald's reported earnings of 66 cents per share. Compared to the same period of last year, it represented a fall of 68%. In July 2023, the company announced it was working towards a new fast-food brand called CosMc's that would be tested at ten sites. The first location was opened in December 2023 in Bolingbrook, Illinois , and the company is working to open nine restaurants in Texas by
5925-507: Was destroyed and rebuilt in 1984. Kroc was recorded as being an aggressive business partner, driving the McDonald brothers out of the industry. Kroc and the McDonald brothers fought for control of the business, as documented in Kroc's autobiography. In 1961, he purchased the McDonald brothers' equity in the company and began the company's worldwide reach. The sale cost Kroc $ 2.7 million, a huge sum during that time. The San Bernardino restaurant
6004-927: Was eventually torn down in 1971, and the site was sold to the Juan Pollo chain in 1998. This area serves as headquarters for the Juan Pollo chain, and a McDonald's and Route 66 museum. With the expansion of McDonald's into many international markets, the company has become a symbol of globalization and the spread of the American way of life . Its prominence has made it a frequent topic of public debates about obesity , corporate ethics , and consumer responsibility . McDonald's predominantly sells hamburgers , various types of chicken , chicken sandwiches , French fries , soft drinks, shakes , breakfast items, and desserts. In most markets, McDonald's offers salads and vegetarian items, wraps and other localized fare. On
6083-412: Was introduced in 1963 to market the chain to children. On May 4, 1961, McDonald's first filed for a U.S. trademark on the name "McDonald's" with the description "Drive-In Restaurant Services," which continues to be renewed. By September 13, McDonald's, under the guidance of Ray Kroc, filed for a trademark on a new logo—an overlapping, double-arched "M" symbol. But before the double arches, McDonald's used
6162-603: Was introduced in Singapore in 1999. In October 2020, the burger was introduced as a permanent menu item in Australia after initially being brought in temporarily earlier in the year. The burger has also been sold in McDonald's global headquarters restaurant in Chicago , on a rotating basis. A McSpicy chicken burger is sold in India as part of a range of products using the McSpicy name. A McSpicy Deluxe, with cheese and tomato,
6241-590: Was sold in Singapore, while a burger of the same name is sold in Vietnam with tomato. The Lamb McSpicy was launched in the UK in May 1999 for a promotional period. In 2021, McDonalds UK launched a burger called the McSpicy, but made with chicken breast in a crispy coating, lettuce and a creamy sauce. In South Korea the McSpicy Shanghai Burger was developed specifically for the Korean market; it
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