Fast-food giant McDonald’s is under the Maharashtra FDA’s scanner for using cheese substitutes in burgers and nuggets instead of real cheese, according to a TOI report.
The food regulatory authority has suspended the license of a McDonald’s outlet in Ahmednagar, prompting the chain to delete the word “cheese” from various items, states the report, adding that the FDA is pushing the chain to extend the corrective action state-wide and even nationally.
The substitutes, allegedly identified in several McDonald’s items, typically replace milk or dairy fat with more cost-effective vegetable oil.
The report states that the food regulatory body accused McDonald’s of using cheese alternatives without proper disclosure on food labels or on electronic display boards, thereby “misleading” people into thinking they are eating real cheese.
In a statement shared with Storyboard18, McDonald’s said, “Regarding the recent reports on the removal of the word ‘Cheese’ from our menu at McDonald’s stores in Maharashtra, we want to reassure our customers that we use only real, quality cheese in all our products containing cheese. We are actively working with the relevant authorities on this matter. Our commitment to transparency in our ingredients and dedication to providing delicious, high-quality meals to our customers remain unwavering.”
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