McDonald's Responds To Fake Cheese Issue With Dalda 'Found' In Burgers And Nuggets

Fast-food titan McDonald¡¯s has reassured its patrons that it exclusively utilizes genuine, high-calibre cheese in its cheese-infused offerings in response to regulatory actions taken against some of its outlets in Maharashtra by the state¡¯s Food & Drugs Administration (FDA).

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'Fake' cheese in burgers and nuggets

The Maharashtra FDA discovered that certain outlets of the fast-food chain in the state were substituting real cheese with cheese analogues in certain menu items such as burgers and nuggets, according to an India Today report.

Cheese analogues imitate conventional dairy cheese by substituting dairy fat with more economical vegetable oil, replicating its taste and texture.

Maharashtra FDA commissioner Abhimanyu Kale stated, "We had received customer feedback regarding the use of cheese analogues instead of real cheese. Subsequently, upon inspection, we found the use of vegetable oil (Dalda oil) instead of real cheese."

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License suspended for McDonald's outlet

This revelation reportedly led to the suspension of the license of a McDonald¡¯s outlet in Ahmednagar by the FDA in Maharashtra for its use of cheese analogues.

In response, the chain promptly removed the term "cheese" from various locations where analogues were being utilized, as cheese analogues are a more cost-effective option, leveraging vegetable oil to reduce expenses.

Westlife Foodworld Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited and operator of McDonald's chains in West and south India, issued a statement to the stock exchanges addressing the issue.

¡°Amid recent reports about the removal of 'Cheese' from our menu at McDonald's locations in Maharashtra, we want to assure our valued customers that only genuine, high-quality cheese is used in all our cheese-containing products,¡± the company affirmed.

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¡°Collaborating with suppliers adhering to global standards ensures top-quality cheese in our product offerings and not cheese analogues or any substitute. We are actively engaging with the competent authorities on this issue and awaiting their final clarification,¡± the McDonald¡¯s operator added.

The statement underscored the company's adherence to stringent food standards and its full compliance with all applicable food laws.

¡°Our commitment to transparency in our ingredients and dedication to providing delicious, high-quality meals to our customers remain unwavering."

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