McDonald’s accused of substituting cheese with lower-cost vegetable oil

Westlife Foodworld Ltd, the operator of McDonald’s restaurants in west and south India, has temporarily altered its menu in Maharashtra by removing the word “cheese” amidst accusations that the fast-food chain incorporates cheese substitutes in certain burgers and nuggets.

In response, the McCheese Burger is now known as the Cheddar Delight burger, Cheese Nuggets have been renamed Veg Nuggets, and the Cheese and Corn Burger is rebranded as the American burger. Additionally, the Blueberry Cheesecake is now referred to as the Blueberry Cake.

In the last quarter of December, the Food & Drugs Administration of Maharashtra suspended the license of a McDonald’s outlet in Ahmednagar, alleging that the McCheese burger did not comply with local food standards. The administration claimed that the burger chain used cheese substitutes without proper labeling for various menu items.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the government to impose a complete ban on McDonald’s operations, citing reports of ‘fake cheese’ in a burger in Maharashtra. The traders’ body has written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, seeking immediate action in light of the health violation uncovered by Maharashtra’s FDA.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the use of counterfeit cheese poses both a serious offense and a significant health hazard to consumers. The demand for a nationwide ban on McDonald’s outlets was made following the FDA’s discovery in Ahmednagar.

In response to the FDA’s crackdown, McDonald’s assured customers that it uses only “genuine, high-quality cheese” in its products. However, the company continues to face strong criticism on social media platforms from netizens regarding the allegations.

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