News

McDonald's drops egg supplier

November 17, 2011

Following an extensive ABC News investigation, McDonald’s has severed ties with Sparboe Farms, one of the chain’s egg suppliers and the country’s fifth largest egg company.

The investigation, which will air today on “20/20” and “World News with Diane Sawyer,” uncovered “significant and serious violations” in the production of eggs.

The company has been cited by the Food and Drug Administration. Five of Sparboe Farms’ locations received at least 13 violations of the federal egg rule, which was written to prevent salmonella outbreaks.

Until today, the Sparboe location in Iowa had produced all of the eggs for McDonald’s restaurants located west of the Mississippi River. McDonald’s said its decision to drop the supplier was based on concerns about the management of Sparboe facilities.

"McDonald's expects all of our suppliers to meet our stringent requirements for delivering high quality food prepared in a humane and responsible manner," the company said in a statement released to ABC News.

Read more about equipment and supplies.