News

McDonald’s France embraces localization

January 12, 2011

McDonald’s France is ready to rollout its new mini burger Feb. 23 using French Charolais beef.

According to Burger Business, the new item is part of the company’s global push to localize ingredients.
The limited-time offer mini burgers will cost the equivalent of $2.59 and will be part of the country’s “P’tits Plaisirs” (little pleasures) snack line.

Charolais beef originated in Charolles, France, and is often crossbred with Angus or Hereford. McDonald’s already uses 100-percent locally-raised beef in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Italy.

There are about 1,200 McDonald’s units in France.

Company accused of violating Vermont’s "maple laws"

In what is being described as a sticky situation, McDonald’s has been accused of violating Vermont’s “maple laws” by the state’s Agency of Agriculture.

The issue stems from the chain’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal item, which rolled out nationally this month.

According to Investor Place, the agency claims the item’s name is inaccurate because it doesn’t actually contain maple syrup. Instead, the oatmeal features natural maple flavoring.

Vermont, which lists the sugar maple as its state tree, is crying foul but stopping short of demanding the chain pull the oatmeal. State officials, however, have asked McDonald’s to replace the flavoring with real maple syrup, preferably from Vermont farms.

McDonald’s released a statement saying that its natural maple flavor meets the standard under current Food and Drug Administration regulations.