In Maharashtra, India, officials are planning to inspect global fast-food outlets to ensure they aren’t misleading customers about their cheese products. This move comes after concerns were raised about McDonald’s using cheese alternatives instead of real cheese. Now, other brands will also face scrutiny.
The inspections could pose challenges for these global brands, especially with rising prices making burgers and pizzas expensive for many Indian consumers. To cope, companies have started offering discounts to attract customers.
McDonald India Faces Cheese Controversy
Westlife Foodworld, McDonald’s largest franchisee in India, has been under scrutiny for its use of “real cheese” following reports that state authorities discovered some products containing vegetable oil-based cheese alternatives instead of authentic cheese.
Despite disagreement with the findings, Westlife Foodworld took action in December by removing the term “cheese” from the names of several burgers and nuggets sold across the state. For instance, a “corn and cheese burger” was renamed an “American vegetarian burger,” according to letters reviewed by Reuters.
Maharashtra Authorities Expand Inspection to Major Fast-Food Chains
Abhimanyu Kale, the chief of Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration, disclosed plans for inspectors to visit all McDonald’s outlets and other prominent fast-food brands to ensure compliance with display and labeling regulations. While Kale did not specify the brands under scrutiny, he emphasized that actions would be taken against violations.
Additionally, a senior state government official, who preferred anonymity, revealed that inspectors would extend their visits to Indian franchisee outlets of well-known brands like Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and KFC.
Indian State Authorities Can Suspend Licenses for Misleading Food Practices
Authorities in Indian states have the authority to suspend restaurant licenses if they find violations of food and safety regulations that mislead consumers.
Westlife, the company that operates McDonald’s in western and southern India, stated that it welcomes inspections and maintains the highest standards, according to its managing director, Saurabh Kalra.
However, Domino’s franchisee Jubilant FoodWorks, Burger King operator Restaurant Brands Asia, and Devyani International, which manages Pizza Hut and KFC in India under Yum Brands, did not respond to queries from Reuters.
India’s Sapphire Foods Declines Comment
Sapphire Foods, another operator of Pizza Hut in India, has chosen not to comment on the situation. Maharashtra, India’s second most populous state, is home to Mumbai and several other urban centers, making it a crucial market for global fast-food chains.
In a recent incident involving McDonald’s, a state food inspectors suspended the license of one outlet east of Mumbai in November over allegations of using cheese analogues in products advertised as containing real cheese. However, Westlife, the McDonald’s franchisee, successfully appealed the suspension, leading to its revocation.
Addressing concerns raised by consumers online regarding its cheese products, McDonald’s reassured customers on social network X, stating that it sources cheese from globally approved gold-standard suppliers. The company emphasized that its cheese is made solely from real milk and does not contain any substitutes or alternatives.
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