The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has officially verified that McDonald’s India exclusively employs authentic cheese, as stated by Westlife Foodworld in a stock exchange notification on Tuesday.
“The verification confirms the brand’s assertion that it uses 100% Real Cheese and that it does not use any cheese analogues or substitutes in any of its products,” the company said.
Additionally, Westlife reported that the west and south zones of McDonald’s India have received test results from an NABL-accredited laboratory, affirming the utilization of 100% authentic cheese throughout their product range.
Westlife Foodworld stands as the largest franchisee of McDonald’s in India, managing a network of McDonald’s outlets primarily in the western and southern regions of the country. With operations spanning across Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry, it oversees nearly 380 units spread across 62 cities.
Westlife Foodworld drew attention recently when reports surfaced that one of its outlets in Maharashtra allegedly substituted real cheese with alternatives in burgers and nuggets. Subsequently, the state government announced an inspection.
“We are planning to check all outlets of McDonald’s,” Abhimanyu Kale, the FDA chief told Reuters. “We will also take action on other well-known and frequently visited global fast-food chain outlets,” he added, but declined to identify the brands being targeted.
Continue Exploring: Maharashtra launches statewide fast-food chain inspections after McDonald’s cheese controversy
Saurabh Kalra, the Managing Director of Westlife, the company responsible for overseeing McDonald’s operations in the west and south of India, has responded to concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Kalra confirmed the company’s willingness to cooperate with any inspections, emphasizing McDonald’s commitment to upholding the “highest standards.”
Following FDA action, the license of a McDonald’s outlet in Ahmednagar was temporarily suspended, resulting in the removal of the term “cheese” from several menu items. However, the suspension of the license was subsequently lifted.
Continue Exploring: McDonald’s removes ‘cheese’ from outlet menus in Maharashtra following FDA suspension
The regulatory authority alleged that McDonald’s had utilized cheese substitutes without adequate disclosure, raising concerns about potential consumer deception regarding the authenticity of the cheese. The state FDA has called upon the fast-food chain to implement corrective actions, not only at the local level but also on a wider scale, possibly extending nationwide.
Continue Exploring: McDonald’s faces regulatory heat: Maharashtra FDA revokes license amid cheese substitution allegations