McDonald's#Emblem for globalization

{{Main|History of McDonald's}}

File:DowneyMcdonalds.jpg restaurant is the third one built, opened in 1953. It is located at 10207 Lakewood Blvd. at Florence Ave. in Downey, California (at {{coord|33.9471|-118.1182|display=inline}})]]

Siblings Richard and Maurice McDonald, with the goal of making $1 million before they turned 50,{{cite news |last=Gilpin |first=Kenneth N. |date=July 16, 1998 |title=Richard McDonald, 89, Fast-Food Revolutionary |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/16/business/richard-mcdonald-89-fast-food-revolutionary.html |access-date=June 5, 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times}} opened the first McDonald's at 1398 North E Street at West 14th Street in San Bernardino, California, on May 15, 1940.

The McDonald brothers introduced the "Speedee Service System" in 1948, putting into expanded use the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant that predecessor White Castle had put into practice more than two decades earlier.{{Cite book |last=Bhandari |first=Arabinda |title=Strategic management: A Conceptual Framework |publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-259-02640-9 |location=New Delhi |page=148 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Skrabec |first=Quentin R. |title=The 100 Most Significant Events in American Business: An Encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-313-39862-9 |location=Santa Barbara, CA |page=206 |language=en}} When the brothers made the Speedee Service System, they fired their 20 carhops, removed their silverware and plates for paper wrappings and cups so that they no longer needed a dishwasher, and simplified their menu to just nine items: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, three soft drink flavors in one 12-ounce size, milk, coffee, potato chips and pie. “Our whole concept was based on speed, lower prices, and volume,” Richard McDonald later said.{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Christopher |date=2015-05-15 |title=How McDonald's Beat Its Early Competition and Became an Icon of Fast Food |url=https://www.history.com/articles/how-mcdonalds-became-fast-food-giant |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}

The original mascot of McDonald's was a hamburger-headed chef who was referred to as "Speedee".{{cite book |last1=Dotz |first1=Warren |last2=Morton |first2=Jim |title=What a Character! 20th Century American Advertising Icons |date=1996 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=0-8118-0936-6 |pages=27–28}} In 1962, the Golden Arches replaced Speedee as the universal mascot.{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Mark |date=January 4, 2008 |title=Logos That Became Legends: Icons From the World of Advertising |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/logos-that-became-legends-icons-from-the-world-of-advertising-768077.html |access-date=February 4, 2024 |work=The Independent |language=en |issn=1741-9743 |archive-date=October 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003003651/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/logos-that-became-legends-icons-from-the-world-of-advertising-768077.html |url-status=live }} Clown mascot Ronald McDonald was introduced in 1963 to market the chain to children.{{Cite news |last=Horovitz |first=Bruce |title=McDonald's Sends In the Clown, Again |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2001-12-11-ronald.htm |access-date=February 4, 2024 |work=USA Today |issn=0734-7456 |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908202430/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2001-12-11-ronald.htm |url-status=live }}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| image1 = McDonald's logo (1940-1948).svg

| caption1 = Logo from 1940 until 1948

| image2 = McDonald's 1948 logo.png

| caption2 = Logo from 1948 until 1953

| image3 = McDonald's logo (1953-1960).svg

| caption3 = Logo from 1953 until 1960

}}The present corporation credits its founding to franchised businessman Ray Kroc on April 15, 1955.{{Cite book |last1=Wagner III |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DaQJEAAAQBAJ&dq=McDonald%27s+%22Drive-In+Restaurant+Services%22&pg=PT455 |title=Organizational Behavior: Securing Competitive Advantage |last2=Hollenbeck |first2=John R. |publisher=Routledge |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-000-33490-6 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=McDONALD’S – St Louis Park Historical Society |url=https://slphistory.org/mcdonalds/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |language=en-US}} This was the ninth opened McDonald's restaurant overall, although this location was destroyed in 1984{{Cite web |last=Bomkamp |first=Samantha |date=2017-11-21 |title=McDonald’s museum in Des Plaines will be demolished next month |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/11/21/mcdonalds-museum-in-des-plaines-will-be-demolished-next-month/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} after the San Ysidro McDonald's massacre.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-18 |title=‘It’s sad people have forgotten about 21 McDonald’s massacre victims,’ resident says |url=https://www.borderreport.com/news/its-sad-people-have-forgotten-about-21-mcdonalds-massacre-victims-resident-says/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240727041637/https://www.borderreport.com/news/its-sad-people-have-forgotten-about-21-mcdonalds-massacre-victims-resident-says/ |archive-date=2024-07-27 |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=BorderReport |language=en-US}} Kroc was recorded as being an aggressive business partner, driving the McDonald brothers out of the industry.{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Andrew F. |title=Eating History: 30 Turning Points in the Making of American Cuisine |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-231-14092-8 |location=New York |page=224 |language=en}}

Kroc and the McDonald brothers fought for control of the business, as documented in Kroc's autobiography. In 1961, he purchased the McDonald brothers' equity in the company and began the company's worldwide reach.{{cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197544|title=Ray Kroc|date=October 9, 2008|website=Entrepreneur|language=en|access-date=May 29, 2019|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217144319/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197544|url-status=live}} The sale cost Kroc $2.7 million (worth almost ${{Inflation|US|2700000|1961|r=0|fmt=C}} in the current day). The San Bernardino restaurant was eventually torn down in 1971, and the site was sold to the Juan Pollo chain in 1998. This area serves as headquarters for the Juan Pollo chain, and a McDonald's and Route 66 museum.{{cite web |title=McDonalds Museum |url=http://juanpollo.com/route-66-attractions/mcdonalds-museum/ |publisher=Juan Pollo |access-date=May 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310011311/http://juanpollo.com/route-66-attractions/mcdonalds-museum/ |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Elliott |first=Farley |title=California's unofficial McDonald's museum is a fast food fever dream |url=https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/first-mcdonalds-unofficial-museum-18448365.php |work=sfgate.com |date=October 27, 2023 |access-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027214219/https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/first-mcdonalds-unofficial-museum-18448365.php |url-status=live }} With the expansion of McDonald's into many international markets, the company has become a symbol of globalization and the spread of the American way of life.{{Cite book |last=Kincheloe |first=Joe L. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/47140812 |title=The sign of the burger: McDonald's and the culture of power |date=2002 |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=1-56639-931-9 |oclc=47140812 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204142322/https://search.worldcat.org/title/47140812 |url-status=live }}

In 1994, McDonald's banned smoking at the 1,400 locations it wholly owned.{{Cite news |last=Hilts |first=Philip |date=February 24, 1994 |title=McDonald's Bans Smoking at All the Sites It Owns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/24/us/mcdonald-s-bans-smoking-at-all-the-sites-it-owns.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031442/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/24/us/mcdonald-s-bans-smoking-at-all-the-sites-it-owns.html |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=May 10, 2025 |work=New York Times}}File:A modern McDonald's restaurant in Franklin, North Carolina.jpg, in 2024; it is an example of the "new" look of American McDonald's restaurants]]

In 2006, McDonald's introduced its "Forever Young" brand by redesigning all of its restaurants, the first significant redesign since the 1970s.{{cite web |title=McDonald's wants a digital-age makeover |url=http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/extra/P150732.asp?GT1=8180 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923173412/http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/extra/P150732.asp?GT1=8180 |archive-date=September 23, 2006}}{{cite web |title=Mickey D's McMakeover |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_20/b3984065.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524233252/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_20/b3984065.htm |archive-date=May 24, 2006}} It resembles a coffee shop, with wooden tables, faux-leather chairs, and muted colors; the red was muted to terracotta, the yellow was shifted to golden for a more "sunny" look, and olive and sage green were added. The warmer look has less plastic and more brick and wood, with modern hanging lights for a softer glow. Many restaurants feature free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Other upgrades include double drive-throughs, flat roofs instead of the angled red roofs, and fiberglass instead of wood. Instead of the familiar golden arches, the restaurants feature "semi-swooshes" (half of a golden arch), similar to the Nike swoosh.{{cite news |author=Bruce Horovitz |date=May 9, 2011 |title=McDonald's revamps store to look more upscale |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-05-06-mcdonalds-revamp_n.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626040518/http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-05-06-mcdonalds-revamp_n.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=June 26, 2012 |newspaper=USA Today}}

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, McDonald's closed most seating and all play areas in its United States restaurants.{{cite news |last=McLean |first=Rob |title=McDonald's closes seating at corporate-owned restaurants amid coronavirus outbreak |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/business/mcdonalds-seating-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217104752/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/business/mcdonalds-seating-coronavirus/index.html |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2020 |website=CNN}} It transitioned to drive-through and curbside orders at locations and online food ordering delivery services.{{cite web |last=Saxena |first=Jaya |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Corporate-Owned McDonald's Will Only Offer Drive-Thru, Takeout, and Delivery Amid Coronavirus Pandemic |url=https://www.eater.com/2020/3/17/21183240/mcdonalds-shuts-down-corporate-owned-dining-rooms-takeout-delivery-covid-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112224822/https://www.eater.com/2020/3/17/21183240/mcdonalds-shuts-down-corporate-owned-dining-rooms-takeout-delivery-covid-19 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=November 12, 2020 |website=Eater |language=en}} In July 2020, for the year's second quarter, McDonald's reported earnings of 66 cents per share. Compared to the same period of last year, it represented a fall of 68%.{{cite news |last=Haddon |first=Heather |date=July 28, 2020 |title=Coronavirus Pandemic Squeezes McDonald's Profit |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-pandemic-squeezes-mcdonalds-profit-11595934000?mod=business_lead_pos4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217105655/https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-pandemic-squeezes-mcdonalds-profit-11595934000?mod=business_lead_pos4 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}

{{Main|List of McDonald's products}}

File:HK Kln Bay Telford Plaza McDonalds Restaurant McSPICY Chicken Filet French fries Nov-2014 Love mark sign n coke.jpg, a soft drink, McSpicy Chicken Fillet, and tomato ketchup packet]]

McDonald's predominantly sells hamburgers, various types of chicken, chicken sandwiches, French fries, soft drinks, shakes, breakfast items, and desserts. In most markets, McDonald's offers salads and vegetarian items, wraps and other localized fare. On a seasonal basis, McDonald's offers the McRib sandwich.{{cite news |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2011/07/23/fanatics-preach-fast-food-evangelism/ |publisher=Fox News Channel |title=Fanatics Preach Fast Food Evangelism |date=July 23, 2011 |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328212559/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2011/07/23/fanatics-preach-fast-food-evangelism/ |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead }} During March of each year, McDonald's offers a Shamrock Shake to honor Saint Patrick's Day.{{Cite web |last=Dand |first=Khyati |date=January 10, 2022 |title=This Is The Exact Date McDonald's Shamrock Shake Returns In 2022 |url=https://www.mashed.com/729005/this-might-be-the-exact-date-mcdonalds-shamrock-shake-returns-in-2022/ |access-date=September 5, 2022 |website=Mashed.com |language=en-US |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831153350/https://www.mashed.com/729005/this-might-be-the-exact-date-mcdonalds-shamrock-shake-returns-in-2022/ |url-status=live }} The company often introduces items temporarily or brings them back after long absences.{{Cite web |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |date=January 10, 2024 |title=McDonald's is bringing back a fan favorite after four years {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/10/food/mcdonalds-double-big-mac/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125144720/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/10/food/mcdonalds-double-big-mac/index.html |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Double Big Mac comes to McDonald's this month: Here's what's on the limited-time menu item |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/01/10/mcdonalds-double-big-mac/72175369007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112190923/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/01/10/mcdonalds-double-big-mac/72175369007/ |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

In addition, the chain also sells some items within the United States on a regional basis; for example, the Hatch Green Chile Double Cheeseburger, which is topped with New Mexico green chile, is only available in the southwestern state of New Mexico.{{cite web |title=Cheeseburger Green Chile Double |url=https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/green-chili-double-cheeseburger.html |website=McDonalds |access-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310075445/https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/green-chili-double-cheeseburger.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Michelle |title=10 Awesome McDonald's Foods You Can Only Get In America |url=https://www.thetravel.com/awesome-mcdonalds-foods-you-can-only-get-in-america/ |website=The Travler |date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410064021/https://www.thetravel.com/awesome-mcdonalds-foods-you-can-only-get-in-america/ |url-status=live }}

In 2021, the company cut value meals and cheaper items from its menu as part of a focus on higher-priced items.{{Cite news |last=Russ |first=Hilary |date=June 22, 2021 |title=U.S. fast-food chains cut discounts, push pricy meals post-pandemic |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/us-fast-food-chains-cut-discounts-push-pricy-meals-post-pandemic-2021-06-22/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411184647/https://www.reuters.com/business/us-fast-food-chains-cut-discounts-push-pricy-meals-post-pandemic-2021-06-22/ |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2022 |work=Reuters |language=en}}{{cite web |date=October 22, 2018 |title=McDonald's Quietly Removes Happy Meals from Value Menu |url=https://www.qsrmagazine.com/fast-food/mcdonalds-quietly-removes-happy-meals-value-menu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628034522/https://www.qsrmagazine.com/fast-food/mcdonalds-quietly-removes-happy-meals-value-menu |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=QSR magazine |language=en}}

The McValue Meal, which has four items and was created in 2024. The meal deal is in the McValue menu and costs $5.{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Michelle Lambright |date=2025-01-14 |title=This Is the Best Deal on the New McDonald’s McValue Menu |url=https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/best-deal-mcvalue-menu/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Taste of Home |language=en-US}} It was created to be a budget friendly meal on the McValue menu.{{Cite web |last=Encinas |first=Amaris |title='New year, new menu': McDonald's launches McValue platform, extends the $5 Meal Deal |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2025/01/07/mcdonalds-mcvalue-menu-2025/77489267007/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

When Steve Easterbrook became CEO of the company in 2015, McDonald's streamlined the menu which in the United States contained nearly 200 items. The company looked to introduce healthier options and removed high-fructose corn syrup from hamburger buns. The company removed artificial preservatives from Chicken McNuggets,{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/business/21715704-it-may-soon-be-surpassed-starbucks-mcdonalds-going-healthier-fare-and-greater|title=McDonald's is going for healthier fare and greater digitisation|date=January 28, 2017|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=February 5, 2017|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204205033/http://www.economist.com/news/business/21715704-it-may-soon-be-surpassed-starbucks-mcdonalds-going-healthier-fare-and-greater|url-status=live}} replacing chicken skin, safflower oil and citric acid found in Chicken McNuggets with pea starch, rice starch, and powdered lemon juice.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonalds-antibiotics-idUSKCN10C2PV|title=McDonald's to remove corn syrup from buns, curbs antibiotics in chicken|date=August 1, 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=September 4, 2017|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217105548/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonalds-antibiotics-idUSKCN10C2PV|url-status=live}}

In September 2018, McDonald's USA announced that they no longer use artificial preservatives, flavors and colors entirely from seven classic burgers sold in the U.S., including the hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, double Quarter Pounder with Cheese and the Big Mac.{{Cite news|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2018/09/28/mcdonalds-says-classic-burgers-no-longer-have-artificial-ingredients|title=McDonald's says classic burgers no longer have artificial ingredients|date=September 28, 2018|work=Free Malaysia Today|access-date=October 1, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=October 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021140855/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2018/09/28/mcdonalds-says-classic-burgers-no-longer-have-artificial-ingredients/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonald-removing-artificial-preservatives-7-194333824.html|title=McDonald's Removing Artificial Preservatives From 7 Classic Burgers|access-date=October 1, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026075938/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonald-removing-artificial-preservatives-7-194333824.html|url-status=live}} Nevertheless, the pickles will still be made with an artificial preservative, although customers can choose to opt out of getting pickles with their burgers.{{Cite news|title=McDonald's says classic burgers no longer have artificial ingredients|language=en|work=AFP.com|url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/205/mcdonalds-says-classic-burgers-no-longer-have-artificial-ingredients-doc-19h75s1|url-status=dead|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928013237/https://www.afp.com/en/news/205/mcdonalds-says-classic-burgers-no-longer-have-artificial-ingredients-doc-19h75s1|archive-date=September 28, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/mcdonalds-in-the-us-makes-move-to-ditch-artificial-preservatives-colours-and-flavours/news-story/a7ecc7fc83c02471982560ac40082e50|title=McDonald's makes move to ditch artificial preservatives, colours and flavours|work=NewsComAu|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217104415/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/mcdonalds-in-the-us-makes-move-to-ditch-artificial-preservatives-colours-and-flavours/news-story/a7ecc7fc83c02471982560ac40082e50|url-status=live}}

In November 2020, McDonald's announced McPlant, a plant-based burger, along with plans to develop additional meat alternative menu items that extend to chicken substitutes and breakfast sandwiches.{{cite news|last=Garcia|first=Tonya|title=McDonald's to launch its own plant-based burger, the McPlant, after Beyond Meat test|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcdonalds-to-launch-its-own-plant-based-burger-the-mcplant-after-beyond-meat-test-11604949575|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=MarketWatch|language=en-US|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217104647/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcdonalds-to-launch-its-own-plant-based-burger-the-mcplant-after-beyond-meat-test-11604949575|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Sozzi |first=Brian |title=McDonald's unveils its own meatless burger McPlant, a year after Beyond Meat test |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/mc-donalds-unveils-the-mc-plant-a-year-after-beyond-meat-test-164401725.html|access-date=November 12, 2020 |work=www.yahoo.com |publisher=Yahoo Finance |date=November 9, 2020 |archive-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216130530/https://www.yahoo.com/now/mc-donalds-unveils-the-mc-plant-a-year-after-beyond-meat-test-164401725.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAG-iEBbwhyv-r5QSJks1sQRc-LpfUfL0kmFIKgk49oWkeOJHfb945o5JqYuUYmYppqlBBKLu9sLzcrDMYwXxcoLjRyTStPqeXifpr35rDLUGCFnlmU2LmT8gTy5Tr5fZR8qzc3E9BlMtze63K8RxnnnyFStwaI3wliPChiEy9kd9 |url-status=live }} This announcement came after the successful testing of Beyond Meat plant based meat substitutes.

In late 2022, McDonald's announced the addition of the Double McPlant at all restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting January 4 due to the success of the McPlant.{{Cite web |last1=Pochin |first1=Courtney |last2=Gibbons |first2=Lottie |date=December 29, 2022 |title=McDonald's announces menu change for 2023 with new burger |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/mcdonalds-announces-menu-change-2023-25853817 |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116100833/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/mcdonalds-announces-menu-change-2023-25853817 |url-status=live }} In 2024, select McDonald's in the UK were testing vegan ice cream called Choco Scoop and Strawberry Scoop and receiving positive reviews.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=McDonald's Is Releasing A New Type Of Ice Cream & Fans Are Impressed |url=https://www.delish.com/food-news/a61100359/mcdonalds-vegan-ice-cream/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Delish |language=en-US}}

{{See also|International availability of McDonald's products}}

McDonald's Menu is customized to reflect consumer tastes in their respective countries. Restaurants in several countries, particularly in Asia, serve soup. This local deviation from the standard menu is a characteristic for which the chain is particularly known and one which is employed either to abide by regional food taboos (such as the religious prohibition of beef consumption in India) or to make available foods with which the regional market is more familiar (such as the sale of McRice in Indonesia, or Ebi (prawn) Burger in Singapore and Japan). McDonald's restaurants in China include fried buns and soybean milk on their breakfast menus.{{Cite book |last1=Marquis |first1=Christopher |url= |title=Mao and markets the communist roots of Chinese enterprise |last2=Qiao |first2=Kunyuan |date=2022 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-26883-6 |location=New Haven |pages=241 |oclc=1348572572 |author-link=Christopher Marquis}}

In partnership with the Central Food Technological Research Institute in India, McDonald's has introduced millet-based buns on September 4, 2024. Three major (Pearl millet, Sorghum, and Finger millet) and two minor (Proso and Paspalum scrobiculatum) millets are used which makes up 22% of the bun. It provides more calcium, iron, and protein in addition to a small amount of complex carbs to aid in satiety more quickly.{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Shiv |date=2024-09-04 |title=McDonald's partners with Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) for developing nutritional products |url=https://www.indiaretailing.com/2024/09/04/mcdonalds-partners-with-central-food-technological-research-institute-cftri-for-developing-nutritional-products/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=India Retailing |language=English}}

File:Croque McDo.jpgIn France McDonald's is called McDo. They sell macaroons, Croque McDos, croissants, pain au chocolat, and beer.{{Cite web |last=Telling |first=Marie |date=2020-07-29 |title=Here's How French McDonald's Are Different From American Ones |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/mcdonalds-france-menu |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}} In Germany and some other Western European countries, McDonald's also sells beer. In New Zealand, until 2020, McDonald's sold meat pies after local affiliate McDonald's New Zealand partially relaunched the Georgie Pie fast food chain it bought out in 1996.{{cite news|title=McDonald's takes Georgie Pie nationwide|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9229767/McDonalds-takes-Georgie-Pie-nationwide|access-date=April 13, 2018|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=October 1, 2013|language=en|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217105454/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9229767/McDonalds-takes-Georgie-Pie-nationwide|url-status=live}} In Greece, the signature hamburger, Big Mac, is changed by adding Tzatziki sauce and packaging in a pita.{{Cite book|last1=Khan|first1=Mahmood|url=https://sk.sagepub.com/cases/im-lovin-it-around-the-world-a-case-study-of-mcdonalds-glocalization|title="I'm Lovin' It"—Around the World: A Case Study of McDonald's "Glocalization"|last2=Khan|first2=Maryam|date=2013|publisher=International CHRIE|isbn=978-1-5297-1019-9|location=1 Oliver's Yard, 55 City Road, London, EC1Y 1SP United Kingdom|doi=10.4135/9781529710199|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=October 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013145258/https://sk.sagepub.com/cases/im-lovin-it-around-the-world-a-case-study-of-mcdonalds-glocalization|url-status=live}}

In the United States and Canada, after limited trials on a regional basis, McDonald's began offering in 2015{{cite web |title=The Time is Now: McDonald's Serving All Day Breakfast Nationwide |url=http://news.mcdonalds.com/stories/about-our-food-details/time-now-mcdonalds-serving-all-day-breakfast-nationwide |publisher=McDonald's |access-date=February 28, 2018 |archive-date=March 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164421/http://news.mcdonalds.com/stories/about-our-food-details/time-now-mcdonalds-serving-all-day-breakfast-nationwide |url-status=dead }} and 2017,{{cite web |title=McDonald's all-day breakfast launches across Canada |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3262672/mcdonalds-all-day-breakfast-launches-across-canada/ |publisher=Global News |access-date=February 28, 2018 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003629/https://globalnews.ca/news/3262672/mcdonalds-all-day-breakfast-launches-across-canada/ |url-status=live }} respectively, a partial breakfast menu during all hours its restaurants were open. All-day breakfast was phased out from menus at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.{{cite web |date=September 23, 2020 |first=Mike |last=Pomranz |title=Will All-Day Breakfast Ever Return to McDonald's? |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/mcdonalds-all-day-breakfast-ending-possible-covid-19 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |website=Food & Wine |language=en |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319042659/https://www.foodandwine.com/news/mcdonalds-all-day-breakfast-ending-possible-covid-19 |url-status=live }}

File:McDonalds in Freeport, ME outside.jpg.{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Leanna Garfield, Erin |title=Look inside one of the fanciest McDonald's restaurants in the world, built inside a 150-year-old colonial mansion |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-mcdonalds-in-a-maine-colonial-home-2016-1#what-we-are-doing-there-is-something-we-probably-have-never-done-before-in-terms-of-design-and-the-amount-of-time-and-effort-involved-said-stephen-leroy-manager-of-mcdonalds-media-relations-in-1984-5 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}]]In the United States, most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter service and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating.{{Cite book|title=Information Strategy Design and Practices|last=Mohapatra|first=Sanjay|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4614-2427-7|location=Google Books|page=301}}

In 1994, McDonald's attempted Hearth Express, a prototype specializing in homestyle takeout meals. Among the fare offered were meatloaf, fried chicken, and baked ham. This experiment started with a single location in Darien, Illinois but closed in only one year.{{cite web|url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/hearth-express-closed|title=Hearth Express Closed|date=July 31, 1995|website=Supermarket News|access-date=August 11, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028023242/https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/hearth-express-closed|url-status=live}}

Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, Pay and Drive, or "McDrive" as it is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders while the customer remains in their vehicle; it was first introduced in Sierra Vista, Arizona in 1975,{{cite web |last=Craven |first=Scott |date=August 29, 2016 |title=AZ Central — You won't believe where McDonald's opened its first drive-thru |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2016/08/29/mcdonalds-first-drive-through-sierra-vista-arizona/88009974/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419000233/https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2016/08/29/mcdonalds-first-drive-through-sierra-vista-arizona/88009974/ |archive-date=April 19, 2023 |access-date=December 11, 2018 |language=en |format=News Article}} following the lead of other fast-food chains. The first such restaurant in Britain opened at Fallowfield, Manchester, in 1986.{{cite web |title=McDonald's Restaurants |url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Companies/33902/mcdonalds-restaurants-ltd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716122800/http://www.caterersearch.com/Companies/33902/mcdonalds-restaurants-ltd.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2011 |publisher=Caterersearch.com}} In some countries, McDrive locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefranchisemall.com/franchises/compare/10357,13796-mcdonalds_vs_newks.htm|title=McDonald's vs Newk's Franchise Cost Comparison and Analysis|publisher=thefranchisemall.com|access-date=June 6, 2016|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021070921/http://www.thefranchisemall.com/franchises/compare/10357,13796-mcdonalds_vs_newks.htm|url-status=live}} There are also a few locations, mostly in downtown districts, that offer a "Walk-Thru" service in place of Drive-Thru.{{cite web|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/story/mcdonalds-walk-thru|title=This McDonald's has a "Walk-Thru"|last=Duca|first=Lauren|website=Teen Vogue|date=April 10, 2016|access-date=June 6, 2016|archive-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515023203/http://www.teenvogue.com/story/mcdonalds-walk-thru|url-status=live}}

{{Main|McCafé}}

McCafé is a café-style accompaniment to McDonald's restaurants. The concept was created by McDonald's Australia, starting with Melbourne in 1993.{{cite web|url=https://mcdonalds.com.au/about-maccas/maccas-story|title=McDonald's Australia|publisher=mcdonalds.com.au|access-date=June 6, 2016|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217134754/https://mcdonalds.com.au/about-maccas/maccas-story|url-status=live}} McDonald's discounted three of its bakery items: the apple fritter, blueberry muffin, and cinnamon roll, in 2023.{{Cite web |title=McDonald’s discontinues McCafe Bakery, phasing out three menu items |url=https://www.nrn.com/chef-trends/mcdonald-s-discontinues-mccafe-bakery-phasing-out-three-menu-items |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=www.nrn.com |language=en}}

From 2015 to 2016, McDonald's tried a more flexible burger service and restaurant concept based on other restaurants such as Shake Shack and Grill'd. It was rolled out for the first time in Australia in early 2015 and expanded to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Arabia, and New Zealand, with ongoing trials in the US market. In dedicated "Create Your Taste" (CYT) kiosks, customers could choose all ingredients, including the type of bun and meat, along with optional extras. CYT food was served to the table on wooden boards, fries in wire baskets, and salads in China bowls with metal cutlery at a higher price. In November 2016, Create Your Taste was replaced by a "Signature Crafted Recipes" program designed to be more efficient and less expensive.{{cite web|last=Kieler|first=Ashlee|title=McDonald's Ends 'Create Your Taste' Customized Burger Program|url=https://consumerist.com/2016/11/03/mcdonalds-ends-create-your-taste-customized-burger-program/|website=Consumerist|date=November 3, 2016|access-date=December 18, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108113850/https://consumerreports.org/eu-notice|url-status=live}}

McDonald's Next uses open-concept design and offers "Create Your Taste" digital ordering. The concept store also offers free mobile device charging and table service after 6:00 pm. The first store opened in Hong Kong in December 2015.{{cite web |date=January 11, 2016 |title=Big Mac with a side of quinoa? Inside the world's first McDonald's Next |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hong-kong-mcdonalds-next/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821084751/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/11/foodanddrink/hong-kong-mcdonalds-next/ |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |access-date=August 9, 2016 |work=CNN}} The buildings aren't colorful, and instead use more natural colors, like from concrete and unpolished oak.{{Cite web |title=McDonald’s Next, Hong Kong |url=https://echochamber.com/article/mcdonalds-next-hong-kong/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Echochamber}}

{{Main|PlayPlace}}

File:McDonald's with Prominent Playland.JPG, California with a Playplace designed to promote a family-friendly image]]

McDonald's playgrounds used to be called Playlands and they were outside. People were beginning to wonder if Playlands were too dangerous. Because of this, McDonald's moved them inside and began to make them out of softer materials, like plastic instead of metal. They renamed them PlayPlaces in 1987.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-19 |title=10 Facts You Didn't Know About McDonald's PlayPlaces |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/10-facts-didnt-know-mcdonalds-151536617.html?vm=r |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Yahoo Life |language=en-US}}

Some locations are connected to gas stations and convenience stores,{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14996359.html |title=McDonald's and BP test combined operations. (McDonald's Restaurants; BP Oil Co.) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118024929/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14996359.html |archive-date=January 18, 2012 }} while others called McExpress have limited seating or menu or may be located in a shopping mall. Other McDonald's are located in Walmart stores. McStop is a location targeted at truckers and travelers who may have services found at truck stops.{{cite news|date=August 16, 1984|title=McDonald's serves up 'MCSTOP' – Its restaurant for big crowds|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3604178F30F7B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711202642/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3604178F30F7B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|archive-date=July 11, 2012}}

{{Main|CosMc's}}

In July 2023, the company announced it was working towards a new fast-food brand called CosMc's that would be tested at ten sites. The first location was opened in December 2023 in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and the company is working to open nine restaurants in Texas by the end of 2024 as a test. The outlets will have a smaller real-estate footprint than regular McDonald's restaurants and are focused on selling coffee and other drinks to afternoon customers.{{cite news |last=Lucas |first=Amelia |title=McDonald's to open first CosMc's spinoff restaurant this week |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/06/mcdonalds-to-open-first-cosmcs-spinoff-restaurant-this-week.html |access-date=December 7, 2023 |work=CNBC |date=December 6, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207093146/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/06/mcdonalds-to-open-first-cosmcs-spinoff-restaurant-this-week.html |url-status=live }}

The name for the new brand comes from CosMc, a McDonaldland mascot that appeared in advertisements in the late 1980s and early 1990s.{{Cite web |last=Wiener-Bronner |first=Danielle |date=July 27, 2023 |title=McDonald's teases new CosMc's restaurant concept {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/business/grimace-mcdonalds-earnings/index.html |access-date=August 14, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814195001/https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/business/grimace-mcdonalds-earnings/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=McDonald's has some new restaurants in its plans. Here's what we know about 'CosMc' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2023/08/08/mcdonalds-cosmc-restaurant-concept/70551002007/ |access-date=August 14, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814195001/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2023/08/08/mcdonalds-cosmc-restaurant-concept/70551002007/ |url-status=live }}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = horizontal

| total_width = 350

| image1 = McDonald's 1960 logo.png

| caption1 = Corporate logo used from 1960 until November 18, 1968

| image2 = McDonald's 1968 logo.png

| caption2 = Corporate logo used from November 18, 1968, until 2003

| image3 = McDonald'sshadow.svg

| caption3 = Corporate logo used from 1993 to 2010

}}

File:McDonald's logo.svg

File:Harlem Micky Dz.jpg

McDonald's restaurants are in 120 countries and territories and serve 68 million customers daily.[http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company.html McDonald's – The Leading Global Food Service Retailer :: AboutMcDonalds.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820151200/http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company.html|date=August 20, 2016}}. Retrieved May 8, 2008{{cite news |date=January 24, 2012 |title=McDonald's Momentum Delivers Another Year of Strong Results for 2011 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/McDonald-Momentum-Delivers-prnews-2702110553.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318210222/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/McDonald-Momentum-Delivers-prnews-2702110553.html |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2012 |work=Yahoo Finance}} There are 37,855 restaurants worldwide, employing more than 210,000 people as of the end of 2018.{{cite web |title=MCDONALDS CORP, 10-K filed on 2/22/2019 |url=http://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000063908/d72ec326-1c7b-4773-9130-0b32322d435d.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329090016/http://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000063908/d72ec326-1c7b-4773-9130-0b32322d435d.html |archive-date=March 29, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Data |url=http://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000063908/62200c2b-da82-4364-be92-79ed454e3b88.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312073712/http://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000063908/62200c2b-da82-4364-be92-79ed454e3b88.pdf |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |website=d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net}} There are a total of 2,770 company-owned locations and 35,085 franchised locations, which includes 21,685 locations franchised to conventional franchisees, 7,225 locations licensed to developmental licensees, and 6,175 locations licensed to foreign affiliates.

The McDonald's on-demand delivery concept, which began in 2017 with a partnership with Uber Eats and added DoorDash in 2019 (with select locations adding Grubhub in 2021), accounts for up to 3% of all business as of 2019.{{cite web |last=Lucas |first=Amelia |date=July 16, 2019 |title=McDonald's adds DoorDash as the new delivery partner, ending exclusivity with UberEats |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/16/mcdonalds-adds-doordash-as-partner-ending-exclusivity-with-ubereats.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208090242/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/16/mcdonalds-adds-doordash-as-partner-ending-exclusivity-with-ubereats.html |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2020 |website=CNBC}}

The $100 billion in sales generated by McDonald's company-owned and franchise restaurants in 2019 accounts for almost 4% of the estimated $2.5 trillion global restaurant industry.{{cite web |last=Hottovy |first=RJ |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Value, Access, and Franchisee Health Position McDonald's for Postpandemic Growth |url=https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/xnys/mcd/analysis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802080912/https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/xnys/mcd/analysis |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |access-date=August 18, 2020 |website=Morningstar.com}}

Focusing on its core brand, McDonald's began divesting itself of other chains it had acquired during the 1990s. The company owned a majority stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill until October 2006, when McDonald's fully divested from Chipotle through a stock exchange.{{cite news |last=Brand |first=Rachel |date=December 23, 2006 |title=Chipotle founder had big dreams |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2006/Dec/23/chipotle-founder-had-big-dreams |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708033033/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2006/dec/23/chipotle-founder-had-big-dreams/ |archive-date=July 8, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2012 |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News}}{{cite news |date=July 25, 2006 |title=McDonald's sets October deadline to sell Chipotle stock |url=http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2006/07/24/daily20.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723225236/http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2006/07/24/daily20.html |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |access-date=August 10, 2009 |work=Denver Business Journal}} Until December 2003, it owned Donatos Pizza, and it owned a small share of Aroma Café, from 1999 to 2001. On August 27, 2007, McDonald's sold Boston Market to Sun Capital Partners.{{cite web |date=August 27, 2007 |title=McDonald's Wraps Up Boston Market Sale |url=http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20070827-000332-1731&hpadref=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010947/http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20070827-000332-1731&hpadref=1 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |access-date=August 28, 2007 |publisher=Dow Jones & Company, Inc. News Services}}

McDonald's has increased shareholder dividends for 25 consecutive years,{{cite news |last=Baertlein |first=Lisa |date=September 24, 2009 |title=McDonald's raises cash dividend by 10% |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN2447000720090924 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217104054/https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN2447000720090924 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=August 27, 2010 |work=Reuters}} making it one of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats.{{cite news |date=December 23, 2008 |title=List of 2009 Dividend Aristocrats via Seeking Alpha. Retrieved 10/1/2009 |url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/111974-s-p-s-2009-dividend-aristocrats-who-made-the-cut |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830032636/http://seekingalpha.com/article/111974-s-p-s-2009-dividend-aristocrats-who-made-the-cut |archive-date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=August 27, 2010 |newspaper=Seekingalpha |publisher=Seekingalpha.com}} The company is ranked 131st on the Fortune 500 of the largest United States corporations by revenue.{{cite web |title=McDonald's |url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/mcdonalds/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118093223/http://fortune.com/fortune500/mcdonalds/ |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |access-date=November 18, 2018 |website=Fortune |language=en-US}} In October 2012, its monthly sales fell for the first time in nine years.{{cite web |author=Tiffany Hsu |date=November 9, 2012 |title=McDonald's monthly sales fall for the first time in nine years |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mcdonalds-sales-20121109,0,2079925.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204142416/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-nov-09-la-fi-mcdonalds-sales-20121109-story.html |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times}} In 2014, its quarterly sales fell for the first time in seventeen years, when its sales dropped for the entirety of 1997.{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Venessa |date=January 7, 2015 |title=McDonald's New Turnaround Plan Is So 1990s |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-07/mcdonalds-new-turnaround-plan-is-so-1990s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829012049/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-07/mcdonalds-new-turnaround-plan-is-so-1990s |archive-date=August 29, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2019 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}

In the United States, it is reported that drive-throughs account for 70 percent of sales.{{cite news |last=Baertlein |first=Lisa |date=March 14, 2017 |title=McDonald's, late to mobile ordering, seeks to avoid pitfalls |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonalds-mobile-idUSKBN16L2RM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035704/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonalds-mobile-idUSKBN16L2RM |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=March 15, 2017 |work=Reuters}}{{cite news |last=Patton |first=Leslie |date=November 23, 2015 |title=McDonald's Knows You're Sick of Screw-Ups at Drive-Thru Windows |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-23/mcdonald-s-knows-you-re-sick-of-screw-ups-at-drive-thru-windows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828171456/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-23/mcdonald-s-knows-you-re-sick-of-screw-ups-at-drive-thru-windows |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |access-date=March 15, 2017 |agency=Bloomberg}} McDonald's closed down 184 restaurants in the United States in 2015, which was 59 more than what they planned to open.{{cite news |last=Ferdman |first=Roberto A. |date=August 13, 2015 |title=This is a terrible sign for McDonald's |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/13/mcdonalds-is-shrinking/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004200934/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/13/mcdonalds-is-shrinking/ |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite news |date=June 18, 2015 |title=McDonald's to Cut U.S. Stores for First Time in Decades |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/business/mcdonalds-to-cut-us-stores-for-first-time-in-decades.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108143157/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/business/mcdonalds-to-cut-us-stores-for-first-time-in-decades.html |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=February 17, 2017 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press}} This move was the first time McDonald's had a net decrease in the number of locations in the United States since 1970.

In the first three months of 2025, as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans began to be unveiled and implemented, McDonald's revenue in the US fell 3.6% compared to the previous year, the largest sales decline in the US since the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Labiak |first1=Mitchell |title=McDonald's sales drop as diners face 'uncertainty' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4vzpggkjno}}

File:Ray kroc 1976.jpg joined the chain in 1954 and built it into a global franchise, making it the most successful fast food corporation in the world]]

The company owns the land on which many of its restaurants are situated, which is valued at an estimated $42 billion.{{Cite web |last=Phan |first=Trung |date=2022-06-25 |title=McDonald’s $42B real estate empire, explained - |url=https://workweek.com/2022/06/25/mcdonalds-42b-real-estate-empire-explained/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=workweek.com |language=en-US}} The company earns a significant portion of its revenue from rental payments from franchisees. These rent payments rose 26 percent between 2010 and 2015, accounting for one-fifth of the company's total revenue at the end of the period.{{cite news |last1=Lublin |first1=Joann S. |last2=Jargon |first2=Julie |date=October 15, 2015 |title=McDonald's Nears Decision on Real Estate |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-close-to-deciding-whether-to-change-structure-of-u-s-real-estate-1444938945 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217112217/https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-close-to-deciding-whether-to-change-structure-of-u-s-real-estate-1444938945 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=October 22, 2015 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal}} In recent times, there have been calls to spin off the company's U.S. holdings into a potential real estate investment trust, but the company announced at its investor conference on November 10, 2015, that this would not happen. CEO Steve Easterbrook discussed that pursuing the REIT option would pose too large a risk to the company's business model.{{Cite news |last=Jargon |first=Julie |title=McDonald's Won't Spin Off Real Estate Holdings |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-wont-spin-off-real-estate-holdings-1447180384 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021084259/https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-wont-spin-off-real-estate-holdings-1447180384 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=November 11, 2015 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660}}

McDonald's trains its franchisees and management at one of the Hamburger Universities. As of 2015, the Hamburger Universities reside in Oak Brook, Tokyo, London, Sydney, Munich, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Moscow.{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=Natalie |date=2015-08-05 |title=McDonald's Hamburger University can be harder to get into than Harvard and is even cooler than you'd imagine |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-hamburger-university-2333 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

In other countries, McDonald's restaurants are operated by joint ventures of McDonald's Corporation and other, local entities or governments.{{cite web |title=McDonald's Business Model and Strategy :: McDonald's |url=http://corporate.mcdonalds.com/content/mcd/our_company/business-model.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129120334/http://corporate.mcdonalds.com/content/mcd/our_company/business-model.html |archive-date=January 29, 2017 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |website=corporate.mcdonalds.com}}

According to Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (2001), nearly one in eight workers in the U.S. have at some time been employed by McDonald's. Employees are encouraged by McDonald's Corp. to maintain their health by singing along to their favorite songs to relieve stress, attending church services to have a lower blood pressure, and taking two vacations annually to reduce the risk for myocardial infarction.{{cite web |last=Eidelson |first=Josh |date=November 19, 2013 |title=McDonald's tells workers to "sing away stress," "chew away cares" and go to church |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/11/19/revealed_mcdonalds_tells_workers_to_sing_away_stress_chew_away_cares_and_go_to_church/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821160257/http://www.salon.com/2013/11/19/revealed_mcdonalds_tells_workers_to_sing_away_stress_chew_away_cares_and_go_to_church/ |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |access-date=August 21, 2014 |work=Salon |quote=These and other tips appear on a "McResource Line" website created by the McDonald's Corp. to advise workers on stress, health and personal finances. Among the tips that appear on the site: "Chewing gum can reduce cortisol levels by 16%"; "At least two vacations a year can cut heart attack risk by 50%"; "Singing along to your favorite songs can lower your blood pressure"; and "People who attend more church services tend to have lower blood pressure."}}

Fast Food Nation states that McDonald's is the largest private operator of playgrounds in the U.S., as well as the single largest purchaser of beef, pork, potatoes, and apples. The selection of meats McDonald's uses varies to some extent based on the host country's culture.{{cite book |last=Schlosser |first=Eric |title=Fast Food Nation |title-link=Fast Food Nation}}

On June 13, 2016, McDonald's confirmed plans to move its global headquarters to Chicago's West Loop neighborhood in the Near West Side. The 608,000-square-foot structure opened on June 4, 2018, and was built on the former site of Harpo Productions (where The Oprah Winfrey Show and several other Harpo productions taped).

The McDonald's former headquarters complex, McDonald's Plaza, is in Oak Brook, Illinois. It sits on the site of the former headquarters and stabling area of Paul Butler, the founder of Oak Brook.Steele, Jeffrey. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/32461979.html?dids=32461979:32461979&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+29%2C+1998&author=Jeffrey+Steele.+Special+to+the+Tribune.&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=OAK+BROOK+HISTORY+IN+CARING+HANDS+SOCIETY+PRESIDENT+IS+PART+OF+VILLAGE%27S+CHANGING+HERITAGE&pqatl=google Oak Brook history in caring hands society president is part of village's changing heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107165012/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/418631457.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Jul%2029%2C%201998&author=Jeffrey%20Steele.%20Special%20to%20the%20Tribune.&pub=Chicago%20Tribune&edition=&startpage=&desc=OAK%20BROOK%20HISTORY%20IN%20CARING%20HANDS%20SOCIETY%20PRESIDENT%20IS%20PART%20OF%20VILLAGE%27S%20CHANGING%20HERITAGE|date=November 7, 2017}}". Chicago Tribune. July 29, 1998. Page 88. Retrieved September 17, 2009. McDonald's moved into the Oak Brook facility from an office within the Chicago Loop in 1971.Cross, Robert. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/648915512.html?dids=648915512:648915512&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+09%2C+1972&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Inside+Hamburger+Central&pqatl=google Inside Hamburger Central] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816110318/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/170151070.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan%2009,%201972&author=&pub=Chicago%20Tribune&edition=&startpage=&desc=Inside%20Hamburger%20Central|date=August 16, 2017}}". Chicago Tribune. January 9, 1972. G18. Retrieved September 17, 2009.

{{As of|December 2024}}, the board of directors had the following members:{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/investors-relations/board-of-directors.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117013524/https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/investors-relations/board-of-directors.html |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |access-date=February 22, 2021 |website=McDonald's}}

• Chris Kempczinski; chairman and CEO of McDonald's
• Anthony G. Capuano, CEO of Marriott International
• Kareem Daniel, former chairman of Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution
• Lloyd H. Dean, president and CEO of Dignity Health
• Catherine M. Engelbert, commissioner of the Women's National Basketball Association
• Margo Georgiadis, former CEO of Ancestry.com
• Mike Hsu, chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark
• John J. Mulligan, executive vice president and COO of Target Corporation
• Jennifer L. Taubert, Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chairman, Innovative Medicine, Johnson & Johnson
• Paul S. Walsh, executive chairman of McLaren Group
• Amy E. Weaver, President and Chief Financial Officer of Salesforce
• Miles D. White, chairman and CEO of Abbott Laboratories

In March 2015, Steve Easterbrook became CEO and president of McDonald's to replace the old CEO Don Thompson.{{Cite web |title=Britannica Money |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Steve-Easterbrook |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

In November 2019, McDonald's board of directors voted to remove Easterbrook as CEO since he had violated corporate policies on personal conduct by entering into a relationship with a company employee.{{Cite news |last=Haddon |first=Heather |date=November 4, 2019 |title=McDonald's Fires CEO Steve Easterbrook Over Relationship With Employee |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-fires-ceo-steve-easterbrook-over-relationship-with-employee-11572816660 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105160859/https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-fires-ceo-steve-easterbrook-over-relationship-with-employee-11572816660 |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |access-date=July 25, 2022 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal}} He was replaced as CEO by Chris Kempczinski, who had been president of McDonald's USA.{{cite news |date=November 3, 2019 |title=McDonald's CEO steps down after relationship with employee |url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/business/mcdonalds-ceo-steps-down-after-relationship-with-employee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105074524/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/business/mcdonalds-ceo-steps-down-after-relationship-with-employee/ |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |access-date=November 3, 2019 |work=Evening Express}}

In August 2022, McDonald's announced significant changes to its board. It said that existing director Sheila Penrose, chair of JLL Inc., would retire and that Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, executive vice president and worldwide chairman of pharmaceuticals Jennifer Taubert of Johnson & Johnson, and Amy Weaver president and CFO of Salesforce would join. The changes were unrelated to an effort by activist investor Carl Icahn.{{Cite news |last=Hirsch |first=Lauren |date=August 22, 2022 |title=Under Pressure, McDonald's Shakes Up Its Board |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/22/business/mcdonalds-board.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822133812/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/22/business/mcdonalds-board.html/ |archive-date=August 22, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2022 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=Sheila Penrose to leave McDonald's board |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/08/22/McDonalds-Sheila-Penrose-Carl-Icahn-board/3991661173134/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822133341/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/08/22/McDonalds-Sheila-Penrose-Carl-Icahn-board/3991661173134/ |archive-date=August 22, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Sheila Penrose – Awesome |url=https://www.awesomeleaders.org/sheila-penrose/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818043830/https://www.awesomeleaders.org/sheila-penrose/ |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=www.awesomeleaders.org}}

{{See also|List of countries with McDonald's restaurants|International availability of McDonald's products}}

File:McDonaldsWorldLocations.svg

File:McDonald's in Subotica, Serbia (2).jpg building in Subotica, Serbia]]

McDonald's has become emblematic of globalization, sometimes referred to as the "McDonaldization" of society. The Economist newspaper uses the "Big Mac Index": the comparison of the cost of a Big Mac in various world currencies can be used to informally judge these currencies' purchasing power parity. Switzerland has the most expensive Big Mac in the world as of July 2015, while the country with the least expensive Big Mac is India{{cite web |date=January 20, 2011 |title=India's 50 most trusted brands |url=http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-indias-50-most-trusted-brands/20110120.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527150055/http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-indias-50-most-trusted-brands/20110120.htm |archive-date=May 27, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2011 |work=Rediff.com}}{{cite news |date=October 7, 2015 |title=The Big Mac index |url=https://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327202218/https://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |newspaper=The Economist}} (albeit for a Maharaja Mac—the next cheapest Big Mac is Hong Kong).{{cite news |date=July 28, 2011 |title=The Big Mac index – Currency comparisons, to go |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/07/big-mac-index |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728165056/https://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/07/big-mac-index |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |access-date=July 28, 2011 |newspaper=The Economist}} The northernmost McDonald's restaurant in the world is located in Rovaniemi, Finland (after the restaurant in Murmansk, Russia was closed in 2022),[https://www.dailyo.in/politics/mcdonalds-russia-exit-ukraine-war/story/1/35910.html 'Until we meet again,' McDonald's tells Russia as it exits the country for good] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710200634/https://www.dailyo.in/politics/mcdonalds-russia-exit-ukraine-war/story/1/35910.html|date=July 10, 2022}} - DailyO however from January 2024 this had changed again as McDonald's opened a new restaurant in Tromsø, Norway.{{cite press release |title=McDonald's satser stort i Norge. – Nå kommer vi til Nord-Norge! |date=August 22, 2023 |publisher=McDonald's |url=https://www.mcdonalds.com/no/nb-no/om-oss/presserom/artikler/na-kommer-vi-til-nord-norge.html |language=Norwegian |access-date=December 12, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108213009/https://www.mcdonalds.com/no/nb-no/om-oss/presserom/artikler/na-kommer-vi-til-nord-norge.html |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |trans-title=McDonald's is betting big in Norway. - Now we come to Northern Norway!}} And the southernmost in the world is located in Invercargill, New Zealand.{{Cite web |date=2011-06-16 |title=Southernmost McDonald's in the world in Invercargill, New Zealand (Google Maps) |url=https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/southernmost-mcdonalds-in-the-world/view/google/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Virtual Globetrotting |language=en}}

Thomas Friedman said that no country with a McDonald's had gone to war with another;{{Cite news |last=Friedman |first=Thomas L. |date=December 8, 1996 |title=Foreign Affairs Big Mac I |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/08/opinion/foreign-affairs-big-mac-i.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129115809/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/08/opinion/foreign-affairs-big-mac-i.html |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web |title=The Lexus and the Olive Tree |url=http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/the-lexus-and-the-olive-tree |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720073042/http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/the-lexus-and-the-olive-tree |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2011 |publisher=Thomaslfriedman.com}} however, the "Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention" is incorrect. Exceptions are the 1989 United States invasion of Panama, NATO's bombing of Serbia in 1999, the 2006 Lebanon War, and the 2008 South Ossetia war—McDonald's suspended operations in its corporate-owned stores in Crimea after Russia annexed the region in 2014.{{cite news |title=McDonald's quits Crimea due to fears of trade clash |url=http://inadailynews.com/News/Europe/791/McDonald's-quits-Crimea-due-to-fears-of-trade-clash-791 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112140353/http://www.inadailynews.com/News/Europe/791/McDonald's-quits-Crimea-due-to-fears-of-trade-clash-791 |archive-date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=April 5, 2014 |newspaper=INA Daily News}} On August 20, 2014, as tensions between the United States and Russia strained over the Russian annexation of Crimea, and the resultant U.S. sanctions, the Russian government temporarily shut down four McDonald's outlets in Moscow, citing sanitary concerns. The company has operated in Russia since 1990 and, in August 2014, had 438 stores across the country.{{cite news |date=August 20, 2014 |title=Russia Shuts 4 McDonald's Restaurants Amid Ukraine Tensions |url=http://www.moscownews.net/index.php/sid/224938309 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226050436/http://www.moscownews.net/index.php/sid/224938309 |archive-date=December 26, 2015 |access-date=August 21, 2014 |publisher=Moscow News.Net}} On August 23, 2014, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich ruled out any government move to ban McDonald's and dismissed the notion that the temporary closures had anything to do with the sanctions.{{cite news |date=August 23, 2014 |title=Russian Deputy PM says McDonalds is not being targeted in response to sanctions |url=http://www.russiaherald.com/index.php/sid/225040623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115605/http://www.russiaherald.com/index.php/sid/225040623 |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2014 |work=Russia Herald}}

Some observers have suggested that the company should be given credit for increasing the service standard in markets it enters. A group of anthropologists in a study entitled Golden Arches EastStanford University Press, 1998, edited by James L. Watson looked at McDonald's impact on East Asia and Hong Kong, particularly. When it opened in Hong Kong in 1975, McDonald's was the first restaurant to consistently offer clean restrooms, driving customers to demand the same of other restaurants and institutions. McDonald's has partnered with Sinopec, the second-largest oil company in the People's Republic of China, as it takes advantage of the country's growing use of personal vehicles by opening numerous drive-through restaurants.{{cite web |title=McDonald's deal with oil company marries China's new love of fast food, cars |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/finance/story.html?id=e4cdb03e-6e89-4df4-a38b-187283fdeab3&k=65519 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325130147/http://www.canada.com/topics/finance/story.html?id=e4cdb03e-6e89-4df4-a38b-187283fdeab3&k=65519 |archive-date=March 25, 2007}}

In Beijing, China, McDonald's restaurants are state-owned enterprises operating according to franchise agreements.{{Cite book |last=Li |first=David Daokui |author-link=David Daokui Li |title=China's World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict |date=2024 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |isbn=978-0393292398 |location=New York, NY |pages=114}} Beijing Capital Agricultural Group owns these franchises.

McDonald's has opened a McDonald's restaurant and McCafé on the underground premises of the French fine arts museum, The Louvre.{{cite news |last=Samuel |first=Henry |date=October 4, 2009 |title=McDonald's restaurants to open at the Louvre |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6259044/McDonalds-restaurants-to-open-at-the-Louvre.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6259044/McDonalds-restaurants-to-open-at-the-Louvre.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}

The company opened vegetarian-only restaurants in India. The first one opened in 2012 at Amritsar, India.{{Cite web |date=2012-09-04 |title=Vegetarian McDonald's: Its first non-meat restaurant to open in India |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mo-mcdonalds-vegetarian-india-20120904-story.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

On January 9, 2017, 80% of the franchise rights in mainland China and Hong Kong were sold for US$2.08 billion to a consortium of CITIC Limited (for 32%). Private equity funds managed by CITIC Capital (for 20%) and Carlyle (for 20%), which CITIC Limited and CITIC Capital would form a joint venture to own the stake.{{cite web |date=January 9, 2017 |title=Voluntary Announcement: Acquisition of a Controlling Interest in Mcdonald's Mainland China and Hong Kong Businesses |url=http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2017/0109/LTN20170109129.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116200659/http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2017/0109/LTN20170109129.pdf |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |access-date=January 13, 2017 |work=CITIC Limited |publisher=Hong Kong Stock Exchange}}

On the river Elbe in Hamburg, Germany, is the world's only "McBoat", a float-through service (similar to drive-through) for people on the river.{{cite web |last=Quinn |first=Dave |date=October 13, 2021 |title=McDonald's Has a Riverside Restaurant with a Float-Thru Window |url=https://people.com/food/mcdonalds-has-a-riverside-restaurant-with-a-float-thru-window/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013215823/https://people.com/food/mcdonalds-has-a-riverside-restaurant-with-a-float-thru-window/ |archive-date=October 13, 2021 |access-date=October 14, 2021 |website=people.com |language=en}}

In Sweden, Happy Meal boxes can be used as goggles,{{cite web |date=June 14, 2016 |title=Restaurants going high tech |url=https://www.yahoo.com/tech/high-tech-happy-meals-fast-food-chains-turn-to-143931965.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615164454/https://www.yahoo.com/tech/high-tech-happy-meals-fast-food-chains-turn-to-143931965.html |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2016 |website=Yahoo Tech}} with the game Slope Stars. In the Netherlands, McDonald's has introduced McTrax that doubles as a recording studio; it reacts to touch. They can create their own beats with a synth and tweak sounds with special effects.

On March 8, 2022, McDonald's temporarily closed their 850 locations in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, but will continue to pay the salary for 62,000 employees. Approximately nine percent of global revenue and three percent of operating profit come from Russia and 100 locations in Ukraine.{{cite news |last=Patton |first=Leslie |date=March 8, 2022 |title=McDonald's to Shutter 850 Russia Stores After Backlash |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-08/mcdonald-s-to-temporarily-close-its-850-russia-locations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309000914/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-08/mcdonald-s-to-temporarily-close-its-850-russia-locations |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |access-date=March 9, 2022 |work=Bloomberg News}}{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Sophia |date=March 8, 2022 |title=McDonald's, Starbucks, Coke, Pepsi join companies suspending business in Russia |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mcdonalds-pepsi-boycott-russia-1.6376953 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308183800/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mcdonalds-pepsi-boycott-russia-1.6376953 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |location=Toronto ON}}{{cite news |date=March 8, 2022 |title=McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Starbucks halt Russian sales |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60665877 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308183559/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60665877 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |location=London UK}}

On May 16, 2022, McDonald's announced that the closures would become permanent and that it was selling all its 850 stores in Russia. Furthermore, 32 years after McDonald's entered the Soviet market, the American giant wants its current business to be "de-Arched", the company plans to retain its trademarks in Russia, meaning the locations would no longer be allowed to use the McDonald's name, logo, or menu. McDonald's also said it would continue to pay its Russian employees until the sale is finalized. The company has more than 60,000 Russian employees.{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2022 |title=McDonald's to sell its business in Russia after 30 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/16/mcdonalds-to-sell-russia-business--invasion-ukraine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516104408/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/16/mcdonalds-to-sell-russia-business--invasion-ukraine |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |work=theguardian}}{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2022 |title=McDonald's to leave Russia for good after 30 years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61463876 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516104347/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61463876 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2022 |title=McDonald's is leaving Russia altogether |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/16/business-food/mcdonalds-russia-exit/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516135203/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/16/business-food/mcdonalds-russia-exit/index.html |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |work=cnn News}}

On June 10, 2022, a Russian McDonald's buyer announced a new logo as an attempt at rebranding. It featured one circle and two lines representing a burger and two french fries.{{cite news |date=June 10, 2022 |title=Russia's new version of McDonald's unveils logo |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61727807 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610033415/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61727807 |archive-date=June 10, 2022 |access-date=June 10, 2022 |publisher=BBC News}} The business was rebranded as Vkusno i tochka, which roughly translates to "Tasty – Period."[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/mcdonalds-russia-reopens-under-new-ownership-renamed-vkusno-tochka-2022-06-12/ Tasty name but no Big Mac: Russia reopens rebranded McDonald's restaurants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612074218/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/mcdonalds-russia-reopens-under-new-ownership-renamed-vkusno-tochka-2022-06-12/|date=June 12, 2022}} Reuters June 12, 2022{{cite news |date=June 12, 2022 |title=Russia unveils 'tasty' McDonald's substitute |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61774475 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612095331/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61774475 |archive-date=June 12, 2022 |access-date=June 12, 2022 |publisher=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=August 20, 2022 |title=Stars Coffee, anyone? Old Starbucks stores reopen in Russia with imitation branding — and menu |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-20/stars-coffee-anyone-starbucks-successor-opening-in-russia/101353230 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823025024/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-20/stars-coffee-anyone-starbucks-successor-opening-in-russia/101353230 |archive-date=August 23, 2022 |access-date=August 23, 2022 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The first restaurants in Russia were opened on 12 June 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-12 |title=Сменившую McDonald’s в России сеть ресторанов назвали «Вкусно — и точка» |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5407638 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Коммерсантъ |language=ru}}

McDonald's will reopen its stores in Ukraine after closing them in February in non-contested areas like Kyiv and Western Ukraine. During the closure, McDonald's continued paying its employees, numbering some 10,000. Before the conflict, Ukraine had approximately 109 restaurants; it is unclear how many will reopen.{{cite news |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Big Mac's comeback: McDonald's to reopen in Ukraine |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/8/11/big-macs-comeback-mcdonalds-to-reopen-in-ukraine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824033707/https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/8/11/big-macs-comeback-mcdonalds-to-reopen-in-ukraine |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |access-date=August 12, 2022 |publisher=AP}}

On November 11, 2022, McDonald's in Belarus announced that all 25 stores in 6 cities would rebrand and operate as Vkusno i tochka "in several weeks".{{cite web |author= |date=November 11, 2022 |title="Макдональдс" в Беларуси будет работать под российским брендом "Вкусно — и точка" |url=https://officelife.media/news/38042-makdonalds-v-belarusi-budet-rabotat-pod-rossiyskim-brendom-vkusno-i-tochka/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111090033/https://officelife.media/news/38042-makdonalds-v-belarusi-budet-rabotat-pod-rossiyskim-brendom-vkusno-i-tochka/ |archive-date=November 11, 2022 |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=officelife.media |language=ru}}

In Kazakhstan, McDonald's suspended operations in November 2022 due to the impossibility of supplying minced meat from Russia. The franchise was transferred to Food Solutions KZ, after which the restaurants first changed their name to "We are open" (Біз ашықпыз); in August 2023, they were renamed in honor of the best employees, and in November 2023 the final rebranding was carried out. The network is now called I'M, with a heart sign used instead of a dot over the I.{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2023 |title=Экс-рестораны McDonald's будут работать под брендом I'M |url=https://kapital.kz/business/121001/eks-restorany-mcdonald-s-budut-rabotat-pod-brendom-i-m.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123054505/https://kapital.kz/business/121001/eks-restorany-mcdonald-s-budut-rabotat-pod-brendom-i-m.html |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=kapital.kz |language=ru}}

File:Denton House LI 03 - Order kiosk.jpg for placing orders at the Denton House McDonald's in New Hyde Park on Long Island, New York]]{{See also|McDonald's and unions}}File:Fast food workers on strike for higher minimum wage and better benefits (26398607316).jpg]]

Since the late 1990s, McDonald's has attempted to replace employees with electronic kiosks that would perform actions such as taking orders and accepting money. In 1999, McDonald's first tested "E-Clerks" in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and Wyoming, Michigan, with the devices being able to "save money on live staffers" and attracting larger purchase amounts than average employees.{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Richard|title=Want Fries With That? Ask McDonald's New E-Clerks|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=August 12, 1999}}

In 2013, the University of Oxford estimated that in the succeeding decades, there was a 92% probability of food preparation and serving becoming automated in fast food establishments.{{cite news|last=O'Toole|first=James|title=Robots will replace fast-food workers|url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/22/technology/innovation/fast-food-robot/|access-date=August 18, 2016|work=CNN|date=May 22, 2014|archive-date=December 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218033055/https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/22/technology/innovation/fast-food-robot/|url-status=live}} By 2016, McDonald's "Create Your Taste" electronic kiosks were seen in some restaurants internationally where customers could custom order meals.{{Cite web |last=Meyersohn |first=Nathaniel |date=2024-09-20 |title=McDonald's touchscreen kiosks were feared as job killers. Instead, something surprising happened {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/20/business/self-service-kiosks-mcdonalds-shake-shack/index.html |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=CNN |language=en}}

In 2017, McDonald's launched an app in the United States that allows customers to skip the ordering line inside or drive through and order online. Many McDonald's locations have special parking spaces for such orders.{{cite web |date=March 2017 |title=McDonald's to launch ordering app, expand delivery |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/01/technology/mcdonalds-app-delivery/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403235816/https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/01/technology/mcdonalds-app-delivery/index.html |archive-date=April 3, 2023 |access-date=April 3, 2023}}

In September 2019, McDonald's purchased an AI-based start-up, Apprente, to replace human servers with voice-based technology in its US drive-throughs.{{cite web |date=September 11, 2019 |title=McDonald's uses AI for ordering at drive-throughs |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49664633 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208224542/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49664633 |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |access-date=September 12, 2019 |website=BBC News}}

In early 2023, McDonald's opened its first largely automated restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas. The restaurant in question would de-emphasize human contact when ordering, with employees available if there were problems but who would otherwise be absent from the ordering process (along with others working in the kitchen or other back-of-the-house roles). There was no seating in this restaurant.{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2023 |title=New McDonald's in Fort Worth is latest iteration of restaurant industry's shift toward automation |url=https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/fort-worth-mcdonalds-fully-automated/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128235106/https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/fort-worth-mcdonalds-fully-automated/ |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Texas Standard |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Salam |first=Erum |date=December 23, 2022 |title=Touchscreens, conveyor belts: McDonald's opens first largely automated location |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/23/mcdonalds-automated-workers-fort-worth-texas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122185550/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/23/mcdonalds-automated-workers-fort-worth-texas |archive-date=January 22, 2024 |access-date=January 10, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In March 2015, McDonald's workers in 19 U.S. cities filed 28 health and safety complaints with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which allege that low staffing, lack of protective gear, poor training, and pressure to work fast resulted in injuries. The complaints allege that, because of a lack of first aid supplies, workers were told by management to treat burn injuries with condiments such as mayonnaise and mustard.{{Cite news |title=Fast-food chains tell workers to treat burns with mustard, ketchup, and mayo. |url=https://www.motherjones.com/food/2015/03/little-mustard-grease-burn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111193923/https://www.motherjones.com/food/2015/03/little-mustard-grease-burn/ |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=November 14, 2017 |work=Mother Jones |language=en-US}} The Fight for $15 labor organization aided the workers in filing the complaints.Jana Kasperkevic (March 16, 2015). [https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/mar/16/mcdonalds-workers-treat-burns-condiments-osha-complaints McDonald's workers told to treat burns with condiments, survey shows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108102836/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/mar/16/mcdonalds-workers-treat-burns-condiments-osha-complaints|date=November 8, 2020}}. The Guardian. Retrieved March 17, 2015.

The Roosevelt Institute, a liberal think tank, accuses some McDonald's restaurants of actually paying less than the minimum wage to entry positions due to "rampant" wage theft.Goldberg, Harmony, [http://www.salon.com/2014/04/06/how_mcdonalds_gets_away_with_rampant_wage_theft_partner/ "How McDonald's gets away with rampant wage theft"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523054703/http://www.salon.com/2014/04/06/how_mcdonalds_gets_away_with_rampant_wage_theft_partner/|date=May 23, 2015}}, Salon, April 6, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.

Workers at the McDonald's franchise at Saint-Barthélémy, Marseille, occupied the restaurant in protest against its planned closure. Employing 77 people, the restaurant is the second-biggest private sector employer in Saint-Barthélémy, which has an unemployment rate of 30 percent.{{Cite news |last=Chazan |first=David |date=September 1, 2019 |title=Marseille fights to stop McDonald's from closing in rare French support for American fast-food giant |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/01/marseille-fights-stop-mcdonalds-closing-rare-french-support/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/01/marseille-fights-stop-mcdonalds-closing-rare-french-support/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |access-date=September 3, 2019 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}} Lawyers for Kamel Guemari, a shop steward at the franchise, claimed an attempt was made to kill him when a car drove at him in the restaurant car park.{{cite web |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Lawyers claim attempted murder of McDonald's trade unionist in France |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/lawyers-claim-attempted-murder-mcdonalds-trade-unionist-france |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803220430/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/lawyers-claim-attempted-murder-mcdonalds-trade-unionist-france |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2019 |website=Morning Star}}{{cite web |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Marseille: Kamel Guemari porte plainte pour tentative de meurtre |url=http://www.lamarseillaise.fr/marseille/social/78032-marseille-kamel-guemari-porte-plainte-pour-tentative-de-meurtre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903180932/http://www.lamarseillaise.fr/marseille/social/78032-marseille-kamel-guemari-porte-plainte-pour-tentative-de-meurtre |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |access-date=September 3, 2019 |website=La Marsaillaise |language=fr}}

In South Korea, McDonald's pays part-time employees $5.50 an hour and is accused of paying less with arbitrary schedule adjustments and pay delays.{{cite news|last=Tae-hoon|first=Lee|title=McDonald's lures customers with illegal ads on Independence Day|url=http://www.koreaobserver.com/mcdonalds-lures-customers-with-illegal-drive-through-ads-on-koreas-independence-day-44187/|access-date=August 17, 2015|work=The Korea Observer|date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804000114/http://www.koreaobserver.com/mcdonalds-lures-customers-with-illegal-drive-through-ads-on-koreas-independence-day-44187/|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Fast food worker strikes}}On August 5, 2013, The Guardian revealed that 90 percent of McDonald's UK workforce are on zero-hour contracts, making it possibly the largest such private sector employer in the country.{{cite news |last=Neville |first=Simon |date=August 25, 2008 |title=McDonald's ties nine out of 10 workers to zero-hours contracts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/05/mcdonalds-workers-zero-hour-contracts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127013348/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/05/mcdonalds-workers-zero-hour-contracts |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |access-date=August 10, 2013 |work=The Guardian |location=London}} In April 2017, due to employee strikes, they gave all employees the option of fixed contracts instead.{{cite web |title=FAQS {{!}} McDonald's UK |url=https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/help/faq/18372-does-mcdonalds-use-zero-hour-contracts.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031005646/https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/help/faq/18372-does-mcdonalds-use-zero-hour-contracts.html |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |website=www.mcdonalds.com |language=en-gb}} A study released by Fast Food Forward conducted by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research showed that approximately 84 percent of all fast food employees working in New York City in April 2013 had been paid less than their legal wages by their employers.Anzalone Liszt Grove Research and Fast Food Foreward. [https://www.scribd.com/doc/141919700/wage-theft-report New York's Hidden Crime Wave: Wage Theft and New York City's Fast Food Workers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529085913/https://www.scribd.com/doc/141919700/Wage-Theft-Report|date=May 29, 2016}}

From 2007 to 2011, fast food workers in the U.S. drew an average of $7 billion of public assistance annually resulting from receiving low wages.Maclay, Kathleen. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131019095926/http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/publiccosts/fast_food_poverty_wages.pdf "Fast Food, Poverty Wages: The Public Cost of Low-wage jobs in the Fast Food Industry"]. University of California Labor Center October 15, 2013.

Archived from [https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/pdf/2013/fast_food_poverty_wages.pdf the original] The McResource website advised employees to break their food into smaller pieces to feel fuller, seek refunds for unopened holiday purchases, sell possessions online for quick cash, and "quit complaining" as "stress hormone levels rise by 15 percent after ten minutes of complaining."Susanna Kim (November 21, 2013). [https://abcnews.go.com/Business/mcdonalds-defends-employee-tips-deemed-offensive-clueless-advocacy/story?id=20954354 McDonald's Defends Telling Workers to 'Quit Complaining' to Reduce Stress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024316/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/mcdonalds-defends-employee-tips-deemed-offensive-clueless-advocacy/story?id=20954354|date=November 12, 2020}}. ABC News. Retrieved November 21, 2013. In December 2013, McDonald's shut down the McResource website amidst negative publicity and criticism. McDonald's plans to continue an internal telephone help line through which its employees can obtain advice on work and life problems.{{cite news |date=December 26, 2013 |title=McDonald's Closes Employee Website Amid Criticism |url=http://dailydigest.com/18949/mcdonalds-closes-employee-website-amid-criticism/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228213835/http://dailydigest.com/18949/mcdonalds-closes-employee-website-amid-criticism/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |access-date=December 26, 2013 |publisher=DailyDigest |agency=Associated Press}}

In September 2017, two British McDonald's stores agreed to a strike over zero-hours contracts for staff. Picket lines were formed around the two stores in Crayford and Cambridge. The strike was supported by then Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mcdonalds-strike-action-uk-pay-working-conditions-zero-hour-contracts-cambridge-crayford-a7927581.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mcdonalds-strike-action-uk-pay-working-conditions-zero-hour-contracts-cambridge-crayford-a7927581.html |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=McDonald's faces strike for first time in UK as workers take action over pay and zero-hour contracts|newspaper=The Independent|date=September 4, 2017|access-date=September 4, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/04/mcdonalds-workers-strike-cambridge-crayford|title=McDonald's workers to go on strike in Britain for first time|newspaper=The Guardian|date=September 4, 2017|access-date=September 4, 2017|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221153905/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/04/mcdonalds-workers-strike-cambridge-crayford|url-status=live}}

{{main|Criticism of McDonald's}}

McDonald's has been criticized for numerous aspects of its business, including its products' health effects, employees' treatment, and other business practices. In the late 1980s, Phil Sokolof, a millionaire businessman who had suffered a heart attack at the age of 43, took out full-page newspaper ads in New York, Chicago, and other large cities accusing McDonald's menu of being a threat to American health and asking them to stop using beef tallow to cook their french fries.{{cite news |author=Dennis McLellan |date=April 16, 2004 |title=Phil Sokolof, 82; Used His Personal Fortune in Fight Against High-Fat Foods |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-apr-16-me-sokolof16-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821024939/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/apr/16/local/me-sokolof16 |archive-date=August 21, 2017 |access-date=August 11, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

In 2001, Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation included criticism of the business practices of McDonald's, particularly concerning its use of political influence and targeting advertisements to children.{{cite web |last=Schlosser |first=Eric |date=2000 |title=Fast Food Nation |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schlosser-fast.html? |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617031817/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/schlosser-fast.html |archive-date=June 17, 2021 |access-date=June 11, 2021 |website=archive.nytimes.com}}

Critical terms such as "McJob" and "McMansion" have been added to dictionaries.{{cite news |date=November 11, 2003 |title=Merriam-Webster: 'McJob' is here to stay |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/11/11/offbeat.mcjob.ap/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412142241/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/11/11/offbeat.mcjob.ap/ |archive-date=April 12, 2008 |work=CNN Offbeat News |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite web |title=McMansion: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/McMansion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421160429/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/McMansion |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |website=Merriam-Webster Unabridged |publisher=Merriam-Webster}}

In 1990, activists from a small group known as London Greenpeace (no connection to the international group Greenpeace) distributed leaflets entitled What's wrong with McDonald's?, criticizing its environmental, health, and labor record. The corporation wrote to the group demanding they desist and apologize, and, when two of the activists refused to back down, sued them for libel leading to the "McLibel case", one of the longest cases in English civil law. A documentary film of the McLibel Trial has been shown in several countries.{{cite news |title=McLibel: Longest case in English history |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4266741.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171429/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/820786.stm |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |work=BBC News}}

Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary film Super Size Me claimed that McDonald's food was contributing to the increase of obesity in society and that the company was failing to provide nutritional information about its food for its customers. Six weeks after the film premiered, McDonald's announced that it was eliminating the super size option and was creating the adult Happy Meal.

In response to public pressure, McDonald's has sought to include more healthy choices in its menu, announcing in May 2008 that, in the United States and Canada, it has switched to using cooking oil that contains no trans fats for its french fries, and canola-based oil with corn and soy oils, for its baked items, pies, and cookies, by the end of 2018.{{Cite news |date=May 23, 2008 |title=McDonald's cooking oil trans-fat-free in the U.S., Canada |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonalds-transfat-idUSN2234307520080523 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106044557/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonalds-transfat-idUSN2234307520080523 |archive-date=November 6, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2020 |work=Reuters |language=en}} The company introduced a new slogan to its recruitment posters: "Not bad for a McJob."{{cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=April 20, 2006 |title=Not bad for a McJob? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2006/apr/20/post3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508171652/http://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2006/apr/20/post3 |archive-date=May 8, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2009 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}

Since McDonald's began receiving criticism for its environmental practices in the late 1980s, it has significantly reduced its use of materials.{{Cite web |title=National Pollution Prevention Center for Higher Education |url=http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/resources/compendia/CORPpdfs/CORPcaseA.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818230239/http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/resources/compendia/CORPpdfs/CORPcaseA.pdf |archive-date=August 18, 2000}}

McDonald's has been criticized for shrinkflation, colloquially dubbed "McFlation", with increases in menu prices far exceeding inflation.{{cite news |last1=Rogelberg |first1=Sasha |date=13 February 2024 |title=McDonald's CEO sees a McFlation 'battleground' with customers revolting over $8 chicken sandwiches and $3 hash browns |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonald-ceo-sees-mcflation-battleground-210653197.html |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=Yahoo Finance}}{{Cite news |last=Rogelberg |first=Sasha |date=May 14, 2024 |title=McDonald's may be willing to lose money on $5 meal deals if it means winning back disgruntled cash-strapped customers |url=https://fortune.com/2024/05/14/mcdonalds-5-dollar-meal-deal-inflation-mcflation-chris-kempczinski/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=Fortune}}{{Cite web |last=O'sullivan |first=John |date=2024-02-29 |title=McDonald's customers not happy with Filet O Fish change |url=https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/mcdonalds-customers-not-happy-filet-32244493 |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=Irish Star |language=en}}

File:Gaza (53356500994).jpgAmidst the Gaza war, as the Israeli blockade restricted supplies to Gaza, McDonald's in Israel faced condemnation for providing free meals to the Israel Defense Forces, who were accused of engaging in war crimes against Palestinians.{{cite web |title=Revenge policy in motion; Israel committing war crimes in Gaza |url=https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20231010_revenge_policy_in_motion_israel_committing_war_crimes_in_gaza |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022010521/https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20231010_revenge_policy_in_motion_israel_committing_war_crimes_in_gaza |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=B'tselem}}{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2023 |title=Damning evidence of war crimes as Israeli attacks wipe out entire families in Gaza |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/damning-evidence-of-war-crimes-as-israeli-attacks-wipe-out-entire-families-in-gaza/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020141613/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/damning-evidence-of-war-crimes-as-israeli-attacks-wipe-out-entire-families-in-gaza/ |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |access-date=November 11, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2023 |title=McDonald's faces backlash for donating free meals to Israeli forces amid ongoing conflict |url=https://www.samaa.tv/208732607-mcdonald-s-faces-backlash-for-donating-free-meals-to-israeli-forces-amid-ongoing-conflict#tbl-em-lnp5au1hyagx03rjii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013210002/https://www.samaa.tv/208732607-mcdonald-s-faces-backlash-for-donating-free-meals-to-israeli-forces-amid-ongoing-conflict#tbl-em-lnp5au1hyagx03rjii |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |access-date=October 14, 2023 |website=Samaa Tv}}{{Cite web |last=Owusu |first=Tony |date=October 13, 2023 |title=#BoycottMcDonalds trends as food chain announces to provide free food to Israeli soldiers |url=https://www.oyeyeah.com/lifestyle/boycottmcdonalds-trends/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109032754/https://www.oyeyeah.com/lifestyle/boycottmcdonalds-trends/ |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |access-date=October 14, 2023}} The hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds gained worldwide traction on social media.{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2023 |title=INTERNATIONALMcDonald's Boycott Becomes Top Trend On Social Media As Fast-Food Chain Is Providing Free Meals To Israeli Troops Attacking Gaza |url=https://thetruthinternational.com/international/mcdonalds-boycott-becomes-top-trend-on-social-after-as-fast-food-chain-is-providing-free-meals-to-israeli-troops-attacking-gaza/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109055816/https://thetruthinternational.com/international/mcdonalds-boycott-becomes-top-trend-on-social-after-as-fast-food-chain-is-providing-free-meals-to-israeli-troops-attacking-gaza/ |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |access-date=October 14, 2023}} There were also large gathering outside restaurants in Lebanon and Egypt protesting the move. McDonald's in other countries, like Turkey and Pakistan, distanced themselves from the Israeli brand.{{Cite web |last=IMPELLI |first=MATTHEW |date=October 14, 2023 |title=McDonald's Faces Boycott for Giving Israeli Soldiers Free Food |url=https://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-faces-boycott-giving-israeli-soldiers-free-food-1834506 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013235440/https://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-faces-boycott-giving-israeli-soldiers-free-food-1834506 |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |access-date=October 14, 2023 |website=NEWS WEEK}}{{Cite news |date=October 14, 2023 |title=McDonalds Pakistan, Turkey, Lebanon release statements; dissociate themselves from Israel |url=https://thecurrent.pk/mcdonalds-pakistan-turkey-lebanon-release-statements-dissociate-themselves-from-israel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016093004/https://thecurrent.pk/mcdonalds-pakistan-turkey-lebanon-release-statements-dissociate-themselves-from-israel/ |archive-date=October 16, 2023 |access-date=October 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Current}}

In January 2024, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the public outcry, stating, "Several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonald's."{{Cite news |date=January 4, 2024 |title=McDonald's hit by Israel-Gaza 'misinformation' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67885910 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109022207/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67885910 |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |access-date=January 9, 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} As a result of the boycott, McDonald's bought all 225 Israeli franchise-owned restaurants.{{Cite web |title=McDonald's buys 225 of Israel franchise restaurants after boycotts amid war |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/5/mcdonalds-buys-all-225-of-israeli-franchise-restaurants-after-boycotts |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Valdez |first=Jonah |date=2024-07-30 |title=Boycotts Against Israel Are Hurting Starbucks and McDonald's Sales Worldwide |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/07/30/boycotts-israel-starbucks-mcdonalds-sales/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}}

McDonald's has been criticized for using factory farmed fast growing chicken breeds in their supply chain.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-24 |title=McDonald's condemned for using chickens that suffer heart failure |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mcdonald-s-chickens-mcnuggets-salad-welfare-breed-humane-league-a8506381.html |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=The Independent |language=en}} These breeds are more likely to suffer from welfare issues such as broken or fractured bones, leg deformities and heart failure.{{Cite journal |last1=Shim |first1=M.Y. |last2=Karnuah |first2=A.B. |last3=Mitchell |first3=A.D. |last4=Anthony |first4=N.B. |last5=Pesti |first5=G.M. |last6=Aggrey |first6=S.E. |date=2012-08-01 |title=The effects of growth rate on leg morphology and tibia breaking strength, mineral density, mineral content, and bone ash in broilers |journal=Poultry Science |language=en |volume=91 |issue=8 |pages=1790–1795 |doi=10.3382/ps.2011-01968 |pmid=22802169 |s2cid=20448775}}{{Cite journal |last1=Nain |first1=S. |last2=Ling |first2=B. |last3=Bandy |first3=B. |last4=Alcorn |first4=J. |last5=Wojnarowicz |first5=C. |last6=Laarveld |first6=B. |last7=Olkowski |first7=A. A. |date=2008-08-14 |title=The role of oxidative stress in the development of congestive heart failure in a chicken genotype selected for rapid growth |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03079450802179850 |journal=Avian Pathology |language=en |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=367–373 |doi=10.1080/03079450802179850 |issn=0307-9457 |pmid=18622851}}

Since McDonald's purchases over 2 billion eggs per year, which accounts for about 4 percent of eggs produced in the United States, the switch to cage-free eggs is expected to have a major impact on the egg industry. It is part of a general trend toward cage-free eggs driven by consumer concern over the harsh living conditions of hens.{{cite web |author=Owen, Tess |date=September 10, 2015 |title=McDonald's Is Switching to Cage-Free Eggs at a Delicate Moment for the Poultry Industry |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/mcdonalds-is-switching-to-cage-free-eggs-at-a-delicate-moment-for-the-poultry-industry/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108114631/https://www.vice.com/en/article/kz9byn/mcdonalds-is-switching-to-cage-free-eggs-at-a-delicate-moment-for-the-poultry-industry |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=August 4, 2016 |publisher=VICE News}}{{cite magazine |title=The Insanely Complicated Logistics of Cage-Free Eggs for All |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/01/the-insanely-complicated-logistics-of-cage-free-eggs-for-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206094613/https://www.wired.com/2016/01/the-insanely-complicated-logistics-of-cage-free-eggs-for-all/ |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |access-date=August 4, 2016 |magazine=Wired}} In 2014, McDonald's pledged to stop using eggs from battery cage facilities in restaurants in Australia by 2017.{{Cite web |title=People power: YOU DID IT! |url=https://animalsaustralia.org/our-work/factory-farming/mcdonalds-to-dump-cage-eggs/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Animals Australia |language=en-US}} By January 2018, McDonald's announced they had succeeded in meeting their goal.{{Cite web |date=2018-01-24 |title=McDonald's Australia meets cage-free egg target {{!}} Australian Food News |url=https://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2018/01/24/mcdonalds-australia-meets-cage-free-egg-target.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |language=en-AU}} In 2015, McDonald's pledged to eliminate caged eggs in restaurants in the United States by the end of 2025, which they completed nearly two years ahead of schedule in February 2024.{{Cite web |title=McDonald's Achieves Goal of Sourcing 100% Cage-Free Eggs in the U.S. |url=https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/mcdonalds-achieves-goal-sourcing-100cagefree-eggs-us.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.mcdonalds.com |language=en}}

In 2012, McDonald's pledged to stop sourcing pork from facilities that use gestation crates in the U.S.{{cite news |author=Strom, Stephanie |date=February 13, 2012 |title=McDonald's Set to Phase Out Suppliers' Use of Sow Crates |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/business/mcdonalds-vows-to-help-end-use-of-sow-crates.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231120129/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/business/mcdonalds-vows-to-help-end-use-of-sow-crates.html |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |access-date=August 4, 2016 |work=The New York Times}} By 2023, they reported that they had achieved 96% of this goal.{{Cite web |title=Animal Health & Welfare |url=https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-purpose-and-impact/food-quality-and-sourcing/animal-health-and-welfare.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.mcdonalds.com |language=en}}

McDonald's has been the subject of animal rights activism. In 2021, Animal Rising blockaded four UK distribution centers using bamboo towers, leading to food shortages at restaurants.{{Cite web |last1=Channon |first1=Max |last2=PA |first2=Helen Williams and John Besley |date=2021-05-22 |title=Ongoing protests cause McDonald's food shortages |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/uk-world-news/mcdonalds-food-shortages-due-ongoing-5445803 |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Hull Live |language=en}} They cited "suffering of animals" in the McDonald's supply chain as a motivating factor.{{Cite web |last=McSweeney |first=Eoin |date=2021-05-22 |title=Animal and climate activists blockade McDonald's distribution centers across England |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/22/uk/animal-rebellion-mcdonalds-gbr-intl-scli |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=CNN |language=en}}

{{See also|2024 McDonald's E. coli outbreak}}

In 1986, McDonald's partnered with Lego, offering different block sets as part of its Happy Meals. McDonald's was alerted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that the small Lego pieces could pose a potential choking hazard for some of its youngest customers. Parents who had purchased McDonald's Happy Meals with a Lego toy for children under 3 years old were asked to return the building blocks to the point of purchase and exchange them for Duplo sets, which contained bigger blocks and were designed specifically for toddlers. Though, no injuries were linked to the Lego sets at the time.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=McDonald's Recalls That Affected Millions |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/mcdonalds-recalls-affected-millions-194000106.html?vm=r |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}

In 2010, McDonald's recalled 12 million of its promotional Shrek-themed drinking glasses due to traces of cadmium in the paint of the glass. The release of these glasses coincided with the release of the Shrek movie "Shrek Forever After".{{Cite news |date=2010-10-07 |title=Feds: "Shrek" Glasses Dangerous with 8 Touches |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/feds-shrek-glasses-dangerous-with-8-touches/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919061444/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/feds-shrek-glasses-dangerous-with-8-touches/ |archive-date=2021-09-19 |access-date=2025-01-17 |work=CBS News}}{{Cite news |last=Neuman |first=William |date=2010-06-04 |title=McDonald's to Recall Glasses, Citing Cadmium |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/business/05recall.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209225450/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/business/05recall.html |archive-date=2024-12-09 |access-date=2025-01-17 |work=New York Times}} The glasses were produced by ARC International, of Millville, New Jersey.{{Cite news |date=4 June 2010 |title=McDonald's Recalls Movie Themed Drinking Glasses Due to Potential Cadmium Risk |url=http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml10/10257.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607024105/http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10257.html |archive-date=7 June 2010 |access-date=5 June 2010 |work=U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission}}

In 2010, McDonald's issued a recall of its packaged apple slices due to listeria contamination. The fruit had been shipped by Missa Bay, a subsidiary of Ready Pac Foods, before listeria monocytogenes was discovered on the facility's production equipment. The suspect apples were distributed in 36 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. The chain's other menu items containing apples at the time were also recalled, including oatmeal and its fruit and walnut snacks. Fortunately, no cases of illness were linked to the apples at McDonald's at the time.

In 2014, McDonald's recalled 1.6 million Hello Kitty themed whistles that were distributed through Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals due to the whistles being a choking hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that two children coughed up pieces of the whistles they inhaled, with one of the two children needing medical attention.{{Cite web |date=2014-11-11 |title=McDonald's recalls Happy Meal toy for choking risk |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-1c81eef1f98e47509c3787b160b1ca56 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=AP News |language=en}}

In 2015 in Japan, McDonald's recalled 1 million Chicken McNuggets from restaurants after a customer complained that they had discovered a piece of plastic in the boneless chicken pieces. Not long after, another customer found vinyl in their McNuggets. The fragment measured 1.5 inches. Each nugget is typically just over 2 inches long, so it is unclear how this contamination was missed. The shard of vinyl was traced back to Cargill, which was responsible for running a chicken processing plant in Saraburi, Thailand. After further investigation, the processing company reported that the plastic fragment didn't come from its facilities.

In 2016, McDonald's recalled 32.6 million fitness tracker toys that were in their Happy Meals for causing blisters and burning the wearers. The issue was popularized by a parent in Arkansas that posted a video on Facebook of her child getting burned by the tracker. The marketing stunt was also criticized for associating fitness and health with unhealthy food and that any benefits from the children using the tracker would be short-lived.{{Cite news |title=McDonald’s Recalls More Than 30 Million Happy Meal Fitness Trackers After Reports of Injuries |url=https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/mcdonalds-recalls-more-than-30-million-happy-meal-fitness-trackers-after-reports-of-injuries/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210420162236/https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/mcdonalds-recalls-more-than-30-million-happy-meal-fitness-trackers-after-reports-of-injuries/ |archive-date=2021-04-20 |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=KTLA |language=en-US}}

In 2018, there was an outbreak of Cyclospora infections McDonald's that traced back to the chain's salads. More than 430 people across at least 15 U.S. states contracted the parasite, with at least 20 individuals requiring hospitalization. The contamination was specifically linked to the romaine lettuce and carrots included in a Fresh Express salad mix used at the restaurants. McDonald's recalled salads from 3,000 restaurants across the United States Midwest and also decided to change its supplier.

In 2019, bottles of Robinsons Fruit Shoots sold at McDonald's in the United Kingdom became got recalled due to faulty packaging. The problem involved the cap specifically on the bottles of the apple and blackcurrant flavored beverages, in which drinking spout could detach and pose a choking hazard. The issue was particularly pressing since Fruit Shoots are marketed directly to kids. Britvic and McDonald's worked to recall the 200-milliliter bottles of the fruit juice after a handful of reports from customers. McDonald's released a statement in which it confirmed that it had pulled the bottles from its restaurants and was instead awaiting new stock.

In 2021, McDonald's Sweet 'N Sour Sauce got recalled in Ireland after it was discovered that the condiment contained mustard. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, like the rest of the European Union, counts mustard as one of the 14 allergens that must be declared if included in a food product. For some, mustard can cause severe reactions, including anaphylaxis. It is unclear how mustard ended up in the 25-milliliter tubs of the product. The condiment was promptly removed from stores, with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland also issuing a warning on it.

In 2022 in New Zealand, a person on social media complained that their Chicken McBites were undercooked. Further investigation showed that the raw chicken was caused by an error involving portion sizing, which threw off the cooking times. With that, it started a recall. They decided to remove Chicken McBites off the menu, in an abundance of caution afterwards.

In 2024, McDonald's supplier of onions, Taylor Farms recalled the onions sold at McDonald's after 104 people in 14 states got sick, 34 hospitalizations, and one death from E. Coli after eating Quarter Pounders in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Walrath-Holdridge |first=Mary |title=E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's onions is over after sickening 104, says CDC and FDA |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/12/03/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-over-104-sick-cdc-fda/76737609007/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} Colorado was the state that had the largest amount of cases and was where the one person died.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-25 |title=McDonald's says supplier Taylor Farms is source of onions linked to E. coli outbreak |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-mcdonalds-e-coli-onions-farms-source-rcna177007 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-23 |title=McDonald's zeroes in on onions as the likely source of deadly E. coli outbreak |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/mcdonalds-zeroes-onions-likely-source-deadly-e-coli-outbreak-rcna176851 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

{{Main|McDonald's legal cases}}

McDonald's has been involved in several lawsuits and other legal cases, most involving trademark disputes. The company has threatened many food businesses with legal action unless it drops the 'Mc' or 'Mac' from trading names.

In April 2017, Irish fast-food chain Supermac's submitted a request to the European Union Property Office to cancel McDonald's owned trademarks within the European Union, claiming that McDonald's engaged in "trademark bullying; registering brand names... which are simply stored away in a war chest to use against future competitors", after the trademarks had prevented Supermac's from expanding out of Ireland. The EUIPO ruled in Supermac's favor, finding that McDonald's "has not proven genuine use" of many trademarks, canceling McDonald's owned trademarks such as "Big Mac" and specific "Mc"-related trademarks within the European Union.{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Louise |date=January 15, 2019 |title='It's like Connacht winning against the All Blacks': Supermac's CEO responds to Big Mac trademark success against McDonald's |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/its-like-connacht-winning-against-the-all-blacks-supermacs-ceo-responds-to-big-mac-trademark-success-against-mcdonalds-37713005.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121340/https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/its-like-connacht-winning-against-the-all-blacks-supermacs-ceo-responds-to-big-mac-trademark-success-against-mcdonalds-37713005.html |archive-date=January 19, 2019 |access-date=January 18, 2019 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=January 15, 2019 |title='End of the McBully' - Supermac's wins trademark case against McDonald's |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2019/0115/1023322-supermacs-mcdonalds-trademark-row/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117204542/https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2019/0115/1023322-supermacs-mcdonalds-trademark-row/ |archive-date=November 17, 2019 |access-date=January 15, 2020 |work=RTÉ}}{{cite news |date=January 15, 2019 |title=EU strips McDonald's of its Big Mac trademark in Europe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mcdonalds-big-mac-trademark-supermacs-eu-europe-ireland-a8728891.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mcdonalds-big-mac-trademark-supermacs-eu-europe-ireland-a8728891.html |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |access-date=January 18, 2019 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

Burger King responded by "trolling" McDonald's by giving their burgers names that included the words "Big Mac" that also mocked the original burger, which included "Like a Big Mac But Juicier", "Like a Big Mac, But Actually Big" and "Big Mac-ish But Flame-Grilled of Course."{{cite news |title='Like a Big Mac But Juicier': Burger King renames sandwiches to troll McDonald's |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/31/like-a-big-mac-but-juicier-burger-king-renames-sandwiches-to-troll-mcdonalds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203223533/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/31/like-a-big-mac-but-juicier-burger-king-renames-sandwiches-to-troll-mcdonalds |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2019 |work=The Guardian}}

In 2023, the EUIPO Board of Appeal partially annulled their decision after McDonald's filed 700 pages of additional evidence despite objections.{{Cite web |title=McDonald's finally proves BIG MAC use, but what can brands learn from this long-running saga? |url=https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/mcdonalds-finally-proves-big-mac-use-what-can-brands-learn-long-running-saga |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201023510/https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/mcdonalds-finally-proves-big-mac-use-what-can-brands-learn-long-running-saga |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=www.worldtrademarkreview.com}} However, on further appeal to the European Court of Justice, the court ruled in 2024 that McDonald's had failed to prove the use of the Big Mac trademark in relation to chicken products or services associated with operating restaurants, meaning Supermac's and other businesses are now free to use the "Mac" in their business names and in names for poultry products in Europe. McDonald's retains the Big Mac trademark solely for its beef burgers.{{cite news |last1=Power |first1=Jack |date=5 June 2024 |title=EU court rules in favor of Supermac's in 'Big Mac' trademark row with McDonald's |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/06/05/eu-court-rules-in-favour-of-supermacs-in-trademark-row-with-mcdonalds/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}{{cite news |last1=Connelly |first1=Tony |date=5 June 2024 |title=Supermac's wins Big Mac trademark case with McDonald's |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/0605/1453086-supermacs-mcdonalds-trade-mark-case/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=RTÉ News |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Hosford |first1=Paul |date=5 June 2024 |title=EU court rules in favour of Supermac's in trademark dispute with McDonald's over 'Big Mac' |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41409767.html |access-date=5 June 2024 |work=Irish Examiner |language=en}}

The McDonald's group has had proceedings taken against it by the French Tax Authorities, with possible charges of criminal tax fraud. In July 2022, the group reached an agreement with the French judicial authorities to end criminal proceedings for tax fraud.{{Cite web |title=McDonald's—Will the Growing Cooperation Between France's Tax and Prosecution Authorities Erode Taxpayers' Rights? |url=https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/mcdonalds-will-the-growing-cooperation-between-frances-tax-and-prosecution-authorities-erode-taxpayers-rights |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727083208/https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/mcdonalds-will-the-growing-cooperation-between-frances-tax-and-prosecution-authorities-erode-taxpayers-rights |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=news.bloombergtax.com |language=en}}

On September 8, 2009, McDonald's Malaysian operations lost a lawsuit to prevent another restaurant from calling itself McCurry. McDonald's lost in an appeal to Malaysia's highest court, the Federal Court.BBC online news article dated September 8, 2009 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8243270.stm News.BB.co.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216063354/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8243270.stm|date=December 16, 2010}} On December 29, 2016, McDonald's Malaysia issued a statement that said only certified halal cakes are allowed inside its restaurants nationwide.{{cite web |last=Balakrishnan |first=Nandini |date=December 30, 2016 |title=Cakes Without The Halal Logo Will Not Be Allowed In McD's |url=https://says.com/my/news/only-halal-cakes-allowed-in-mcdonald-s-malaysia-restaurants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010125151/https://says.com/my/news/only-halal-cakes-allowed-in-mcdonald-s-malaysia-restaurants |archive-date=October 10, 2021 |access-date=January 26, 2021 |website=SAYS}}

In April 2007, in Perth, Western Australia, McDonald's pleaded guilty to five charges relating to the employment of children under 15 in one of its outlets and was fined A$8,000.{{cite news |date=April 12, 2007 |title=McDonald's fined for employing underage workers |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1895071.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418214623/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1895071.htm |archive-date=April 18, 2007 |access-date=April 12, 2007 |publisher=ABC News}}

McDonald's workers said they were facing sexual abuse and harassment, a year after there boss promised to clean up behavior at the fast-food chain. One 19-year-old worker, Matt, told the BBC some of his colleagues were scared of going into work, and that managers would "touch up" other members of staff. Since the BBC's original investigation into the company, the UK equality watchdog has heard 300 reported incidents of harassment.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-07 |title=McDonald’s faces new abuse claims despite promises of change |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75ngl49695o |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

The longest-running legal action of all time in the UK was the McLibel case against two defendants who criticized several aspects of the company. The trial lasted ten years and called 130 witnesses. The European Court of Human Rights deemed that the unequal resources of the litigants breached the defendants' rights to freedom of speech and biased the trial. The result was widely seen as a "PR disaster" for McDonald's.{{cite news |date=February 15, 2005 |title=McLibel: Longest case in English history |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4266741.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825203829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4266741.stm |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |work=BBC News}}

In 2021, it emerged that at least 50 employees had filed charges against the chains regarding harassment in the workplace in five years, leading to the company instituting anti-harassment training. Some of the complainants also stated that they were verbally and physically harassed in retaliation for their complaints.{{Cite news |last=Media |first=P. A. |date=February 8, 2023 |title=McDonald's signs legal pledge amid UK sexual harassment concerns |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/08/mcdonalds-signs-legal-pledge-amid-uk-sexual-harassment-concerns |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204142310/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/08/mcdonalds-signs-legal-pledge-amid-uk-sexual-harassment-concerns |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=February 8, 2023 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In 2023, the BBC conducted an investigation, and reported that more than 100 current and recent UK workers at outlets of the fast-food chain allege there is a continuing toxic culture of sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying.{{cite news |date=July 18, 2023 |title=McDonald's workers speak out over sexual abuse claims |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65388445 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718102941/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65388445 |archive-date=July 18, 2023 |access-date=July 18, 2023 |publisher=BBC}}

In January 2025, it was reported that over 700 young workers had filed lawsuits against McDonald's UK, alleging widespread harassment and discrimination. The claims, handled by the law firm Leigh Day, involved current and former employees under the age of 20 and spanned more than 450 restaurants. Following a BBC investigation in July 2023, testimonies highlighted issues such as racism, homophobia, ableism, and harassment. McDonald's UK, dismissed 29 workers for sexual harassment in 2023 and established a specialist unit to investigate such allegations. However, unions argued that these measures did not resolve the issues. Employees shared accounts of inappropriate behavior, including homophobic remarks, sexual advances, and unwanted physical contact from managers. Similar allegations had been raised in 2019, with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union reporting over 1,000 cases of harassment involving female employees.{{cite news |date=7 January 2025 |title=Hundreds of young workers sue McDonald's UK alleging harassment |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250107-hundreds-of-young-workers-sue-mcdonald-s-uk-alleging-harassment |access-date=9 January 2025 |website=France24}} In March 2025, the Equality and Human Rights Commission wrote to all 1,400 McDonald's branches telling them they must comply with their legal duties, or risk enforcement action.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=McDonald's: Every branch in Britain warned over staff sexual abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c337m3v3mgzo |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

The 1994 court case Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants examined a McDonald's practice of serving coffee so hot that when spilled, it caused third degree burns requiring weeks of hospitalization and skin grafting surgery.{{cite web |last=Goodman |first=Amy |author1-link=Amy Goodman |date=January 25, 2011 |title=Do You Know the Full Story Behind the Infamous McDonald's Coffee Case and How Corporations Used it to Promote Tort Reform? |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2011/1/25/do_you_know_the_full_story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817091613/http://www.democracynow.org/2011/1/25/do_you_know_the_full_story |archive-date=August 17, 2013 |access-date=August 17, 2013 |website=Democracy Now! |language=en}} The trial outcome was an award of $2.86 million (equivalent to ${{inflation|US-GDP|2.86|1994|r=2|fmt=c}} million in {{inflation/year|US-GDP}}) for the plaintiff, 81-year old Stella Liebeck. The amount was later reduced to $640,000 (equivalent to ${{inflation|US-GDP|.64|1994|r=1|fmt=c}} million in {{inflation/year|US-GDP}}). In 2019, a McDonald's employee, Jenna Ries, sued the restaurant chain over allowing sexual harassment in the workplace and described the working environment as "toxic".{{Cite news |date=November 13, 2019 |title=McDonald's workers sue over sexual harassment, 'toxic' work culture |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonald-s-corp-lawsuit-idUSKBN1XM1VT |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113003621/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mcdonald-s-corp-lawsuit-idUSKBN1XM1VT |archive-date=November 13, 2019 |access-date=November 13, 2019 |work=Reuters |language=en}}

In 2023, an investigation by the United States Department of Labor found child labor violations at McDonald's franchises in the state of Kentucky, which involved over 300 children, two of them 10-year-olds. A total of $212,000 was levied against three franchises for the violations.{{Cite news |date=May 3, 2023 |title=McDonald's franchises fined for child labor violations in Labor Department crackdown |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mcdonalds-franchises-fined-for-child-labor-violations-in-labor-department-crackdown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803123935/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mcdonalds-franchises-fined-for-child-labor-violations-in-labor-department-crackdown |archive-date=August 3, 2023 |access-date=July 30, 2023 |work=PBS}} Further investigations uncovered child labor violations involving 83 minors at 16 different locations in Louisiana and Texas, with imposed fines amounting to $77,572.{{cite news |last=Marnin |first=Julia |date=July 26, 2023 |title=Child labor violations involving 388 minors at McDonald's uncovered since May, feds say |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article277669018.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204142423/https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article277669018.html |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=July 30, 2023 |work=Tri-City Herald |location=}}

{{Main|McDonald's advertising}}

McDonald's has maintained an extensive advertising campaign for decades. In addition to the usual media (television, radio, and newspaper), the company makes significant use of billboards and signage. Also, it sponsors sporting events ranging from Little League to the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.[https://archive.today/20141024172458/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/southafrica2010/news/newsid=104427/index.html "McDonald's renews as FIFA World Cup Sponsor until 2014"]. FIFA. Retrieved October 24, 2014 Television has been central to the company's advertising strategy.{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Andrew F.|title=Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat, Volume 1|date=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=175}} To date, McDonald's has used 23 different slogans in United States advertising, as well as a few other slogans for select countries and regions.{{cite web|title=McDonald's slogans used around the world, past and present|url=http://www.irintech.com/x1/co/3264/McDonald%92s-slogans-used-around-the-world,-past-and-present|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126124153/http://www.irintech.com/x1/co/3264/McDonald%92s-slogans-used-around-the-world,-past-and-present|archive-date=January 26, 2013|access-date=June 23, 2015}}

{{Main|Ronald McDonald|McDonaldland}}McDonald's uses playgrounds, games, and toys to make children want to go to McDonald's.{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Karin |date=2018-02-27 |title=How McDonald’s keeps kids hooked on Happy Meals |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/02/27/how-mcdonalds-keeps-kids-hooked-on-happy-meals/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}

In 1992, basketball player Michael Jordan became the first celebrity to have a McDonald's value meal named after him. The "McJordan", a Quarter Pounder with pickles, raw onion slices, bacon, and barbecue sauce, was available at Chicago franchises.{{cite web |title=Remembering Michael Jordan's Landmark McDonald's Deal |url=https://popculture.com/sports/news/remembering-michael-jordans-landmark-mcdonalds-deal/ |access-date=November 12, 2020 |website=Sports |date=September 10, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112193453/https://popculture.com/sports/news/remembering-michael-jordans-landmark-mcdonalds-deal/ |url-status=live }}

In March 2014, a unique "Sprite 6 Mix by LeBron James" flavor of Sprite featuring the flavors of lemon-lime, orange, and cherry debuted just before the NBA playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-releases/sprite-and-lebron-james-create-new-limited-edition-flavor|title=Sprite and LeBron James Create Limited-Edition Flavor | Press Release|website=www.coca-colacompany.com|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131074257/https://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-releases/sprite-and-lebron-james-create-new-limited-edition-flavor|url-status=live}} James' endorsement of Sprite has also included the seasonal "cranberry" and "winter-spiced cranberry" editions of the beverage. James' deal with Coca-Cola and Sprite ended in 2020, with a new partnership with Pepsi and Mountain Dew launching in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-leaving-coke-after-almost-18-years-to-sign-endorsement-deal-with-pepsi-per-reports/|title=LeBron James leaving Coke after almost 18 years to sign endorsement deal with Pepsi, per reports|website=CBS Sports|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116185507/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-leaving-coke-after-almost-18-years-to-sign-endorsement-deal-with-pepsi-per-reports/amp/|url-status=live}}

In January 2025, WNBA player Angel Reese became the first woman to partner with McDonald's, creating the Angel Reese Special.{{Cite web |title=First female athlete named to meal |url=https://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/community/2025/02/first-female-athlete-named-to-meal/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=weirtondailytimes.com |language=en-US}} The meal consists of a Quarter Pounder with cheese, bacon, a new barbecue sauce, medium fries, and a medium orange Hi-C or any choice of drink.{{Cite web |last=Symons |first=Gary |date=2025-02-07 |title=Angel Reese and McDonald's Launch Sporty Quarter-Pounder Partnership |url=https://www.thelicensingletter.com/angel-reese-and-mcdonalds-launch-meal-partnership/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=The Licensing Letter |language=en-US}} Ordering it as a double Quarter Pounder was promoted in reference to Reese's consistent double-doubles during games.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qCYyeRX2_c |title=The Angel Reese Special |date=2025-02-09 |last=McDonald's |access-date=2025-02-23 |via=YouTube}}

In September 2020, McDonald's partnered with rapper Travis Scott to release the "Travis Scott Meal", a Quarter Pounder with cheese, bacon, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, and mustard; medium fries with barbecue sauce; and a Sprite, nationwide. Scott designed new uniforms for McDonald's employees and released Cactus Jack merchandise using vintage visuals from the fast food chain's history.{{cite web |last=Ju |first=Shirley |date=September 9, 2020 |title=Travis Scott McDonald's Deal Marks First Celebrity Meal Since Michael Jordan in 1992 |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/travis-scott-mcdonalds-meal-michael-jordan-1234763132/ |access-date=November 12, 2020 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=September 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909061356/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/travis-scott-mcdonalds-meal-michael-jordan-1234763132/ |url-status=live }} The company followed up with the "J Balvin Meal", a Big Mac with no pickles; fries with ketchup; and an Oreo McFlurry, in a partnership with reggaeton singer J Balvin.{{cite web |last=Saxena |first=Jaya |date=October 6, 2020 |title=McDonald's Partners With J Balvin Following the Huge Success of the Travis Scott Meal |url=https://www.eater.com/21503999/mcdonalds-follows-up-travis-scott-burger-with-j-balvin-meal |access-date=November 12, 2020 |website=Eater |language=en |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120082228/https://www.eater.com/21503999/mcdonalds-follows-up-travis-scott-burger-with-j-balvin-meal |url-status=live }} LeBron James was a spokesman for McDonald's from 2003 to 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30720002/lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers-sign-deal-pepsi-leaving-coca-cola|title=LeBron set to sign deal with Pepsi, sources say|date=January 16, 2021|website=ESPN.com|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125102933/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30720002/lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers-sign-deal-pepsi-leaving-coca-cola|url-status=live}} while co-endorsing Coca-Cola-Sprite since early in his career.{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland19.com/story/1401541/lebron-james-signs-deal-with-sprite|title=LeBron James signs deal with Sprite|website=Cleveland19|date=August 14, 2003|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202125847/https://www.cleveland19.com/story/1401541/lebron-james-signs-deal-with-sprite/|url-status=live}}

In 2021, McDonald's partnered with Korean boy group BTS to release the "BTS Meal" in 50 countries around the world, starting on May 26 in select countries. The meal consists of a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, medium Coke, and for the first time in the United States, two spicy dipping sauces: Sweet Chili and Cajun.{{cite web|last=Shanfeld|first=Ethan|date=April 20, 2021|title=BTS Meal Coming to McDonald's in May|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bts-fries-meal-mcdonalds-1234955071/|access-date=May 25, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019214456/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bts-fries-meal-mcdonalds-1234955071/|url-status=live}}

McDonald's and NASA explored an advertising agreement for a planned mission to the asteroid 449 Hamburga; however, the spacecraft was eventually canceled.{{cite web |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/mars-rover-curiositys-other-mission-publicity-mach/nTTXz/ |title=Mars rover Curiosity's other mission: publicity machine |publisher=Statesman.com |date=December 5, 2012 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115152226/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/mars-rover-curiositys-other-mission-publicity-mach/nTTXz/ |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

{{multiple image

|align=right

|image1=Jamie mcmurray (29615253173).jpg

|caption1=The McDonald's-sponsored car of Jamie McMurray in 2016

|image2=Bubba Wallace (Image 35 of 47) (cropped).jpg

|caption2=Bubba Wallace in a McDonald's-sponsored racing suit in 2022

|total_width = 400

}}

McDonald's entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 1977, sponsoring Richard Childress for one race. Between the years 1977 and 1986, McDonald's would only sponsor a handful of races in a season. In 1993, McDonald's became the full-time sponsor for the No. 27 Junior Johnson & Associates Ford, driven by Hut Stricklin.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/daytona-500-champ-gets-mcdonalds-sponsorship|title=Daytona 500 champ gets McDonald's sponsorship|publisher=Fox News|date=February 25, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001090717/https://www.foxnews.com/sports/daytona-500-champ-gets-mcdonalds-sponsorship|url-status=live}} In 1994, Stricklin was replaced in the car by Jimmy Spencer, who would go on to win twice that season. The following season McDonald's would move over to the No. 94 Bill Elliott Racing Ford, driven by team-owner Bill Elliott.{{cite news|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/bill-elliott-mcdonald-s-to-reunite/1167328/|title=Bill Elliott, McDonald's to reunite|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=August 25, 2004|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223171424/https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/bill-elliott-mcdonald-s-to-reunite/1167328/|url-status=live}} McDonald's stayed with Elliott until the 2001 season when they moved again, this time to the No. 96 PPI Motorsports Ford, driven by rookie Andy Houston. However, when the team failed to field a car for the entire season, McDonald's became absent from NASCAR until 2004, when it joined Evernham Motorsports as a part-time sponsor for drivers Elliott, Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, A. J. Allmendinger, and Reed Sorenson until 2010.

During the 2010 season, McDonald's would enter its longest partnership with a team at Chip Ganassi Racing, sponsoring the No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Jamie McMurray until his final race in the 2019 Daytona 500.{{cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/01/18/spire-motorsports-jamie-mcmurray-daytona-500/|title=Spire Motorsports partners with CGR to field Daytona 500 car for Jamie McMurray|work=Spire Motorsports|publisher=NASCAR|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=September 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913002836/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/01/18/spire-motorsports-jamie-mcmurray-daytona-500/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/02/19/mcdonalds-kyle-larson-sponsorship-paint-scheme/|title=McDonald's set to race with Kyle Larson, No. 42 team in 2019|work=Chip Ganassi Racing|publisher=NASCAR|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220160130/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/02/19/mcdonalds-kyle-larson-sponsorship-paint-scheme/|url-status=live}} McDonald's moved to CGR's No. 42 of Kyle Larson, whom the company sponsored until his suspension in 2020,{{cite news|last=Long|first=Dustin|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/04/13/mcdonalds-credit-one-bank-terminates-sponsorship-of-kyle-larson-nascar/|title=McDonald's, Credit One Bank, Clover terminate sponsorship of Kyle Larson|publisher=NBC Sports|date=April 13, 2020|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231122009/https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/04/13/mcdonalds-credit-one-bank-terminates-sponsorship-of-kyle-larson-nascar/|url-status=live}} and also had a one-race partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 Chevrolet driven by Bubba Wallace in 2019 and 2020.{{cite press release|url=https://www.mrn.com/2019/02/21/mcdonalds-to-sponsor-bubba-wallace/|title=McDonald's to Sponsor Wallace|work=Richard Petty Motorsports|publisher=Motor Racing Network|date=February 21, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223171811/https://www.mrn.com/2019/02/21/mcdonalds-to-sponsor-bubba-wallace/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.fultonsun.com/news/sports/pro/story/2020/sep/12/wallace-opts-out-no-43-seasons-end/840976/|title=Wallace opts out of the No. 43 at season's end|agency=AP|newspaper=Fulton Sun|date=September 12, 2020|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231123403/https://www.fultonsun.com/news/sports/pro/story/2020/sep/12/wallace-opts-out-no-43-seasons-end/840976/|url-status=live}} McDonald's continued working with the No. 42 under new driver Ross Chastain in 2021 and also joined Wallace's new team 23XI Racing as a "founding partner".{{cite tweet|last=Pockrass|first=Bob|author-link=Bob Pockrass|user=bobpockrass|title=Chip Ganassi Racing will also have sponsorship from McDonalds in 2021. McDonalds is one of the five sponsors announced today by 23XI Racing.|number=1338485794596663299|date=December 14, 2020|access-date=December 16, 2020}}{{cite news|last=Estrada|first=Chris|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/12/14/23xi-racing-major-sponsors-bubba-wallace-2021-nascar-cup-series/|title=23XI Racing reveals 'founding partners' for 2021 season|publisher=NBC Sports|date=December 14, 2020|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214141422/https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/12/14/23xi-racing-major-sponsors-bubba-wallace-2021-nascar-cup-series/|url-status=live}}

McDonald's is the title sponsor of the McDonald's All-American Game, to draw fans, college coaches, and NBA decision-makers.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-31 |title=Everything you need to know about the McDonald's All American boys' game |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/44462534/preview-2025-mcdonalds-all-american-boys-game-schedule-rosters-matchups |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

{{See also|Ronald McDonald House Charities}}

File:Feed the clown.JPG]]

McHappy Day is an annual event at McDonald's, during which a percentage of the day's sales go to charity. It is the signature fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).[https://web.archive.org/web/20100619142321/http://rmhc.org/news-and-events/mchappy-day/ McHappy Day], Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved September 12, 2010.

In 2007, McHappy Day was celebrated in primarily Canada.{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=McDonald's |title=McHappy Day: Serving-up nationwide happiness |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/mchappy-day-serving-up-nationwide-happiness-577923891.html |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=www.newswire.ca |language=en}}

According to the Australian McHappy Day website, McHappy Day raised $20.4 million in 2009. The goal for 2010 was $20.8 million.[http://www.mchappyday.com.au/ McHappy Day] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425170252/http://www.mchappyday.com.au/|date=April 25, 2013}}. Retrieved November 8, 2010.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is a global network of more than 260 Chapters that is made to help families access medical care for their children and family support services in more than 60 countries and regions throughout the world. In 2022, over $182 million were donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities from McDonald's, its franchisees, and its customers.{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2023 |title=Last Year, McDonald’s, Its Franchisees and Customers Donated Over $182 Million to Ronald McDonald House Charities |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/last-mcdonald-franchisees-customers-donated-150000195.html?vm=r |access-date=May 19, 2025 |website=finance.yahoo.com}}

{{See also|McDonald's Monopoly}}

In 1995, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received an anonymous letter postmarked in Dallas, Texas, containing a $1 million winning McDonald's Monopoly game piece. McDonald's officials came to the hospital, accompanied by a representative from the accounting firm Arthur Andersen, who examined the card under a jeweler's eyepiece, handled it with plastic gloves, and verified it as a winner.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/08/us/donor-turns-fast-food-into-big-bucks-for-hospital.html |work=The New York Times |title=Donor Turns Fast Food Into Big Bucks For Hospital |date=December 8, 1995 |access-date=May 24, 2010 |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231121039/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/08/us/donor-turns-fast-food-into-big-bucks-for-hospital.html |url-status=live }}

{{See also|McRefugee}}

McRefugees are home in-secure people in Hong Kong, Japan, and China who can use McDonald's 24-hour restaurants as a temporary hostel.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-34546807|work=BBC News|title=The night time 'McRefugees' of Hong Kong|date=October 27, 2015|access-date=October 10, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108105605/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-34546807|url-status=live}}

McDonald's has many plans to expand, digitize, and reduce carbon emissions in the near future.

McDonald's wants to add 900 McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. by 2027.{{Cite web |last=Knorr-Evans |first=Maite |date=2025-05-15 |title=Good news for McDonald’s customers: The fast food restaurant will add 900 locations in the US by 2027 |url=https://en.as.com/latest_news/good-news-for-mcdonalds-customers-the-fast-food-restaurant-will-add-900-locations-in-the-us-by-2027-n/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=AS USA |language=en-us}} In the world, they want to create more 10,000 in the world{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=James |title=McDonald’s Plans ‘Fastest Period Of Growth In Brand’s History’ With 10,000 New Stores By 2027 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2023/12/06/mcdonalds-plans-fastest-period-of-growth-in-brands-history-with-10000-new-stores-by-2027/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Forbes |language=en}} (totaling 50,000 restaurants globally) by 2027.

McDonald's has committed to eliminating deforestation from its global supply chain by 2030 for beef and four other commodities. The company also has a 2050 net-zero carbon emissions commitment, to bring global carbon emissions down.{{Cite web |last=Makower |first=Joel |date=2024-02-05 |title=The story of McDonald’s 10-year quest for sustainable beef |url=https://trellis.net/article/mcdonalds-sustainable-beef/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Trellis |language=en-US}}

Digitizing the Arches is a new initiative of McDonald's.{{Cite web |title=How McDonald’s is future-proofing its business |url=https://www.nrn.com/restaurant-technology/how-mcdonald-s-is-future-proofing-its-business |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.nrn.com |language=en}} From this, McDonald's announces a partnership with Google to automate restaurants using artificial intelligence, and Google Cloud technology.{{Cite web |last=Corporation |first=McDonald's |title=McDONALD'S ANNOUNCES NEW TARGETS FOR DEVELOPMENT, LOYALTY MEMBERSHIP, AND CLOUD TECHNOLOGY |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-announces-new-targets-for-development-loyalty-membership-and-cloud-technology-302007679.html |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} They also plan to expand the McDonald's loyalty program from 150 million to 250 million 90-day active users by 2027. McDonald's is also planning to expand its digital ordering system to 30% of deliveries originating from their app by 2027.

• Arcos Dorados Holdings
• The Founder, a 2016 biopic of Ray Kroc and the business history of McDonald's
• International availability of McDonald's products
• List of countries with McDonald's restaurants
• List of hamburger restaurants
• List of largest employers
• List of fast food restaurant chains
• MaDonal, a restaurant in Iraq that copies many features of McDonald's
• Maxime, McDuff & McDo, a 2002 documentary film about the unionizing of a McDonald's in Montreal
• McMillions, a 2020 HBO documentary miniseries about the McDonald's Monopoly promotion scam that occurred between 1989 and 2001
• "Sundae Bloody Sundae", a public relations controversy in Portugal
• McDonald's and unions

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• Ashenfelter, Orley, and Štěpán Jurajda. "Minimum Wages, Wages, and Price Pass-Through: The Case of McDonald's Restaurants." Journal of Labor Economics 40.S1 (2022): S179-S201. [https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/718190 abstract]
• Bryman, Alan. "McDonald's as a Disneyized institution: Global implications." American Behavioral Scientist 47.2 (2003): 154–167. [http://www.sagepub.co.in/sage3g/sage-uk.war/dicken6/Sociology%20Online%20readings/ch%209%20-%20bryman.pdf online]
• {{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=International directory of company histories |editor=Derdak, Thomas and Jay P. Pederson |edition=3rd |publisher=St. James Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-55862-512-9 |article=McDonald's |pages=[https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0000unse_r9u7/page/108 108–9] |url=https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0000unse_r9u7/page/108 }}
• Eckhardt, Giana M., and Michael J. Houston. "Cultural paradoxes reflected in brand meaning: McDonald's in Shanghai, China." Journal of International Marketing 10.2 (2002): 68–82 [https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/8683/volumes/v29/NA-29/full online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001180128/https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/8683/volumes/v29/NA-29/full |date=October 1, 2022 }}.
• {{cite news | last=Evans | first=Stephen | title=McDonald's: The journey to health | work=BBC News | date=April 20, 2004 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3641603.stm | access-date=June 30, 2016}}
• {{cite web | last=Horovitz | first=Bruce | title=McDonald's testing seasoned fries | website=USA Today | date=May 8, 2014 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/05/08/mcdonalds-french-fries-fast-food-restaurants/8857099/ | access-date=June 30, 2016}}
• Kincheloe, Joe. "The complex politics of McDonald's and the new childhood: Colonizing kidworld." International Critical Childhood Policy Studies Journal 4.1 (2011): 1–46. [https://journals.sfu.ca/iccps/index.php/childhoods/article/download/39/32 online]
• Kincheloe, Joe L. The sign of the burger: McDonald's and the culture of power (Temple University Press, 2002).
• Kottak, Conrad P. "Rituals at McDonald's." Journal of American culture 1.2 (1978): 370–376 [https://www.academia.edu/download/51066476/j.1542-734x.1978.0102_370.x20161226-23826-1h2nsuc.pdf online]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}.
• Kroc, Ray. Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's, 1977 {{ISBN|0809282593}} a primary source
• Langert, Bob. The battle to do good: Inside McDonald's sustainability journey (2019).
• Livesey, Sharon M. "McDonald's and the Environmental Defense Fund: A case study of a green alliance." Journal of Business Communication (1973) 36.1 (1999): 5–39.
• Love, John F. McDonald's: Behind The Arches (1995). [https://archive.org/details/nf00john online]
• Napoli, Lisa. Ray & Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonald's Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away. 2016. {{ISBN|1101984953}}.
• Ram, Uri. "Glocommodification: How the global consumes the local--McDonald's in Israel." Current Sociology 52.1 (2004): 11–31. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Uri-Ram-2/publication/249680102 online]
• Royle, Tony. Working for McDonald's in Europe: the unequal struggle (Routledge, 2004).
• Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by 2001 {{ISBN|0395977894}}.
• Smith, Andrew F. ed. Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food (2006)
• Tien, Nguyen Hoang. "Customization and Standardization of the Business Strategy of Foreign Enterprises in Vietnam–the McDonald's Case and the Fast Food Sector" International journal of research in marketing management and sales 1.2 (2019): 44–50. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nguyen-Tien-32/publication/338719274 online]
• Vignali, Claudio. "McDonald's: 'Think global, act local'–the marketing mix." British food journal (2001) [https://www.academia.edu/download/52822938/Mc.Donalds.pdf online]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}.
• Watson, James L., ed. Golden Arches East: McDonald's in East Asia (Stanford University Press, 2006) [https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Arches-East-McDonalds-Second/dp/0804749892/ excerpt]

{{Sister project links |auto=yes |collapsible=true |d=Q38076}}

• {{official website|https://www.mcdonalds.com}}
• {{official website|https://corporate.mcdonalds.com|Corporate website}}

{{Finance links

| name = McDonald's

| symbol = MCD

| sec_cik = MCD

| yahoo = MCD

| google = MCD

}}

{{McDonald's}}

{{Navboxes

|list=

{{Dow Jones Industrial Average companies}}

{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}

{{Illinois Corporations}}

{{Food chains in Japan}}

{{Food chains in Poland}}

{{Food chains in South Korea}}

{{Food chains in Brazil}}

{{Food chains in Taiwan}}

{{UK Food}}

}}

{{Portalbar|Food|United States|Companies|Chicago|Illinois}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1940 establishments in California

Category:American companies established in 1955

Category:Companies based in Cook County, Illinois

Category:Companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average

Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange

Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange

Category:Fast-food chains of the United States

Category:Fast-food franchises

Category:Fast-food hamburger restaurants

Category:Multinational food companies

Category:Restaurants established in 1940

Category:Restaurants established in 1955

Category:1955 establishments in Illinois

Category:Real estate companies established in 1955

Category:Food and drink companies based in Chicago