There are many urban legends about McDonald's. This is perhaps because of McDonald's very high profile around the world and perhaps also because McDonald's is a focus of the anti-globalization movement whose more maverick elements regard the corporation as evil.
Table of contents |
2 Unusual ingredients 3 Exception legends 4 No McDonald's Here 5 See also 6 References |
Red and yellow empties seats
McDonald's restaurants tend to have a "red and yellow theme". An urban legend is that the corporation "calculated" that this color combination would entice people to leave the restaurant; thus, making room for new customers. However it should be noted that this is a successful two-colour scheme for many corporations, e.g. Shell Oil and the British Royal Mail. It should also be noted that if such a color scheme had such a repulsing effect on some, it is likely those affected by the colors wouldn't come at all.
One common thread that ties many stories like these together, is the fact that the near death experiences were not reported to the easily accessible mainstream media, police, medical services, or even government-run food or health inspection agencies, such as the FDA. These agencies and services are legally obliged to act on such extreme cases.
McDonald's provides complete ingredient lists for all of its products in each restaurant location, and on each of its regional websites.
Unusual ingredients
Many large companies have been plagued by rumors that they substitute unusual and unethical substances in their products, to save a few cents per serving. McDonald's is not immune to such claims. The following is a list of the most popular rumors about their food. None contain any truth, all are just mere flings of jealousy and of the overcreative minds of customers.Hamburgers
Worm meat
Kangaroo meat
PRESUMED ORIGIN: Kangaroos are regularly killed en-mass in Australia, they are considered a pest, and their carcasses are essentially useless. Anyone to find a purpose for their meat could easily profit.
McFlurry rumor
One rumor circulating on the Internet claimed that a girl suffered a near death experience after eating a McFlurry. the rumor claimed that the girl was highly-allergic to bird feathers. The family traced back the origins of all the food the girl had recently eaten. On phoning McDonald's head office, they were told what was in the dessert.Exception legends
It is sometimes claimed a particular location is the only place where a McDonald's has closed down, due to lack of business. This claim has been made for several occasions. In fact it is not very rare for particular branches of the franchised chain to close, particularly after McDonald's poor financial performance in 2002.No McDonald's Here
In 2002 British Foreign Office Minister Denis MacShane claimed that Sarajevo, Bosnia and Pyongyang, North Korea are the only two world capitals lacking a McDonald's. In fact McDonald's operates in just 119 countries, and now does have a branch in Sarajevo.See also
References