Westlife Foodworld, McDonald’s largest franchisee in India, revealed that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has confirmed McDonald’s India’s use of 100 percent real cheese. According to Westlife Foodworld, the verification validates McDonald’s assertion of using authentic cheese across all its products without any substitutes or analogues.
Furthermore, McDonald’s outlets in the west and south zones of India have undergone tests by an NABL-accredited lab, affirming the use of 100 percent real cheese, the company stated.
Operating a network of McDonald’s restaurants across West and South India, Westlife Foodworld manages nearly 380 units spread across 62 cities in Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry.
The confirmation follows recent scrutiny faced by Westlife Foodworld after reports emerged of a McDonald’s outlet allegedly using substitutes instead of real cheese in burgers and nuggets in Maharashtra. In response, the state government-initiated inspections, expressing intentions to extend scrutiny to other fast-food chains as well.
Saurabh Kalra, Managing Director of Westlife, reassured the cooperation of McDonald’s with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) inspections. Kalra emphasized McDonald’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in its operations.
Earlier, the FDA had temporarily suspended the license of a McDonald’s outlet in Ahmednagar, resulting in the removal of the term “cheese” from various menu items. However, the suspension was later revoked.
The regulatory body accused McDonald’s of not adequately disclosing the use of cheese analogues, potentially misleading consumers. As corrective action, the state FDA has urged McDonald’s to implement measures not only locally but also nationally to address the concerns raised.