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McDonald's controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2026

    Federal lawsuit alleges McDonald's AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws

    Lawsuit filed

    A federal lawsuit filed in Illinois on behalf of DeKalb resident Michael Thomas alleges that McDonald's AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws by drawing on nonpublic data, such as store-level sales, from franchisees that may compete in the same market, and it blames the pricing system for raising McDonald's U.S. prices. The suit seeks class certification, damages, and an order preventing McDonald's from enforcing agreements that restrict competition. McDonald's said the lawsuit is "filled with inaccuracies" and that it would vigorously defend itself, stating that AI does not set menu prices at its restaurants.

    A federal lawsuit filed Friday (Oct. 2, 2026) in Illinois on behalf of DeKalb resident Michael Thomas alleges that McDonald's AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws by drawing on nonpublic data, such as store-level sales, from franchisees that may compete in the same market, and it blames the pricing system for raising McDonald's U.S. prices. The suit seeks class certification, damages, and an order preventing McDonald's from enforcing agreements that restrict competition. McDonald's said Tuesday that the lawsuit is "filled with inaccuracies" and that it would vigorously defend itself, stating that AI does not set menu prices at its restaurants.

    Stated objective. To certify the case as a class action, require McDonald's to pay damages to the class, and prevent McDonald's from enforcing agreements that restrict competition.

    Company response

    • Denial — McDonald's

      McDonald’s said Tuesday that the lawsuit is “filled with inaccuracies” and it would vigorously defend itself.

    Source excerpt

    • The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Illinois, said McDonald’s pricing tool uses artificial intelligence to collect data that competing franchises wouldn’t normally share, like store-level sales.
    • McDonald’s is facing a federal lawsuit that alleges its AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws because it shares nonpublic data with franchisees who might be competing in the same market.
    • The lawsuit asks the judge to certify the case as a class action and to require McDonald’s to pay damages to the class. It also seeks to prevent McDonald’s from enforcing agreements that restrict competition.
  2. 2026

    Bengaluru municipal authorities fine Nexus Mall food outlets Rs 85,000 for waste protocol breaches

    Fine or penalty

    Officials under the Bengaluru South City Corporation inspected Nexus Mall in Koramangala, BTM Assembly Constituency, and found multiple eateries failing to segregate wet and dry waste and using banned single-use plastic. Authorities issued notices and collected a cumulative fine of Rs 85,000 from 10 food establishments, including Chaska Bun (Rs 25,000), McDonald's, Burger King, Fish and Chips (Rs 10,000 each), and Popeyes, Good Flippin' Burgers, Wow Wow China, Nagas, KFC and Shiv Sagar (Rs 5,000 each).

    Source excerpt

    • Chaska Bun faced the highest individual penalty of Rs 25,000. Prominent global chains including McDonald's, Burger King, and Fish and Chips were each penalized Rs 10,000. Additionally, fines of Rs 5,000 each were imposed on Popeyes, Good Flippin' Burgers, Wow Wow China, Nagas, KFC, and Shiv Sagar.
    • municipal authorities issued formal notices and collected a cumulative fine of Rs 85,000 from 10 prestigious commercial food establishments operating within the mall complex
    • Inspectors found widespread violations, including the failure to segregate organic wet waste from dry refuse at the source and the continued illegal use of banned single-use plastic (SUP) items.
  3. 2026

    US judge rules McDonald's must face McRib lawsuit

    Ruling

    A US judge ruled that McDonald's must face a lawsuit concerning its McRib product. The ruling allows the case to proceed rather than being dismissed at this stage. The available headline does not specify the claims made in the lawsuit, the parties involved, or the exact date of the ruling. It also does not indicate any outcome or finding on the merits of the case. The event is recorded as a legal development involving McDonald's and its McRib product, with the judge's decision permitting the litigation to continue.

    Company response

    • Denial — McDonald's

      It maintains the technology doesn't store any identifying voiceprint or feature or try to compare a current orderer to a previous customer.
    • Clarification — McDonald's

      In a statement to DailyMail.com, McDonald’s said Carpenter's suit 'demonstrates a misrepresentation of the technology and its purpose.'

    Source excerpt

    • McDonald's must face lawsuit over McRib, US judge rules
    • This technology was specifically developed and deployed in a way that does not identify any customers,' the company said, adding that it intends to defend against the allegations in court.
    • Carpenter, whose lawsuit was moved to federal court this month, is seeking class status, meaning that if McDonald’s is found guilty, it will have to pay out to everyone who has ever used the AI drive-thrus.
  4. 2024

    United States E. coli outbreak

    Several United States states reported an E. coli outbreak associated with Quarter Pounder products. McDonald's removed affected ingredients and products while public-health and supply-chain investigations proceeded. The incident generated food-safety scrutiny and disrupted sales in affected markets.

  5. 2021

    McDonald's discloses data breach

    Issue disclosure

    McDonald's disclosed a data breach after an investigation found that a small number of files had been accessed in South Korea and Taiwan, some of which contained personal data. The Wall Street Journal separately reported that the breach also affected U.S. operations, where accessed data reportedly included restaurant information but not sensitive or personal customer or employee data. McDonald's stated that payment information was not accessed.

    McDonald’s said an investigation found that a small number of files had been accessed, some containing personal data, in South Korea and Taiwan. The Wall Street Journal separately reported that the breach also affected U.S. operations, where accessed data reportedly included restaurant information but not sensitive or personal customer or employee data. McDonald’s said payment information was not accessed.

    Company response

    • Investigation — McDonald’s

      A thorough investigation was conducted, and we worked with experienced third parties to support this investigation.
    • Ongoing disclosure — McDonald’s

      McDonald’s is contacting affected customers and regulators in the two areas
    • Investigation — McDonald's

      a thorough investigation was done
    • Remediation — McDonald's

    Source excerpt

    • McDonald's has become the latest target for cybercriminals as ransomware and cyberattacks continue to wreak havoc on some of the United States' largest corporations.
    • The company said no customer data was breached in the U.S., and that the employee data exposed wasn't sensitive or personal.
    • McDonald's revealed cybercriminals obtained physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for its food delivery customers located in Taiwan and South Korea.
  6. 2021

    McDonald’s settles Herb Washington lawsuit

    Settlement

    McDonald’s settled a lawsuit by franchisee Herb Washington, who had accused the company of racial discrimination, by purchasing his 13 restaurants for $33.5 million. The article says the court did not find that McDonald’s violated any laws.

    Source excerpt

    • According to McDonald’s, the court did not find that it violated any laws.
    • McDonald’s has settled a lawsuit by a Black franchisee and former Oakland Athletics player Herb Washington, who had accused the company of racial discrimination, by purchasing the latter’s 13 restaurants for $33.5 million.
    • McDonald’s has settled a lawsuit filed earlier this year by Herb Washington, a Black franchisee who had claimed racial discrimination, by agreeing to pay $33.5 million for the former baseball pro’s restaurants.
  7. 2021

    McDonald’s settles lawsuit with former CEO Steve Easterbrook

    Settlement

    McDonald’s said it reached a settlement with former CEO Steve Easterbrook in a lawsuit alleging that he covered up and lied about relationships with employees. Easterbrook returned equity awards and cash worth more than US$105 million as part of the settlement.

    Source excerpt

    • As part of the settlement, Easterbrook has returned equity awards and cash worth over US$105 million (RM442 million) that he received as a severance package in 2019, McDonald’s said in a statement.
    • NEW YORK, Dec 16 — McDonald’s Corp said today it had reached a settlement with former chief Steve Easterbrook, resolving a lawsuit in which the burger chain had claimed that he covered up and lied about his sexual relationships with employees.
    • McDonald's announced Thursday it had reached a settlement with former CEO Steve Easterbrook, retrieving $105 million of his severance package
  8. 2021

    McDonald’s settles discrimination lawsuit brought by franchise operators

    Settlement

    McDonald’s settled a lawsuit in which Black franchise operators of four Tennessee restaurants had accused the chain of discrimination and alleged preferential treatment for White executives and workers. McDonald’s said the court did not find that it violated any laws; the agreement included McDonald’s buying the four restaurants for $6.5 million.

    Source excerpt

    • The agreement Friday came more than a year after the complaint was filed by brothers James Byrd and Darrell Byrd
    • McDonald’s Corp. settled a lawsuit that had accused the fast-food chain of discrimination by the Black franchise operators of four of its restaurants in Tennessee.
    • The court didn’t find that the company violated any laws, McDonald’s said in a statement.
  9. 2021

    Experts accuse McDonald's of greenwashing over net zero restaurant

    Issue disclosure

    Some experts accused McDonald's of greenwashing in connection with its first net zero restaurant; the source reports the accusation, not a determination that it was substantiated.

    Source excerpt

    • some experts have accused the fast food chain of "greenwashing".
  10. 2021

    Lawsuit against McDonald’s over a cheeseburger advertisement

    Lawsuit filed

    Ksenia Ovchinnikova sued McDonald’s, alleging that its advertisement led her to break her religious fast and violated consumer protection law; she sought 1,000 rubles in compensation for moral damage.

    Source excerpt

    • A woman from Omsk, Russia, is reportedly suing McDonald's over an advert featuring cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets, which she said caused her to break her fast during Lent.
    • Fox News reported that Ovchinnikov accused the fast-food chain of breaking consumer protection law and insulting her religious feelings. She is suing McDonald's for $14 (1,000 rubles) as compensation for sustained moral damage.
    • Ksenia Ovchinnikova has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's after seeing an advertising banner that looked too good to refuse.
  11. 2021

    McDonald’s Vietnam apologizes and removes promotional poster using EXO photo

    Company response

    After using an EXO photo in promotional material for the BTS Meal and drawing criticism from fans, McDonald’s Vietnam apologized and removed the poster.

    Company response

    • Apology — McDonald’s Vietnam

      麥當勞也火速出面回應道歉
    • Remediation — McDonald’s Vietnam

      並立刻下架誤用的宣傳海報

    Source excerpt

    • 照片PO出後,立刻引起兩團的粉絲砲轟,直呼太誇張「這樣都可以搞錯?」隨即,麥當勞也火速出面回應道歉,並立刻下架誤用的宣傳海報。
  12. 2021

    Workers strike at Branford McDonald’s service-plaza location

    Public backlash

    Workers at the Branford I-95 service-plaza McDonald’s went on strike, demanding hazard pay, higher wages, benefits and union rights. The SEIU said the strike also protested alleged union-busting intimidation and reprisals; the stores were run by Michell Enterprises and Goldenhawk.

    Source excerpt

    • The strike was targeting the I-95 service plaza stores run by Michell Enterprises and Goldenhawk, according to a statement by the SEIU.
    • BRANFORD, CT — Under a hazy early morning sun, dozens of fast food workers at the Interstate 95 service plaza McDonald’s went on strike to demand hazard pay, higher wages, benefits and, the Service Employees International Union said, to protest the restaurant’s “union-busting intimidation and reprisals.”
  13. 2021

    Byron Allen sues McDonald’s over alleged advertising bias

    Lawsuit filed

    Media business owner Byron Allen sued McDonald’s for at least $10 billion, alleging that the company failed to advertise sufficiently with Black-owned media outlets and that its advertising-spend allocation reflected racial animus and stereotyping. These are allegations in the lawsuit, not a finding of wrongdoing.

    Source excerpt

    • The suit alleges McDonald's violated federal and state civil rights laws through what the complaint said has been "racial animus and racial stereotyping" in McDonald's advertising spend allocation, including refusing to advertise with Allen's companies.
    • Byron Allen, the plaintiff in the case filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, owns two media companies, including The Weather Channel and lifestyle channel company, Allen's Entertainment Studio Networks.
    • On the same day McDonald's announced the company will accelerate its investment of ad dollars in "diverse-owned" media companies, the company was sued for at least $10 billion by a media business owner who alleges the QSR fails to advertise enough with Black-owned media outlets, Reuters reported.
  14. 2021

    McDonald's workers walk out over pay and workplace concerns

    Public backlash

    McDonald's workers joined walkouts in multiple U.S. cities, demanding at least $15 an hour and protesting what organizers described as the company's failure to protect workers from wage theft, sexual harassment, workplace violence, and dangerous working conditions during the pandemic.

    Stated objective. Workers demanded that McDonald's pay all workers at least $15 an hour.

    Source excerpt

    • Workers demand that McDonald's pay all workers at least $15 an hour as the company deals with a shortage of workers.
    • In Oakland, a walkout happened around 9 a.m. at a Mcdonald's on 2520 E 12th St.
    • Walkouts were planned for multiple McDonald's stores across California Wednesday during which employees planned to underscore what they said is the company's failure to protect them from issues such as wage theft, sexual harassment, workplace violence and a dangerous working environment during the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said.
  15. 2021

    Customer sues over alleged fecal matter on McDonald’s burger wrapper

    Lawsuit filed

    A customer sued the McDonald’s restaurant in Millville, alleging that a burger wrapper was smeared with fecal matter. The lawsuit accused JDKD Enterprises of failing to prepare and serve food safely. Franchise owner John Durante said the restaurant investigated and could not substantiate the claim.

    Company response

    • Investigation — JDKD Enterprises

      We have taken the appropriate steps to investigate this matter and have been unable to substantiate the claim

    Source excerpt

    • The lawsuit accuses JDKD Enterprises of failing to prepare and serve food in a safe manner.
    • "Serving safe, high quality food is always our top priority and we take this claim seriously. We have taken the appropriate steps to investigate this matter and have been unable to substantiate the claim," franchise owner John Durante said in a statement.
    • A woman is suing the McDonald’s in Millville because she was served a burger with a wrapper that was smeared with feces.
  16. 2021

    McDonald’s sued by franchisee alleging racial discrimination

    Lawsuit filed

    Franchisee Herbert Washington filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s in Ohio federal court, alleging that the company racially discriminated against him. McDonald’s said it was reviewing the complaint and attributed Washington’s business challenges to alleged mismanagement and failure to meet company standards; these are the parties’ claims and statements, not a court determination.

    Company response

    • Denial — McDonald’s USA

      “This situation is the result of years of mismanagement by Mr. Washington, whose organization has failed to meet many of our standards on people, operations, guest satisfaction and reinvestment,” the company said in a statement.
    • Denial — McDonald’s

      McDonald’s issued a statement on Tuesday denying Washington’s assertions.

    Source excerpt

    • He filed a lawsuit against the fast-food giant in Ohio federal court on Tuesday.
    • McDonald’s USA said it is still reviewing the complaint, but offered a statement to CNBC that said Washington is facing business challenges and the company has offered him multiple opportunities to address those issues.
    • A Black franchisee is alleging that McDonald’s racially discriminated against him by pigeonholing him into operating low-volume restaurants in Black neighborhoods and forcing him to downsize his store base years later after grading his locations unfairly.
  17. 2020

    Workers strike at Los Angeles McDonald's restaurant over COVID-19 safety and sick leave

    Public backlash

    Workers at a Los Angeles McDonald's restaurant walked off the job for a second day, demanding two weeks of pay while self-quarantining after a coworker tested positive for COVID-19. Workers alleged they lacked protective equipment and cleaning supplies and could not distance themselves. The franchise owner said the restaurant had been shut for sanitization, close contacts were asked to quarantine, and she was committed to paying employees who needed to quarantine.

    Company response

    • Remediation — Nicole Enearu, franchise owner

      McDonald's Corp. issued a statement from the franchise owner Nicole Enearu that said she notified public health authorities and shut down the restaurant to "conduct a thorough sanitization procedure” immediately after being notified an employee had tested positive for COVID-19.
    • Refund or compensation — Nicole Enearu, franchise owner

      Enearu, who along with her mother and sister own 13 McDonald's restaurants, said she has been in contact with the worker and is committed to paying her and other employees who need to quarantine.
    • Remediation — the franchise

      they shut down and sanitized the restaurant after learning of the employee’s positive results.
    • Remediation — the franchise

      The franchise’s owner, Nicole Enearu, however, told the Sun in a statement that they shut down and sanitized the restaurant after learning of the employee’s positive results. She also said the establishment is providing support to the sick worker and will pay her and employees who also need to quarantine.

    Source excerpt

    • Honking their car horns at lunch hour near the drive-through line, employees at the restaurant on Crenshaw Boulevard near 28th Street allege their jobs pose them "imminent danger" because they lack protective masks, gloves and cleaning supplies, and are unable to distance themselves from other workers.
    • McDonald's Corp. issued a statement from the franchise owner Nicole Enearu that said she notified public health authorities and shut down the restaurant to "conduct a thorough sanitization procedure” immediately after being notified an employee had tested positive for COVID-19.
    • The franchise’s owner, Nicole Enearu, however, told the Sun in a statement that they shut down and sanitized the restaurant after learning of the employee’s positive results. She also said the establishment is providing support to the sick worker and will pay her and employees who also need to quarantine.
  18. 2020

    McDonald's closes Hamilton restaurant after reported COVID-19 case

    Safety incident

    McDonald's Canada closed its restaurant at 20 Rymal Road East in Hamilton for thorough cleaning after a worker reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The company said it was contacting Ontario Public Health to confirm the report, and that reopening was conditional on public health direction.

    McDonald’s Canada closed its restaurant at 20 Rymal Road East in Hamilton for thorough cleaning after a worker reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The company said it was contacting Ontario Public Health to confirm the report; reopening was conditional on public health direction.

    Company response

    • Investigation — McDonald’s Canada

      We are in contact with Ontario Public Health to confirm this report.
    • Remediation — McDonald’s Canada

      Corporate Relations told Global News in a statement that the restaurant has hired a third party cleaning company to sanitize the location.

    Source excerpt

    • McDonald’s has closed down one of its restaurants on the Mountain after a worker reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, according to a spokesperson.
    • Out of an abundance of caution, McDonald’s Canada made the decision to immediately shut down the restaurant for a thorough cleaning
  19. 2020

    McDonald's announces diversity initiatives after discrimination criticism

    Company response

    McDonald's announced diversity initiatives following criticism from franchisees, workers and activists. The initiatives included efforts to address hiring bias, broaden supplier participation and recruit more diverse franchisees. The company said it would announce time-bound commitments in the coming weeks and track progress annually.

    Stated objective. The company said the efforts would better represent communities' diversity, dismantle barriers to economic opportunity and encourage inclusion.

    Company response

    • Ongoing disclosure — McDonald's

      McDonald's said it will track its progress annually

    Source excerpt

    • McDonald's is debuting new diversity efforts and safety strategies, following criticism from franchisees, workers, and progressive activists.
    • McDonald's said it will track its progress annually
    • McDonald's said it will announce time-bound commitments to better represent communities' diversity, dismantle "barriers to economic opportunity," and encourage inclusion in the coming weeks.
  20. 2020

    McDonald’s franchisee pays child labor penalty

    Fine or penalty

    In a controversy involving McDonald's, the franchisee Mt. Airy Partners received and paid a $17,586 penalty following an investigation that found child labor violations at a dozen McDonald's locations in North Carolina. The event was reported on July 23, 2020. The penalty was paid by the franchisee after the investigation identified the violations across the twelve locations.

    Source excerpt

    • The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division's investigation into a dozen North Carolina McDonald's locations found the operators violated child labor laws when they hired 35 workers, ages 14 and 15 years old, and allowed them to work outside hours mandated for their age group, according to Fox Business.