Although it can occasionally be simpler to ignore reports that the hamburgers or chicken nuggets from a fast-food restaurant were prepared in questionably, it’s preferable to be aware of these fast food controversies than to live in blissful ignorance. And we assure you that not every one of these won’t include terrible health code breaches!
John Schnatter’s NFL Remarks – Papa Johns
John Schnatter repeatedly slipped up during public speaking, which led to his dismissal as CEO and subsequent removal from the Papa John’s board of directors. In the beginning of 2018, his remarks that NFL players’ protests during the national anthem against police brutality were harming his pizza chain’s sales sparked a massive uproar.
John Schnatter’s NFL Remarks Papa Johns
Awkward Advertisements – Hardee’s
Back in 2015, Hardee’s experimented with some strange billboard marketing, artfully positioning certain sandwich buns to resemble, well, buns. This marketing approach baffled the majority of clients, but I suppose we’re still spreading the word.
Awkward Advertisements – Hardee’s
E. Coli Outbreak – Jack In The Box
Over 700 E. Coli illnesses were recorded from tainted beef patties at Jack In The Box outlets in California, Nevada, Idaho, and Washington between 1992 and 1993. Tragically, E. coli caused the deaths of four children, and it also caused serious brain damage and other problems in several more.
E. Coli Outbreak Jack In The Box
Accounting Errors – Krispy Kreme
An internal study from Krispy Kreme that was published in 2005 by The New York Times reportedly acknowledged that over $25 million had been lost due to improper accounting.
The SEC concluded in 2009 that the chain’s leadership had exaggerated business profits after conducting an investigation. Though not much was required of the corporation, three executives were punished with a $600,000 fine. Publicly, Krispy Kreme continues to insist that there was no fraud.
Accounting Errors Krispy Kreme
The Fry Oil Fiasco – McDonald’s
A lawsuit against McDonald’s was filed in the early 2000s on behalf of a number of vegetarians, including two Hindu plaintiffs who were prohibited from eating beef according to their religious beliefs.
Fries and hash browns were at the focus of the legal dispute because, despite what McDonald’s said in marketing materials, the vegetable oil used to fry them still contained beef essence. As part of the settlement, the business gave $10 million in donations to Hindu organizations in addition to paying 11 plaintiffs $4,000 each.
The Fry Oil Fiasco McDonald’s
Holding Out On The Fair Food Program – Wendy’s
Consumer advocacy groups and organisations that support farm workers have criticized Wendy’s for refusing to sponsor the Fair Food Program, a movement that aims to provide farmworkers a voice and methods to monitor workplace abuse for those who put food on our tables. One of the few significant fast food restaurants, Wendy’s, hasn’t joined the program since its launch in 2011.
Holding Out On The Fair Food Program Wendy’s
Ripping Off The ‘Big Mac’ – Burger King
Although Burger King today has its own devoted supporters, they formerly found it difficult to compete with McDonald’s. They offered a double-patty burger called the Big King from 1993 to 1996. It had a bun in the middle and looked disturbingly similar to their rival’s Big Mac.
In 2013, they made an attempt to bring the Big King back, but again, it received mixed reviews.
Ripping Off The ‘Big Mac’ Burger King
The Venti Tax Evasion – Starbucks
Starbucks snobbery among Europeans may have been justified. The chain was previously charged with shifting tax royalties to its Dutch headquarters in order to evade paying taxes in the UK and Ireland.
The antitrust watchdog of the European Commission looked into Starbucks, and it was compelled to pay €30 million in back taxes.
The Venti Tax Evasion Starbucks
The Beef Lawsuit – Taco Bell
Beasley Allen, a law company, filed a complaint against Taco Bell alleging that their meat was only 35% beef and the remainder was made up of grains, seasonings, and other fillings. The plaintiffs vehemently refuted the allegations in this petition in court and through promotional videos, and ultimately withdrew their lawsuit in April 2011.
The Beef Lawsuit Taco Bell
Nasty Viral Videos – Domino’s
Two Domino’s employees posted five films in 2009 under the title “Disgusting Domino’s People.” It displayed a worker contaminating food in a variety of ways, such as by placing it in his nostrils and other unmentionable places.
After a few days and millions of views on these recordings, Domino’s fired the employees and pressed charges against them for tainted food.
