Questions answered

There are 4 questions about “Organic products” in the “How do you operate?” topic.

Click on a question to read our answer.

1. How can a company the size of McDonald's genuinely fulfil a commitment to local, organic, free range etc. when the underlying premise of this type of production is that we produce LESS?
McDonald’s apologises for the delay in answering your question. As the site went through some technical updates and changes, some of the questions slipped through. However, everything is functioning better and your question has now been answered – Thank you for you patience. Thank you for your question - it's a good one and definitely proves a constant challenge to McDonald's sourcing team. It is true to say that any farming method that is less intensive will result in a reduction in output over the same period of time. In the case of McDonalds, the company’s aim is to work and collaborate on a long term basis with suppliers and farmers to strike a balance between less intensification, improving animal welfare for commercial farming and using less artificial inputs, while producing sufficient volumes to build a viable and sustainable future. Wherever possible, McDonald’s policy is to source from local suppliers. A good example of this would be the lettuce used by McDonald’s: in general, this doesn't grow well in Scotland, but it does in East Anglia and on the South Coast. On the other hand, Scotland has good grass growing conditions, ideal for producing quality cattle, and is one of the areas from which McDonald’s sources its beef (which all comes from UK and Ireland). Recent developments, as you may already know, include managing to source organic milk for the Happy Meal menu and move to completely free range eggs for the breakfast menu - both initiatives possible at the volumes McDonald's needs only because of close working relationships with local agricultural communities.

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2. Why don't you offer an organic chicken option? We only eat organic chicken - not corn fed, not 'free range' and certainly not battery.
McDonald’s is making every effort to look at commercially-viable volumes of free range chicken, through the Food Animal Initiative which it co-sponsors. At the moment, free-range and organic suppliers are relatively small specialist markets which can’t presently supply the large quantities that McDonald’s UK would require. However, the company’s intent is demonstrated by the fact that all eggs now used by McDonald’s are free range and the milk in milk bottles is 100 percent organic.

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3. I dont like to eat mc donalds,because none of your products are organic.Will you ever use organic products???
McDonald's is reviewing its purchasing and sourcing strategy and is already stocking semi-skimmed organic milk. McDonald's will continue to review its organic sourcing policies in line with the availability of organic products and customer demands.

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4. I am very careful about the types of meat and fish that I eat and, wherever possible, only buy organic produce. Do you have any plans to bring out a fully organic range? I would be happy to eat McDonalds food if you could guarantee locally farmed, fully organic meat, cheese and fish in your burgers. I would also like to see organic drinks available too (such as proper milkshakes made with real, organic milk). Do you have any plans to bring this about in the near future?
McDonald's is reviewing its purchasing and sourcing strategy and is already stocking semi-skimmed organic milk. McDonald's will continue to review its organic sourcing policies in line with the availability of organic products and customer demands.

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