FSSAI slaps notice on McDonalds for disparaging advertisements

Fastfood chain McDonalds has been slapped with a show-cause notice by the FSSAI for disparaging freshly cooked food and vegetables in its advertisements to promote fast food.

The food regulator issued a notice on Hard Castle and Connaught Plaza Restaurant Ltd – the franchise that operates McDonalds fast-food chain in India, seeking a response on why action should not be initiated against them, a statement by the regulator said.

The fastfood giant had over the last weekend carried full-page newspaper advertisements with a caption “Stuck with Ghiya-Tori Again? Make the 1+1 Combo you love”, seeking to get traffic at its outlets by allegedly disparaging home-cooked food and healthy vegetables.

“FSSAI has noted with concern incidence of irresponsible advertising by some food companies to promote sales of their own foods often considered unhealthy as substitute for healthy foods,” Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said.

(With inputs from agencies)