Fraudulent McDonald’s Rumor Circulating Again

A false rumor about McDonald’s once again is circulating via e-mail and the Internet.  The rumor claims McDonald’s refuses to buy U.S. beef, and imports potentially unsafe beef from South America.  The e-mail asks recipients to boycott McDonald’s.  NCBA recently has received a number of inquiries about the e-mail and Web posts.  Several producer inquiries also surfaced during the recent Cattle Industry Annual Convention.

This rumor has been circulating in various forms for at least seven years and makes the claim that the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) originated the e-mail.  This is not true and some time ago TCFA issued the following statement in regard to the rumor:

“Texas Cattle Feeders Association is not connected in any way with the e-mail you received.  The e-mail, which has been in wide circulation in various forms for several years now, makes a false claim when it identifies Texas Cattle Feeders Association as the original source of the message.  No such message has ever been put out by our organization.  Unfortunately, we do not know the identity or motive of the person or persons making this improper use of our name.” 

The e-mail also represents Dr. David Forrest at Texas A&M University as the e-mail originator.  This also is untrue.  Dr. Forrest does not know how his name got associated with the rumor and, in regard to the e-mail, Dr. Forrest has said, “I had nothing to do with composing this e-mail, the information it contains is false, and I do not support any of the actions called for in the e-mail.”

The phone number listed for Dr. Forrest in the e-mail is, indeed, the number for the TAMU animal science department but please do not call the number.  More information about the e-rumor can be found at the following links:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/mcdbeef.asp
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/f/foreignbeef.htm

The genesis of the false e-rumor may have been an announcement by McDonald’s in 2002 that, due to competitive issues, it was going to pilot test imported lean trim product from Australia and New Zealand in about 400 of its U.S. stores.  Most major quick-service chains use imported lean trim because, while there is a surplus of 50% lean trim in the U.S., there is a shortage of 80-90% lean trim.  Imported lean beef is blended with trimmings from U.S. fed cattle to make beef patties for quick-service restaurant chains.

In regard to beef from South America, only Uruguay can export fresh beef to the United States; all other South American beef must be in cooked or canned form due to Foot and Mouth Disease concerns.

The United States has traditionally been the largest customer for beef from Australia, New Zealand, Central America and Uruguay.  Almost all of these imports are in the form of lean trim used either in quick-service hamburgers or case-ready frozen hamburger.

All plants that export beef to the United States are approved by USDA and must maintain the same (equivalent) Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards as U.S. packing plants.  USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service regularly audits these facilities.

Funded by The Beef Checkoff