McDonald’s sales forecast ‘at risk’ after China food scare

McDonald’s said its global sales forecast for this year was at risk after a food scare forced it to temporarily withdraw menu items such as Big Macs and Spicy McWings in China.

Shares of the world’s largest burger chain were down 0.6 per cent US$92.77 premarket on Friday.

McDonald’s said this month that sales in markets, including China and Japan, were experiencing a “significant negative impact” following a local Chinese TV report on July 20 that showed workers at a supplier using expired meat and doctoring food production dates.

Food safety authorities in Hong Kong say they were misled by McDonald’s during its investigation last month into whether rotten meat from a factory in Shanghai was sold to Hongkongers.

McDonald's issued another apology yesterday for its part in the rotten meat scandal, saying a "lack of clarity" had confused people.

But the fast-food giant, accused of knowingly selling potentially tainted food, did not answer when asked if there had been a cover-up and refused to take questions on the debacle.

The company said in July it expected full-year global comparable sales to be “relatively flat” due to increased competition, pricing and other cost pressures.