5 Times Fast Food Chains Got Stuck in Huge Controversies: McDonald’s, KFC and More

Our favorite fast food chains haven’t always had a smooth agenda. While some have been affected by bacterial outbreaks, others have become targets of unhealthy advertising. Over the years, scandals have affected several major brands, sparking public outrage and legal battles.

For example, KFC filed a lawsuit against another food chain for allegedly using its copyright. Sometimes certain controversies can affect customer behavior. It therefore becomes important to be well informed about the issues addressed.

Here are the 5 big controversies that fast food chains have faced

From misleading advertising to trademark disputes to ethical concerns, here are five controversies that have put fast food chains under scrutiny.

1) McDonald’s

The Golden Arches came under scrutiny after an outbreak of E. Coli has been linked to the sliced onions used in its Quarter Pounders. This led to a CDC investigation and a temporary recall of the burgers, which was ultimately lifted.

The contaminated onions were able to be traced back to their supplier, prompting the fast food chain to turn to a new source. The outbreak has affected customers in several states, including Colorado, Michigan and Oregon. This led to several hospitalizations and the death of a man in Colorado.

2) Burger King

This fast food chain has been attacked for its alleged unhealthy advertising promotion. Burger King released an ad in October 2024 showing a woman eating a hamburger after giving birth. Some criticized the ad for promoting junk food as a mother’s first meal after birth.

While some defended mothers’ right to choose their diet after giving birth, others found the campaign “irresponsible” and “disgusting.” Many noted that the ad’s intended audience responded in a positive and supportive manner, with most of the criticism coming from men.

3) KFC

KFC filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court against Georgia-based Church’s Texas Chicken on November 8, 2024. The latter allegedly infringed on the KFC trademark by using the “original recipe” in its advertising.

According to the complaint, Church’s Texas Chicken used the term in September 2024 with the slogan “Our original recipe is back” in various promotional materials.

KFC argued that this use could confuse consumers and weaken its Original Recipe brand. The fast food chain sent a formal objection to the Church on October 24, 2024.

Metro

This fast food chain was thrust into the spotlight after a customer named Anna Tollison claimed she was cheated. She ordered a Steak & Cheese sandwich through the restaurant’s official app.

After paying $7.61, she found that the sandwich she received was different from what was advertised, with mostly bread and minimal meat. A lawsuit was filed claiming the sandwich contained more than 200 percent less meat than what was shown in the app’s photo.

This was not the chain’s first controversy, as it previously faced criticism over the high sugar content of its bread in 2020 and allegations regarding its tuna products in 2021.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s planned to close 140 underperforming locations by the end of 2024 to refine its restaurant footprint and improve the health of the system. The company aimed to replace them with new points of sale in order to increase its sales and profitability. Poorly performing restaurants with below-average margins became targets for closures.

Despite this, the fast food chain expects new openings in 2024 to balance the closures, keeping net unit growth steady for the year. Wendy’s plans have accelerated growth to 3% to 4% through 2025, with more than 500 new restaurants opening in the past two years.