McDonald's
Quality Story

Our strict standard is what takes to make our burgers taste even better! Fresh ingredients raised with care and effort of everyone make up a delicious McDonald’s burger.

100% beef patties originated from the clean regions of Australia, free of preservative & additive: McDonald’s beef patties are made of 100% beef, originated from the clean nature of Australia, completely free of any preservative or additive.; We manage the whole procedure from production to distribution through 'beef traceability number'and are fully committed to using only the best quality beef to meet our food safety standard.

Beef traceability number: A number that provides detailed information of beef products (butchery of export country, processing location, export supplier and slaughterhouse, kill date, date of import) at the imported beef supply history management website

Chicken patties made with safe and fresh ingredients that are carefully selected: McDonald’s chicken patties do not use any antibiotics or preservatives listed in the HPCIA (High Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials) of WHO and use safe ingredients certified by the government.; Also, our chicken patties are produced in butcheries that strictly comply with McDonald’s Animal Health & Welfare Standards and HACCP & FSSC22000 certified facilities.; McSpicy Shanghai burger patties are made from locally-sourced whole chicken breast.

HPCIA (High Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials) : Antibiotics that are prescribed for human use only. When used in animals, it may have impact to people who have eaten them.

Freshly baked buns delivered everyday: McDonald’s buns are high-quality products that are produced at a GFSI*-certified plant with 60 years of expertise.; We only use freshly-baked buns made everyday in local plants according to daily demand projection. The buns are kept fresh until they are delivered to each restaurant by using a dedicated truck that protects the products from contaminants.

GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative): International food safety association established to provide consistent improvement of the food safety management system for securing safe food supply to consumers.

The burger buns used at McDonald’s are manufactured in a GFSI-authorized factory that has been certified with the food safety management system (FSSC-22000).

Fresh lettuce supplied by a manufacturer that is certified in global produce quality management: McDonald’s strictly monitors the farming conditions of lettuce such as clean water for farmlands, rich nutrients of soil and any sign of contaminants near the farm.; Once harvested, the lettuce is thoroughly washed over three times, vacuum-packed for freshness and delivered to the Delivery Center within 2 days from processing.

Global produce quality management certification: A standard regarding the reliability of the agricultural products by controlling hazardous factors under a certain allowable level from production to product packaging. The controlled factors include water, soil, agricultural pesticide, fertilizer, heavy metal and microbe.

In case any unavoidable situation such as natural disasters occurs, the lettuce supplier may change.

100% locally-sourced tomatoes grown with care: McDonald’s tomatoes are grown and harvested from our fertile farmland filled with rich soil. All tomatoes are thoroughly washed more than twice, go through sterilization process and freshly supplied for food safety.

High-Quality 1+ grade local eggs: McDonald’s eggs are treated with the strictest sanitary process including surface cleaning and sterilization process. They are refrigerated at the temperature of 7°C or lower for its best condition until they are finally cooked at our restaurants.

In case any unavoidable situation such as natural disasters occurs, the lettuce supplier may change.

Rich-flavored natural cheese from New Zealand: McDonald’s cheese are made with milk from dairy cattle that graze in the clean grassland of New Zealand, delivering the rich and savory taste of natural cheese.

Fresh onion supplied by HACCP certified facilities: McDonald’s onions go through strict sterilization and washing process in the best hygienic facility and are vacuum-packed to be delivered safe and fresh.

How are the ingredients that have arrived at the restaurants managed?

"From ingredient deilvery to serving, McDonald’s never gets complacent."

Scrupulous ingredient management

Strict ingredient management should continue even at restaurants not just at farms or shipping centers, right? McDonald’s does its best to stick to the manual and keep the ingredients really fresh after being delivered.

Maintaining the right temperature is essential when the ingredients are put into refrigerators/freezers

We secure enough space in the refrigerators or freezers in advance for the delivered ingredients to be put there right away. And then we cover them with temperature regulating blankets and a waterproof cloth to keep the perfect temperature. Trays are also used when we put the ingredients into refrigerators or freezers so that the ingredients will not touch the floor.

Checking the freshness of the ingredients through sampling inspection

After ingredients are delivered, we unbox some refrigerated/frozen ingredients for sampling inspection. Items are returned if issues are found.

McDonald’s uses products in the order of arrival and maintains the perfect refrigerating /freezing temperature.

Have you heard of "First-in, First-out?" McDonald’s keeps and manages the ingredients in order of arrival to stick to the "First-in, First-out method." McDonald’s always keeps optimal space between ingredient boxes to maintain the right temperature.
Cooking environment management

Food safety check starts from preparation before cooking begins.

Checking the temperature of the cooked product every day before the first product is served

Everyday, we check the patty temperature to see the food safety temperature is met before the first menu is provided.

Applying an acid value standard that is more strict than the FDA’s

McDonald’s measures the acid value in oil and changes oil whenever it exceeds the standard. McDonald’s applies 2.5 of acid value, which is stricter than the 3.0 designated by the domestic regulation in regards to food sanitation.

Checking and managing food safety on a daily basis

All McDonald’s restaurants check the food safety agenda and thoroughly manage quality on a daily basis.
Cooking process management

They are also fully committed to safety and sanitation during the cooking process.

Auto Cooking Mode: setting proper temperatures for different patty types

Patties are automatically cooked on an equipment called "grill." When the grill is set to auto cooking mode, patties are automatically cooked according to the perfect time. When the cooking time passes, the upper plate of the grill automatically ascends and the cooking is done.

Using different sets of disposable gloves to prevent cross food contamination

In order to prevent cross contamination, blue gloves are used for handling uncooked food, white gloves for cooked food or cooking utensils. Used gloves are disposed of immediately and new gloves are used.

crew members getting ready to provide clean and safe products.

At the restaurant kitchen, the timer goes off every thirty minutes to remind crew members to wash their hands. So, all employees working in the kitchen wash their hands to their elbows every thirty minutes. Employees always make their best efforts to put on clean uniforms, and keep themselves clean at all times.

Kitchen utensils washed every four hours

To always maintain a clean cooking environment, restaurant employees are asked to wash kitchen utensils every four hours to keep them clean.
Commitments for customer satisfaction

McDonald's never fails to check the smallest things to provide products made with sincerity.

'Made For You', a system designed to begin cooking when order comes in.

At the restaurant kitchen, the timer goes off every thirty minutes to remind crew members to wash their hands. So, all employees working in the kitchen wash their hands to their elbows every thirty minutes. Employees always make their best efforts to put on clean uniforms, and keep themselves clean at all times.

Continuous efforts to carefully listen to and reflect what our customers say

We put more lettuce to satisfy Korea customer preference to full texture, mixed with meat and vegetables.

Ensuring that the counter where our customers order is always clean

To provide pleasant customer experience, McDonald's keeps clean counters and digital kiosks where orders are made.

Keeping the restaurant clean, until the moment customers leave.

Our employees are devoted to keeping tables, trashcans, and even the restrooms clean at all times.