McDonald’s Korea halted nationwide sales of its Chungju corn cheese croquette burger on July 30 after multiple customers reported biting into small stones, according to the global hamburger chain.
McDonald’s Korea Pulls Chungju Corn Burger After Foreign Object Reports
According to McDonald’s Korea, the company stopped selling the Chungju corn cheese croquette burger nationwide as of July 30 at 8 p.m., well ahead of its scheduled Aug. 12 end date. Launched on July 9, the burger featured a deep-fried cheese croquette filled with glutinous corn kernels sourced from Chungju in North Chungcheong province. A company official stated that corporate policy mandates sales suspensions once three or more similar complaints are received regarding a menu item, and confirmed there are no plans to reintroduce the burger.
Impact on the “Taste of Korea” Regional Sourcing Initiative
The pulled item served as the sixth menu entry in the “Taste of Korea” series, a localized marketing initiative launched by McDonald’s in 2021 to highlight regional domestic ingredients and support local farming communities. Despite the abrupt termination, more than one million corn cheese croquette burgers were sold during the campaign’s run, according to company figures reported by The Korea Herald and Asia News Network.
Did you know?
The “Taste of Korea” series was originally created to boost consumption of domestic agricultural products by partnering directly with local farming regions across the country for specialty menu ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Chungju corn cheese croquette burger removed from menus?
Sales of the burger were suspended nationwide on July 30 at 8 p.m., according to McDonald’s Korea.
Why did McDonald’s Korea pull the seasonal burger?
The company acted under internal policy after receiving three or more similar customer complaints regarding small stones found in the food, a company official stated.
Will the corn cheese croquette burger return to stores?
A McDonald’s Korea official confirmed that the company has no plans to bring the burger back.
What are your thoughts on how fast-food chains handle quality control issues with locally sourced ingredients? Subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing updates on retail industry trends, or explore our archive for more coverage on supply chain developments.
Worth a look