McDonald’s has begun a search for ‘Quality Scouts’: members of the public who will go behind the scenes and report back on how some of its most famous products are made – including the Big Mac and Fries and the Sausage and Egg McMuffin – in response to increased interest from consumers in where the food they buy comes from.
The Quality Scouts will investigate and chronicle the supply chain journey from some of the 17,500 British and Irish farms that supply McDonald’s through to food production and restaurants. They will meet and interview farmers, food suppliers and McDonald’s employees to find out the facts about what’s in their chosen product and how it is made. McDonald’s will then publish the Quality Scouts’ reports on its interactive website whatmakesmcdonalds.co.uk later this year.
Food sources now an important issue to consumers
McDonald’s is opening up its supply chain in response to the high amount of interest and curiosity in its food and products, building on the success of previous behind-the-scenes visits and being more transparent than ever before. According to a recent Populus poll of 2,000 consumers, knowing more about where food comes from is now an important issue for most UK adults. Four out of five people (81 per cent) said it is important that ingredients are traceable to the farm they came from, and over half of adults (53 per cent) consider how food is produced when deciding which products to buy.
McDonald’s has invited farmer, England rugby legend and 2011 Celebrity MasterChef winner, Phil Vickery, to help select the Quality Scouts and take part in behind-the-scenes supply chain visits this summer.
Phil Vickery said: “I know McDonald’s is a big supporter of British and Irish farmers, and I’m looking forward to finding out more about how it sources its menu ingredients and prepares its food. I’ll also be testing my cooking skills in the kitchen and, most importantly, along with the other Quality Scouts I’ll be reporting back on what I’ve learnt, what surprises me, and anything I believe McDonald’s could do better.
“I encourage anyone who’s interested in discovering more about McDonald’s food and is willing to give up a little time this summer to apply to be a Quality Scout. What better way to find out the secrets behind the Big Mac?”
Warren Anderson, Vice President, Supply Chain, commented: “Every day, people ask us questions about our food and our ingredients, so we’re inviting members of the public to see for themselves what’s in some of our most popular products and follow the journey from farm to restaurant.
“We’re extremely proud of our longstanding British supply chain and the quality standards we have in place, but we know there is a lot of curiosity about our food. We’re looking forward to giving the Quality Scouts unique access behind the scenes, letting them uncover the facts, and sharing their reports.”
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Applications are open from today, Friday 10 May, until Sunday 16 June 2013.