Overview
- McDonald’s Korea suspended nationwide sales after multiple customers reported biting into hard, stone‑like debris in the Chungju corn cheese croquette burger.
- The chain has announced the burger is permanently discontinued and said it will not return the item even if the source of the debris is found.
- McDonald’s is investigating with Chungju farmers and its raw‑material suppliers but has not confirmed the composition or origin of the foreign material.
- The burger was a major commercial success: it was launched as part of the Taste of Korea series and sold more than one million units while relying on about 25 tonnes of locally grown Chungju corn.
- The company’s internal safety rule requires a suspension after multiple identical complaints, and the case raises reputational and regulatory risks while customers and suppliers await lab results and a supply‑chain explanation.