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McDonald's(R) USA Gives Moms Unprecedented Access to Learn How Chicken McNuggets(R) Are Made

By: McDonald's |  1 Shares     129 Reads

Real Moms go from farm to restaurant during exclusive supplier visit

ATLANTA, June 12 // PRNewswire // -- Recently, the Moms' Quality Correspondents became the first customers to tour a McDonald's U.S. poultry facility for Chicken McNuggets and other premium chicken menu items. The tour took place at Keystone Foods, which has been a McDonald's supplier partner since 1969 and helped develop the first Chicken McNugget in the early 1980's. The Moms were granted unprecedented access to learn how their families' favorite chicken menu items are made, including Chicken McNuggets and the new Southern Style Chicken Biscuit and Sandwich.

"My kids are big fans of Chicken McNuggets," said Monica Fuentes, Moms' Quality Correspondent and mother of three children ages eight, five and three. "Before the tour, I had been told that McDonald's Chicken McNuggets are made with all white meat but I wanted to learn more about the entire production process to feel better about the food I'm feeding my family."

Throughout the tour, the Moms met with McDonald's Supply Chain and Quality Assurance teams, as well as experts from Keystone Foods who support the fully integrated process from farm to fork.

"We were thrilled to host the Moms at one of our poultry facilities," said Keith Lewis, senior vice president of Keystone Food's poultry division. "The Moms saw how we work hand-in-hand with McDonald's Quality Assurance team to ensure that high-quality chicken menu items like Chicken McNuggets are delivered to their local McDonald's restaurants every day."

Beginning their tour at Keystone's hatchery, the Moms learned about food quality and safety protocols, including incubation operations and traceability -- the process used to trace chicken menu items in restaurants all the way back to the egg. They also learned about McDonald's stringent animal welfare practices in place to ensure safe handling of the birds. The Moms then visited a broiler farm to witness how the chickens are cared for, fed and nurtured until fully grown. Keystone Foods representatives also discussed with the Moms the bio-security measures that are taken to ensure McDonald's strict food safety standards are met.

On the second day of the tour, the Moms visited the food production facility where they saw first-hand how the meat used to make Chicken McNuggets is carved from boneless, white meat chicken breasts. The same white meat is used in all McDonald's premium chicken menu items including Premium Chicken Salads and Sandwiches as well as Snack Wraps(R).

To ensure consistent quality, all McDonald's chicken products undergo continuous sensory testing -- a comprehensive quality monitoring process that ensures McDonald's high standards are being achieved throughout the manufacturing process. Chicken McNuggets, for example, are sampled every hour for quality and safety evaluations. New products like Southern Style Chicken are tested every half hour. Each of the Moms had an opportunity to conduct their own sensory testing of the Chicken McNuggets, including the best part of the evaluation -- tasting.

Throughout the tour, representatives from Keystone Foods discussed their compliance to McDonald's quality expectations, which requires all supply chain partners to agree to a series of yearly, independent third-party audits.

"Seeing is believing," concluded Fuentes. "McDonald's and its supplier partners have the highest standards when it comes to food safety. It was reassuring to see the quality of the meat they use for Chicken McNuggets."

The Moms who participated in the trip will post videos, photos and journal entries chronicling their experience on http://www.mcdonaldsmoms.com. Consumers can register to join the McDonald's online Quality Community to receive regular updates from the Moms' Quality Correspondents and submit their own questions.

About the McDonald's Moms Quality Correspondents

The Moms' Quality Correspondents (MQC) are a group of everyday moms who go behind-the-scenes to explore the quality and nutritional value of McDonald's menu items, and share what they learn with other moms and interested parties. In 2008 their trips include a McDonald's chicken supplier, a visit to a Ronald McDonald House(R), and a visit to a McDonald's potato supplier to learn about McDonald's World Famous French Fries(R). Earlier this year the MQC met with nutritionists, innovation and operations experts, food quality executives, and restaurant owner operators. For more information about the MQC, visit http://www.mcdonaldsmoms.com.

About McDonald's & Chicken

McDonald's quality chicken offerings come from trusted, dedicated suppliers including Keystone Foods and Tyson. McDonald's works closely with all of its chicken suppliers to ensure stringent food quality and safety standards are followed to deliver high-quality chicken products in our restaurants, everyday.

About McDonald's

McDonald's USA, LLC is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information about McDonald's visit http://www.mcdonalds.com.



(C) 2008 McDonald's
SOURCE McDonald's USA, LLC

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