Howe claims that tests show the fried sticks, ordered from a California McDonald’s outlet on Christmas Eve, contain levels of starch (3.76 percent) above what constitutes mozzarella cheese by the US Food and Drug Administration.
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“Rather than exclusively containing cheese, the sticks contain an admixture of various substances”, Howe argues. By using more starch, McDonald’s reduced the amount of cheese by replacing it with a cheaper ingredient called water. McDonald’s started mozzarella sticks nationally in January within a new “McPick 2” promotion, allowing customers to decide two of the following for $2: a McDouble, a McChicken, small chips, and mozzarella sticks.
A snapshot of the McDonald’s mozzarella cheese stick packaging included in the lawsuit. According to Howe, McDonald’s added the filler to save money on their product.
“Our mozzarella cheese sticks are made with 100% low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese”, the statement said. Howe says he would have kept his $1.27 had he known about the cheese additives.
McDonald’s is getting flack on social media for allegedly serving customers hollow mozzarella sticks, but the fast-food chain could be facing an even bigger problem now that it has been hit with a lawsuit over the authenticity of its cheese. He is seeking claims under California’s unfair competition, false advertising, and consumer protection laws and is also seeking to represent a class of California residents who have purchased the “mozzarella sticks”, along with a nationwide class. Cheese lovers everywhere are… probably not holding their breath.
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McDonald’s said it will fight the allegations. “We intend to defend ourselves vigorously against these allegations”.
