Charles Cobb Jr.
27 August 2002
Washington, DC — Stung by sharp attacks on its new "McAfrika" sandwich, McDonald's of Norway has agreed to print and distribute information about the famine in Southern Africa.
The fast food chain will also allow aid groups to put collection boxes inside restaurants where McAfrikas are sold and to promote their relief campaigns with tray liners and posters.
"We are very happy with the agreement we have reached with McDonald's," said Tarje Wanvik of the group Norwegian Church Aid. His and other aid groups met with McDonald's at the end of last week.
Earlier in the week, McDonald's announcement of its new sandwich of beef, tomato salad and cheese that it said was drawn from an "authentic" African recipe had sparked immediate protest. "It's inappropriate and distasteful to launch a hamburger called McAfrika when large portions of southern Africa are on the verge of starvation," another Norwegian Church Aid spokesman told the newspaper Aftenposten.
Protestors passed out "catastrophe crackers" outside of McDonald's restaurants. A company spokesperson told Aftenposten they were sorry their product had offended. "We acknowledge that we have chosen an unfortunate time to launch this new product," said Margaret Brusletto.
Brusletto reportedly said that McDonald's would consider a request to share sales proceeds with aid agencies, but last week's meeting produced no such deal.
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