McDonald's
Flagged · AvoidThe world's most recognized fast food brand and its largest restaurant chain, structured primarily as a real estate and franchise business that owns the land and buildings, generating enormous profits while keeping the corporation at arm's length from labor conditions in its restaurants.
Last updated June 14, 2026
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Issues span:LaborEnvironmentConsumer
- McDonald's has lobbied against minimum wage increases, including opposing efforts to expand pay floors for service workers. The company's U.S. franchise workers earn wages that fall below a living wage in most markets, even as McDonald's has reported consistent annual profits of several billion dollars.
- An investigation found that McDonald's maintains a corporate intelligence team that monitors employees' social media activity to identify and track labor organizers. In 2021, the Fight for $15 campaign filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board accusing McDonald's of illegally surveilling union organizers.
- A 2023 investigation named McDonald's among the UK's largest packaging polluters, with its cups, wrappers, and containers among the most commonly found litter items. McDonald's has repeatedly missed its own publicly stated sustainability targets for switching to recyclable and compostable packaging.
- McDonald's has declined to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment, the industry standard for improved animal welfare, while competitors including Burger King have signed on. A 2025 investigation found that chickens raised at McDonald's suppliers were bred to grow so quickly that many could not stand or walk under their own weight.
- Studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals have linked McDonald's targeted advertising to children with increased caloric intake and brand loyalty established before age 8. The company is among the largest advertisers targeting children in the U.S., using toys, mascots, and digital platforms to build early brand recognition.
- Over two decades, the number of Black-owned McDonald's franchises dropped by more than 190 operators. In 2021, dozens of Black former franchisees filed lawsuits alleging the company systematically steered them toward lower-revenue locations in predominantly Black neighborhoods while giving white franchisees preferential access to higher-earning stores.
- McDonald's agreed to pay $26 million to settle a California class action lawsuit alleging the company systematically underpaid workers, denied required meal breaks, and engaged in wage theft across franchise locations. The settlement covered tens of thousands of current and former employees.
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Visit →Common Questions
- Is McDonald's ethical?
- McDonald's agreed to pay $26 million to settle a California class action for systematically underpaying workers, denying required meal breaks, and engaging in wage theft across franchise locations. The company has also lobbied against minimum wage increases while reporting consistent annual profits of several billion dollars, and dozens of Black former franchisees filed lawsuits alleging racial discrimination in store assignment.
- Why are people boycotting McDonald's?
- Wage theft, union busting, and children's marketing are the most cited reasons. McDonald's maintains a corporate intelligence team that monitors employees' social media to track labor organizers, and is one of the UK's largest packaging polluters after repeatedly missing its own sustainability targets. It also declined to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment that competitors have signed.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to McDonald's?
- Chipotle commits to responsibly sourced ingredients and better wages. Shake Shack uses antibiotic-free meat and cage-free eggs with better labor practices. Local diners and cafes near you support family-owned businesses that keep money in your community.