In a scenario where between 30% and 40% Of food in the United States ends up wasted, according to the USDA, large fast food chains face increasing pressure to reduce waste and make better use of food.
In the case of McDonald’s, which operates more than 44,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries, the management of leftover food does not follow a single global rule.
The company itself recognizes the complexity of the issue by pointing out: “There are thousands of McDonald’s restaurants in more than 100 countries. This means that donating food or supplies is not always easy.”
Without a single global policy
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Due to its franchise-based model, the way surpluses are handled varies from restaurant to restaurant.
Although the company collaborates with organizations such as Food Donation Connection and The Global FoodBanking Network, execution is largely up to each operator.
McDonald’s says it works together with its restaurants and supply chain to donate food and help those in need.
According to their official position: “We work with restaurants (both company-owned and franchise-operated) and our supply chain to donate surplus meals and ingredients to families in need.”
Between donations and waste
Testimonials from employees and former workers on forums such as Reddit and Quora indicate that, in many cases, prepared foods that are not sold they are simply thrown away.
However, some locations allow staff to consume certain leftover products.
Other establishments do participate in donations, although with restrictions.
For example, one worker noted: “We don’t donate entire sandwiches, only the ingredients that the system allows to donate.”
Examples of large scale donation
Some franchises have developed broader programs.
The Scott Family McDonald’s group, which operates in Ohio and Kentucky, has donated more than 100,000 foods through 2025, including hamburgers, buns, hash browns, meat, eggs and pancakes.
Regarding this effort, the organization highlighted: “From breakfast classics to iconic sandwiches and desserts, these products they go directly to organizations who fight against hunger in our communities.”
Changes after the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point. With restaurant closures and a drop in demand, McDonald’s had to adjust its policies to handle large volumes of unsold food.
The company explained: “We changed our food donation policy, so ingredients such as meat, lettuce, milk and cheese could be donated directly to food banks, reaching communities faster and in much larger quantities than before.”
Before these changes, at least in countries like the United Kingdom, regulations prevented the donation of prepared food.
In 2018, the company noted: “Unfortunately, we cannot ship cooked food to be consumed elsewhere, as this would violate our food safety policies.”
However, the strategy evolved. McDonald’s UK is currently partnering with FareShare and has funded the redistribution of 5 million meals a year since 2020.
An evolving system
In short, there is no single answer to what happens to leftover burgers at McDonald’s.
While some stores throw away products, others donate them or reuse them in different ways.
What is clear is that the company has begun to move towards more sustainable models, although there are still significant differences between regions.
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