McDonald's sorry for burger blunder - "McAFRIKA" burger flops in Norway

Aftenposten - English version ^ | 08.22.02 | Nina Berglund/

[prisoner6]

McDonald's sorry for burger blunder "Tasteless," is how charitable groups have branded a McDonald's burger in Norway that they claim ignores the starvation crisis in Africa. McDonald's is red-faced, and may donate proceeds from its controversial "McAfrika" burger. This is the promotion that's left aid organizations in Norway seeing red... and McDonald's officials red-faced. PHOTO: KNUT FJELDSTAD/SCANPIX RELATED ARTICLES Massive relief effort ready to roll - 26.07.02 "It's inappropriate and distasteful to launch a hamburger called 'McAfrika' when large portions of southern Africa are on the verge of starvation," says Linn Aas-Hansen of Norwegian Church Aid. She stood outside a McDonald's restaurant in downtown Oslo this week, passing out free "catastrophe crackers" to passersby in protest. "This is a special, protein-rich cracker that we hand out to people in the hunger-stricken areas," she said. Among those who got a taste of the crackers was an apologetic spokesperson for McDonald's in Norway, Margaret Brusletto. She said McDonald's was sorry the name of its new burger, meant to reflect an African recipe, has negative connotations. "That wasn't our intention," she said. "At the same time, we acknowledge that we have chosen an unfortunate time to launch this new product." There was no word as to whether McDonald's will pull its "McAfrika" burger off the market despite the protests in Norway, where aid organizations have launched one of the world's largest relief programs ever aimed at getting food to starving millions in southern Africa. McDonald's officials, however, were due to meet representatives of the aid organizations on Thursday. "We expect that McDonald's will contribute to the fight to stem starvation," said Bjorg Mide of Norwegian Church Aid. "The company can, for example, share proceeds from the sale of this hamburger with the aid organizations." Brusletto said that's "a possibility we will consider."

[prisoner6]

Ooooh...That IS GOOD!

Bumpers for the late afternoon crew.

prisoner6

[prisoner6]

Perhaps Scandinavia is where that illness originated.

I suspect so...

Not much else to do on those long winter nights except think about idiotic issues like this one

Well to be fair they do get to think...tough as that may be... about a few other things. How to spend the dun from the oil for one. Also connectivity. That may manifest itself in many ways. Sex...computers...internet...and of course Ericssen (sp..sorry) phones and messaging.

Their Viking ancestors would turn over in their graves

Most assuredly they are!

prisoner6

[AppyPappy]

McYuck. I hate to think what is in it.

[weegee]

Its predecessor was the McIdi Amin burger.

Manwiches?

[weegee]

"catastrophe crackers" ???

And their complaining about the name "McAfrika burger"?

[okie01]

"Give the Africans another X years of their idiotic tyrants, and continued enforced starvation, and I wouldn't wonder but they'd kill even for a noxious McLude (and if you don't know about ludefisk, hold your comments (g!))."

What do you have against rotted fish...???

[prisoner6]

Just for the record YOU said it, I didn't.

It's still funny as Hades though...

prisoner6

[weegee]

"Can I get a McA-frikan burger???"

[Williams]

I really don't get it. Africa is an entire continent, and they just named a supposedly African-style sandwich after Africa. You mean there can be no positive food references to Africa when there is famine in part of the continent??? Wierd, really wierd. Why is everybody going to Indian restaurants, then?

[sphinx]

McDonald's officials, however, were due to meet representatives of the aid organizations on Thursday. "We expect that McDonald's will contribute to the fight to stem starvation," said Bjorg Mide of Norwegian Church Aid. "The company can, for example, share proceeds from the sale of this hamburger with the aid organizations."

This is what it's all about, folks. The predators look for a hook -- any hook, however contrived -- that lets them mount a PR attack against a deep pocketed target. No honest person would have twisted this into a hit on McDonalds, but the predators aren't honest. The Norwegians don't have a corner on it, either. This is pure Jesse Jackson stuff. Our trial lawyers have raised it to a fine art. Any opening will do.

[weegee]

I guess that we won't be seeing the McIrish corned beef sandwich anytime soon.

[Destructor]

I wonder if their meat comes from unfortunate McMissionaries?

[weegee]

Mayor McCheese is going to have a riot on his hands if he doesn't get some spin control.

(It took this long to get to a cheese reference???)

[elcaudillo]

McDonalds could solve Africa's starvation problems by shipping plane loads of their worthless products. They could set up temporary McDonalds factories in Zimbobwe (or is it Zimbob-me?) and turn their kangaroo burgers out by the millions.

In no time at all hungry, starving Zimbobweans would be practically non-existant. The cemeteries would be full.

[TADSLOS]

"Welcome to McDowell's, may I be of assistance in offering you some refreshing native delicacies?"

[prisoner6]

The cemeteries would be full.

And there...like here... the scum sucking lawyers would be angling for whatever they could.

prisoner6

[null and void]

I used to have a roommate from Ethiopia. Interesting culture, interesting food.

They make a spongy flatbread called injerta from the native grain teff. It has a wonderful complex flavor. It's used like an (Asian) Indian uses naan, or an (American) Indian uses tortillas, to pick up morsels of food. Mostly spicy glops of stewed this or that served on a common platter.

Try it if you get a chance...

[philman_36]

All their food is tasteless.
That's what the "special sauce" is for, to give it taste. You know..."two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun!"

[weegee]

Aren't all special sauces just "mayonaise with ketchup" or "thousand island dressing"?

[Charles Martel]

Its predecessor was the McIdi Amin burger.

Well, now that you mention it, the marketing of this new sandwich is a bit vague. Is it made out of foods that are common in Africa? Is it made out of *Africans*? Or is it being marketed TO Africans?

*ahem*...

;-)