5 Countries Where McDonald’s Is Illegal

By Mayukh Saha / Truth Theory

McDonald’s is a name that you must have heard of. It is an American fast-food company founded back in 1940. It started as a single restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald in California. It was later branded as a hamburger stand and then became a franchise in the following years.

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Today, McDonald’s is the biggest fast-food chain in the world and is also one of the most iconic ones in the world.

There are around 38,000 McDonald’s locations all over the globe in 100 nations. They employ more than 1.7 million people and serve more than 70 million customers. 

The brand’s success comes from its affordable food, fast service, strategy marketing, and importantly, its menu. It might be easily recognizable but despite that, McDonald’s is not loved by some countries.

List Of The Countries That Banned McDonald’s

You can barely stay away from a McDonald’s outlet in the US. It will be quite surprising for you to know that some countries do not have a single location. Their reasons might vary from political agendas to economic collapse, but the output remains the same.

READ: MCDONALDS TURNED DOZENS OF ROADSIDE BILLBOARDS INTO ‘BEE HOTELS’ IN SWEDEN

#1: Montenegro

McDonald’s opened up their location in a tiny store and was a “mobile McDonald’s”. They hoped that it would grow into something permanent. Many people loved the greasy food they catered but the government teamed up with local businesses and prevented them from setting up branches there. It was since then that McD kept its distance from Montenegro.

#2: Yemen

Yemen’s economy seems to be a little “shaky” so, McDonald’s chose not to open up shop here as it would not be “economically viable”. It was also reported that extremists in Yemen had threatened action against McD if it showed its yellow arches in their country.

#3: Bermuda

There was only one McDonald’s restaurant on this island up till 1995. The country had implemented a law where it banned foreign fast-food joints which have been on the island since the 70s. McD found a loophole in the law and built one on a US Naval Air Station in 1985. That station closed in 1995 and so did the restaurant. As reported by mic.com, the MNC tried to break into Bermuda’s market in 1999 but lost against the law.

#4: North Korea

North Korea is quite averse to American culture and businesses and McD is no exception. The Telegraph reported that some North Korean government members had food from McDonald’s smuggled into their country from South Korea for their own personal consumption.

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#5: Bolivia

McD is not outright banned in Bolivia but there have been some tense relationships between the company and the nation and its citizens. The last McD in Bolivia was closed in 2002.  McDonald’s failed in Bolivia because its people did not want to flock to a massive corporation just to buy burgers. The former President of Bolivia has claimed that the company is  “not interested in the health of human beings, only in earnings and corporate profits.”

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