McDonald's Trivia: 7 Facts You Might Not Know
As you know, McDonald's is everywhere. Whether or not you like their food, chances are you have eaten at a McDonald's more than once. And if you go out of your way to avoid it, McDonald's seems to find a way into your life one way or another. Love 'em or hate 'em, here is a list of things you might not have heard about this fast food giant.
#1 Ray Kroc was not the founder.
McDonald's was first opened in 1948 in San Bernadino, California by brothers Richard "Dick" McDonald and Maurice "Mac" McDonald. Ray Kroc was selling milk shake machines to the McDonald brothers when he signed a franchise agreement. Kroc opened his first McDonald's in Illinois in 1955. He later bought the McDonald brothers out in 1961.
#2 McDonald's once lost one of their recipes.
In 2004, the big-wigs at McDonald's realized that something wasn't quite right with their famous Big Mac special sauce anymore. But when they went to look for the recipe they couldn't find it! Luckily the supplier they used to help develop the sauce back in 1968 still had the recipe.
#3 The busiest McDonald's is not in the United States.
The first McDonald's in Russia holds this distinction. Opened in 1990 in Pushkin Square in Moscow, it is reported that they serve over 40,000 customers a day.
#4 Ronald McDonald did weather reports.
In 1963, a Washington D.C. McDonald's franchise was looking for a new promotion. They turned to Willard Scott who at the time was Bozo the Clown. Scott created and portrayed Ronald McDonald for the company until 1971. He would later go on to do the weather for NBC's Today Show.
#5 McDonald's sued a 5 year old?!?!
In 1982 Burger King ran a commercial featuring a 5 year old Sarah Michelle Gellar. In the commercial little Sarah says that McDonald's burgers are 20% smaller than Burger King's burgers. McDonald's sued Burger King and the advertising agency and named little Sarah Michelle Gellar in the lawsuit. The lawsuit was settled in 1983 with undisclosed terms.
#6 Do you know 8 Americans?
If you know 8 people, one of them works or has worked at a McDonald's in the past. That's right, 1 in 8 Americans have at one time worked at McDonald's including Jay Leno. Leno worked at a McDonald's in the early 70's in Andover, Massachusetts. Incidentally, he now does commercials for Burger King.
#7 They put what in their milkshakes?!?!
One of the important ingredients in a McDonald's milkshake is seaweed. It's actually a seaweed extract called carrageenan. Carrageenan gives the milkshake a smooth texture and keeps the ingredients in the shake from separating. Carrageenan is also used in many other food products including salad dressing, yogurt and chocolate just to name a few.
