Fast-paced AmericanAmericans have traded home cooking for a convenience and that involves hidden costs. The recent outbreaks of diseases reveal this dark side of that culture. The industrial food preparation process is peppered with chancesrisks of contamination. While cooking at high temperatures kills pathogens, we now increasingly rely on food that needrequires minimal preparation. This is particularly dangerous for the most vulnerable — the very young, elderly, or pregnant.
McDonald's demonstrated notablestrong crisis management and proactive communication skills during the E. coli outbreak by swiftly identifying the likely source. Unlike previous industry crises, the company took immediate action by removing Quarterquarter Pounderspounders from its restaurants. Over the years, itthe chain has built a foundation of trust that helps it frame this as an anomaly rather than a systemic issue. Proactive communication also helped.
There is a 50% chance the first fully automated McDonalds will open in the United States by January, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.