McDonald’s Japan said today it may have sold salads and other items past their expiration dates at as many as four of its Tokyo outlets after employees switched production labels.Shares of McDonald’s Holdings, which is more than half-owned by the US fast-food giant, McDonald’s Corp, fell 2.4 per cent on the news.Employees relabelled some unsold salads so they could be sold on the following day, in violation of the company’s rule. The company said it had yet to determine whether the salads were past their expiration dates when sold. Some employees also admitted to using yoghurt and milkshake mix that were past their due dates.“I think this is terrible,” McDonald’s Japan chief executive Eikoh Harada said. “However, I don’t think this was a regular occurrence.” He said employees had been instructed by staff to use items in order to save expenses. The company said it had ended its franchise agreement with the four restaurants, all of which were owned by the same franchisee.
