A chain of restaurants in Russia which replaced McDonald’s when it closed over the war in Ukraine has been caught selling mouldy burgers to customers.
Vkusno & Tochka - Tasty and That’s It in English - opened to rapturous fanfare in Moscow last month as everyday people flocked to get their fast food fix.
But its opening has not been the smoothest as some customers have complained of mould on their burger buns, while others found cheese sauces were months out of date.
Russian politician and celebrity Ksenia Sobchak said on her Telegram channel: “Vkusno i Tochka sells mouldy burgers.
“It looks like they don’t quite honour the standards of McDonald’s, at least in terms of product quality control.
“Today at least three cases were recorded of burgers with mouldy buns sold to customers.
“Two of them were for my subscribers.”
Pictures show the mould and Sobchak told the management: “Figure it out, guys, you don’t need to poison people.”
Several people shared stomach-churning images of half eaten food with mould growing on the buns.
Despite the testimony from dozens of unhappy customers, others turned on them and claimed it was all “fake news” as the seeds of distrust continue to grow in the country.
One replied: “What makes you think this is not a fake photo?
“What makes you think that this could not have happened before? And where did you get the idea that my comment can be taken as the truth?”
The rebranded restaurant sold 120,000 burgers on its opening day after the US giant pulled out of the country over its actions in Ukraine.
The iconic golden arches were pulled down from shop fronts across multiple locations in and around Moscow after more than three decades of operation in Russia.
The new chain reportedly had a record-breaking day after 50 restaurants opened in and around Moscow as crowds were pictured queuing for a first taste of its offerings.
Vkusno & tochka has a new logo, colour scheme and packaging shorn of all McDonald's branding, as the new company lost the right to the U.S. group's trademarks and intellectual property.
Chief Executive Oleg Paroev said at the time: “On the first day we sold almost 120,000 burgers.
"We have never seen such daily turnover in the whole time McDonald's has worked in Russia."
At the time Paroev said the firm was “determined” to maintain product quality.
Paroev also added that all 850 former McDonald’s restaurants in Russia would be open by September under the new name.
