Moldy Buns At Russian McDonald's Replacement Go Viral Sparking Memes

Mold has been discovered on the burgers of the Russian restaurant established to take the place of McDonald's after the fast-food chain left the country earlier this year because of the invasion of Ukraine.

After the 'takeover' of McDonalds in Russia, the buns from the new company look like growing their own ingredients. https://t.co/zQ8UTyMLSB

— Peter Riebeek 🇺🇦 (@PeterRiebeek1) July 4, 2022

Russia’s sanctions-busting McDonalds replacement is reportedly serving mouldy burgers. Presumably they have simply abandoned all “Western” quality controls https://t.co/U0poP5jdDq

— Business Ukraine mag (@Biz_Ukraine_Mag) July 4, 2022

In mid-May, McDonald’s announced a permanent exit from the country. Back in the 1990s, the opening of McDonald’s and other American fast-food chains was seen as a symbol of the end of the Soviet Union and the introduction of market capitalism to Russia.

Russia says goodbye to McDonalds 👍 pic.twitter.com/XrNEp4rDXz

— Donna N (@DonnaNeedham10) June 29, 2022

After the invasion of Ukraine, McDonald’s joined many other American companies and institutions in exiting Russia, isolating the country and depriving Russians of fast food. The Russian government, intending to secure the burger supply, then opened a knock-off McDonald’s.

Russian Teenagers telling Ukrainians about how the war made their McDonalds less tasty pic.twitter.com/LFXsVf6HGr

— Ben Raho 🇪🇺 🚲 (@BenAntRaho) July 1, 2022

The closure of McDonalds in Moscow has resulted in the opening of pretty much the exact same restaurant, featuring the exact same food, but with slightly different branding. A real earth-shattering development https://t.co/1kNRtcaHau

— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) July 4, 2022

Viral photos this week reveal that the burgers at that knockoff McDonald’s appear to have moldy buns, which were widely shared and memed online.

In Russia, no McDonalds, but mold comes free with every Unhappy meal. What a country.

— Krysz🫶🏽🇺🇦 (@edwood_k) July 6, 2022

Russia's new McDonalds. pic.twitter.com/kZGbkryD2X

— Freesus Patriot™ (@CGSDemocracy) June 28, 2022

The new Russian McDonalds</a> lookin&#39; like <a href="https://twitter.com/newportcigslc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">newportcigslc started serving up burgers 🍔 😳 pic.twitter.com/dNbdHHMSt4

— scumdoge.fire 🔺️ (@CurtimasMaximus) June 28, 2022

Like the citizens of Western countries, which have been hit heavily by rising fuel prices, Russians are experiencing the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. Whether those consequences will go further than moldy buns remains to be seen.