McDonald's the golden arches that have become a global symbol of fast food but behind those familiar yellow curves lies a world of surprising facts and shocking truths that most people don't know did you know that McDonald's sells more than 68 million customers each day that's more than the entire population of the United Kingdom this fast food giant operates in over 100 countries with nearly 40,000 locations worldwide but here's where it gets really interesting ing McDonald's is not just a restaurant chain it's one of the world's largest real estate companies the corporation owns billions of dollars worth of land and buildings in fact many franchise owners pay rent to McDonald's making real estate a significant source of the company's income the menu you see at your local McDonald's is just the tip of the iceberg in India you can order a Maharaja Mac which uses chicken instead of beef in Germany beer is on the menu and in Japan you might find a shrimp burger these Regional variations show how McDonald's adapts to local tastes and cultures but it's not all golden arches and Happy Meals McDonald's has faced its share of controversies the company has been criticized for contributing to the global obesity epidemic with its high calorie menu items and aggressive marketing tactics especially towards children environmental concerns have also plagued the corporation the vast amount of packaging used daily has raised alarms about waste and pollution however in recent years McDonald's has made efforts to improve its environmental impact including initiatives to Source sustainable beef and reduce plastic use the truth about McDonald's is a complex mix of business Innovation Global influence and ongoing challenges while it's easy to criticize the fast food giant its impact on global food culture and business practices is undeniable whether you're a fan of Big Max or not understanding the true scope and influence of McDonald's provides valuable insight into the modern world of global business and food culture [Music]