1 Million Free McMuffins In China - McDonald's Stages World Consumer Rights Day Marketing Scheme

McDonald's announced that they will give out 1 million free McMuffins in China next week as a plan to boost their public image in the country.

So why a million free McMuffins?

The fast food giveaway just happens to coincide with World Consumer Rights Day.

The Huffington Post reported that the Chinese state television will run a special program on corporate malpractice this week in honor of World Consumer Rights Day.

The news program is called 3.15 and is similar to a news feature program in America such as 60 Minutes. Next week, the program will dedicate itself to revealing questionable business practices of major international corporations.

Last year, McDonald's was criticized over food safety on the same program.

It seems that the McMuffins are not a way for McDonald's to show appreciation for its Chinese customers, rather a way to get back on the good side of the Chinese people and media after last year's World Consumer Rights Day exposé.

McDonald's, however, claims there is not connection between the 1 million free McMuffins and World Consumer Rights Day, but many have questioned the legitimacy of the coincidence claim.

Vivian Zhang, senior director of communications at McDonald's China, said: "We have been through it once and we know how it feels ... (But) There is no connection (to World Consumer Rights Day)."

Perhaps Zhang really is telling the truth. Maybe McDonald's is using the free McMuffins as a way to bring customers in to try their new sandwich, an egg white version of the McMuffin.

McDonald's also announced that an additional 300,000 free McMuffins will be given out in Taiwan.

Lynn Tan, the Managing Director of McDonald's Taiwan, spoke with the Epoch Times about next week's event.

"Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day," she said. "McDonald's Taiwan knows well the full potential of the breakfast market in Taiwan."

Whatever the motivation may be, what we do know for sure is that there will be at least 1 million satisfied McDonald's patrons in China next week after they receive their free McMuffins.