McDonald's sees plummeting August sales due to food scare

US burger seller steps up supplier audits, names safety chief for China

McDonald's Corp, the world's largest restaurant chain, posted its worst same-store sales decline in more than a decade, hurt by sluggish demand in the United States and a health scare involving a Chinese supplier.

Sales at stores open at least 13 months fell 3.7 percent in August, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said on Wednesday. Analysts had predicted a 3.1 percent drop. McDonald's also said supplier problems in China will reduce third-quarter earnings per share by 15 to 20 cents.