FTC investigating McIssues with ice cream machines

The federal agency that takes on companies big and small for fraud, false advertising and more is aiming to come to the aid of those who desperately crave a McFlurry or soft serve sundae from their local McDonald’s franchise.

That’s right: McDonald’s is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission as to why the burger giant’s ice cream machines are always out of order, an issue that has sparked late-night talk show jokes and gripes on social media.

According to the Wall Street Journal, which gained access to a letter sent to McDonald’s, the FTC contacted franchise owners this summer seeking information on ice cream machine issues.

As reported in the Journal, the machines must undergo a nightly, four-hour automated heat-cleaning cycle, which has been known to fail and makes the machines unusable until a repair technician can fix them.