This initiative is being hailed as one of the first instances where an international quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain has integrated traditional Indian millets into its core offerings
The Golden Arches have embraced an ancient grain.
In a move that has been dubbed “Videshi Turns To Swadeshi,” the global quick-service behemoth, McDonald’s India, has launched a multi-millet burger bun.
This initiative is being hailed as one of the first instances where an international quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain has integrated traditional Indian millets into its core offerings.
Backed by indigenous science
This unexpected nutritional upgrade is the result of a powerful public-private collaboration.
The innovative multi-millet formulation was co-developed by McDonald’s India and the nation’s premier food research body: the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru, which operates under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, highlighted the significance of the partnership, calling the new launch a “proud moment for Indian innovation” that successfully validates indigenous food technology on a global commercial platform.
“Videshi turns to #Swadeshi” as the popular international food chain McDonald’s serves India’s “Millet Bun Burger”, prepared using indigenous technology developed by the Mysore based #CSIR institute, the “Central Food Technological Research Institute “ #CFTRI.
A proud moment… pic.twitter.com/yGyya94anf
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) November 2, 2025
The new bun is a powerhouse of indigenous nutrition, with millets constituting 22% of its composition.
The recipe features a strategic blend of five different Indian millets: three major—bajra (pearl millet), ragi (finger millet), and jowar (sorghum)—alongside two minor varieties, proso and kodo.
Millets are widely celebrated for being nutritionally dense, gluten-free, and remarkably climate-resilient.
By introducing this blend, McDonald’s is not only offering a healthier alternative to the standard refined flour bun but is also significantly boosting India’s national ‘Millet Movement,’ creating massive market demand that directly connects local farmers to the global QSR supply chain.
Customers can now opt for the Multi-Millet Bun with any burger on the menu for a nominal additional charge of Rs 10.
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