AKIPRESS.COM - During an interview about the first McDonald’s to ever open in Kazakhstan, franchise owner Kairat Boranbayev caused a stir by suggesting the restaurant may serve horse meat versions of popular McDonald’s offerings.

“We’ll try to adjust our consumers’ requests and cater to Kazakh national cuisine,” he said, leaving many to assume the country’s tradition of eating horse may carry forward into the fast food age.

First @McDonalds in #CentralAsia to open in #Kazakhstan this year https://t.co/kmhF5jBWSU #McDonalds @McDonaldsCorp pic.twitter.com/C6OKhcppUg

— Kazakh Embassy D.C. (@KazakhEmbassy) February 25, 2016

McDonald's press department has denied that any of its restaurants are planning to offer horse meat burgers and say Boranbayev was misquoted.

For the Kazakhs, there’s nothing wrong with eating horse as it’s been a part of their diet for centuries. But across Europe and beyond, there are more and more scandals over horse meat finding its way into ground beef.

The first McDonald's in Kazakhstan will seat more than 200 people and run the whole range of services including a drive-through and self-order kiosks. The menu will feature traditional Big Macs, french fries and Chicken McNuggets, reports RT.

Boranbayev has invested $3.5 million in the project, according to the president of McDonald's Russia unit, Khamzat Khasbulatov. Another 15 outlets in the former Soviet republic are expected to open their doors to visitors soon.

McDonald’s has significantly expanded the number of franchises in the former Soviet Union to face a challenge from international fast-food rivals like Burger King and KFC.

Related story:

McDonald's opening in Kazakhstan in March to be headed by president's relative