Oslo, Norway ? Humanitarian groups criticized McDonald’s for a new sandwich called the McAfrika, saying the offering is poorly timed because millions of Africans are facing starvation.

But aid officials on Monday welcomed an agreement by the fast-food restaurant chain to inform customers about the potential famine in southern Africa and tell them how they can help, Tarje Wanvik of the group Norwegian Church Aid said Monday.

McDonald’s was stung by bad publicity in the Norwegian media last week when it announced that the new sandwich, made of beef and vegetables and wrapped in pita bread, will be sold at 15 restaurants in Oslo. The sandwich was advertised as being based on African recipes.

“There was nothing wrong with the name. It was the timing,” Wanvik said. “They launched it just as a famine in Africa is starting.”

Aid groups fear that 13 million people are in danger of starvation in several southern African nations. They called the campaign “distasteful.”