OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP) — McDonald's says a key global sales figure fell 3.7 percent in August, driven lower as the world's biggest hamburger chain's unit that includes the Asia-Pacific region dropped 14.5 percent due to a food-safety scandal in China.

That unit also includes the Middle East and Africa.

In the U.S., the sales metric fell 2.8 percent. It dipped 0.7 percent in Europe.

McDonald's Corp. said earlier this month that it will monitor its suppliers in China more closely after a food-safety scandal in the country hurt its sales and reputation. The announcement came after a TV report in July showed workers at McDonald's supplier Shanghai Husi Food Co. repacking expired meat.

McDonald's shares fell slightly in Tuesday premarket trading.

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