How a credit crisis could give the restaurant business indigestion.

But the news does indicate that the credit crunch could spell trouble for the restaurant industry as a whole. McDonald's is still doing well, as it often does during downturns, but imagine if all of its lines of credit began to dry up. Moreover, other restaurants, particularly those in the deeply troubled casual-dining sector, may have to scale back regardless. Dow Jones reported that Chili's owner Brinker International and Yum Brands, owner of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, "are in the midst of refranchising plans that could be slowed."

And the situation is much worse for other chains, particularly those owned by private equity, where debt is already putting them in danger of bankruptcy. Uno Chicago Grill just barely made an already delayed bond payment earlier this month, and though it says it will be able to make future payments "in a timely fashion," there's no way it can take on new debt any time soon. Similar scenarios are playing out at Sbarro, Marie Callender's, Perkins, and many others.

If things get much worse, we can expect a major shakeout-and perhaps more bankruptcies like the one that obliterated Bennigan's in July. Of course, it's also possible that the Treasury proposal will have the desired effect on the flow of credit, and the world will once again be safe for fast food and casual dining.

(McDonald's arches photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)