Is there wood pulp in your burger or taco? (2024)

When you fantasize about a classic burger, you think of a juicy patty, your favorite toppings, a warm bun and maybe a little bacon. Chances are you aren’t dreaming about eating any wood pulp.

But if you eat at some of the nation’s top fast-food restaurants, you could be eating wood pulp. Burger King, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr. and Wendy’s all have items on their menus that contain this ingredient.

Instead of seeing wood pulp listed in the nutrition information, you’ll see cellulose. It’s a common food additive, made of tiny pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers.

Cellulose also can be listed by some of its many other names, as noted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as powdered cellulose, alpha-cellulose, flour cellulose, cellulose fiber, Microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose casing and regenerated cellulose.

Burger King lists cellulose in its buns, tortillas, tacos, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, pancakes and more. And Wendy’s uses it in some of its shakes, cheese shreds and cheese crumbles.

Earlier this year, Taco Bell attempted to dispel any rumors or concerns of mystery in its beef by explaining the 12% of other ingredients in its ground beef. Among the ingredients was cellulose. Taco Bell describes it as “ a safe carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants” that “helps with water and oil binding.” The ingredient is also used in its nacho cheese sauce and chips.

McDonald’s, which has the most menu items containing cellulose, lists it as an ingredient in its shredded cheese, fish fillet patty, biscuit, sausage and scrambled egg mix, smoothie base, syrup, ice cream, barbecue sauce, sweet ‘n’ sour sauce and honey mustard sauce.

All this talk of wood pulp may make you lose your appetite, but the FDA has deemed the use of cellulose safe in some instances, including when it’s used as an anti-caking agent and as an emulsion stabilizer.

According to the FDA, humans cannot digest cellulose and in some instances, where large amounts are consumed, it provides dietary bulk and can have a possible laxative effect.

But if you’re looking to cut down on your wood pulp consumption, just check the ingredients list.

Like quirky food news? Follow me on Twitter at @Jenn_Harris_

Is there wood pulp in your burger or taco? (2024)

FAQs

Does Taco Bell have wood pulp in it? ›

Among the ingredients was cellulose. Taco Bell describes it as “ a safe carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants” that “helps with water and oil binding.” The ingredient is also used in its nacho cheese sauce and chips.

What foods have wood pulp in them? ›

Here's just a sampling of places it popped up.
  • Tomato sauce.
  • Salad dressing.
  • Ice cream bars.
  • Whole wheat bread.
  • Granola bars.
  • Packaged cookies.
  • Bagels.
  • Frozen breakfast sandwiches.
Jul 27, 2016

Is wood pulp used in food products? ›

When trees are broken down to a fine powder at a pulp mill, the cellulose molecule extracted from pulp is the same cellulose found in the plant cell walls of fruits and vegetables. It is one of the most common food additives and has been FDA-approved since the mid-1900s.

Does Mcdonalds use wood? ›

Fast-food chains, like McDonald's and Burger King, feature the ingredient cellulose or "wood pulp" in their food items.

Does Taco Bell use fillers in their meat? ›

It then is slow-cooked and simmered with proprietary seasonings and spices to provide Taco Bell's signature taste and texture. Our seasoned beef recipe contains 88% quality USDA-inspected beef and 12% seasonings, spices, water and other ingredients that provide taste, texture and moisture.

Does ice cream have wood in it? ›

Wood fiber is used as a filler in aspirin and ice cream and comprises the white absorbent material in such products as baby diapers and feminine napkins. And it all starts with Southern yellow pine trees.

Is there wood in toothpaste? ›

Toothpaste. Toothpastes can contain several different wood components, including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), also known as cellulose gum, and xylitol.

Does bread have wood in it? ›

Typically, there are just four ingredients defining breadiness: flour, water, salt and yeast. But breadmakers have long added another ingredient to even the simplest loaves. Wood.

Is wood pulp safe to eat? ›

There are no known harmful side effects from adding it to food, and it's completely legal.

What is wood pulp called in dog food? ›

Cellulose or powdered cellulose is a type of plant fiber or wood pulp used in dog food. Cellulose in dog food is not a great addition to your dog's diet.

Where is wood pulp found? ›

This pulp is produced from softwood trees mainly found in Canada, the Nordic countries and Russia (specifically, Siberia). The most common species are pine and spruce. All NBSK pulps have long fibers, and their inclusion in the paper furnish is often for structure.

Does shredded cheese have wood in it? ›

Bloomberg ran experiments on store-bought grated cheese to test for wood pulp content in a lab and found that many cheeses have cellulose, which is made from wood pulp. Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, from Jewel-Osco, contained 8.8 percent cellulose.

Which fast-food restaurants use pink slime? ›

It turns out that McDonald's nuggets have actually been pink slime-free since 2003 when they switched over to all white, non-mechanically separated chicken parts, but the Golden Arches' burgers still contained a beef variety of the "pink slime." And Burger King and Taco Bell were using the mechanically separated beef, ...

Do McDonald's fries have animal products? ›

Once at the restaurant, our fries are simply cooked in dedicated frying vats in a non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil which is 100 percent suitable for vegetarians. In fact, McDonald's French Fries are officially accredited by the Vegetarian Society.

What is McDonald's bacon made of? ›

Ingredients: Pork Bellies Cured With Water, Salt, Sugar, Natural Smoke Flavor, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.

Does Taco Bell meat have horse meat in it? ›

The British Food Standards Agency said Taco Bell's products contained more than 1% (pdf) horse meat. “We apologize to our customers and take this matter very seriously as food quality is our highest priority,” a spokesman for the chain said.

Does Wendy's use fillers in their meat? ›

Square beef patties make it easy to know you're enjoying the very best hamburger for your buck: fresh, never frozen and made from 100% real beef. Our signature square hamburger patties have no fillers or additives because we know the beef is what matters when it comes to making the best hamburger in the game.

What percent of Taco Bell meat is real? ›

We use 100 percent USDA premium beef in our seasoned beef. We prepare it much the same way you prepare taco meat at home: after simmering, it is drained of excess fat and pre-seasoned with our signature blend of 7 authentic seasonings and spices.

What products are made from wood pulp? ›

Pulp is used in a variety of consumer and specialty products, such as:
  • paper printouts, receipts, post-its, envelopes.
  • paper cups, napkins, toilet rolls, tissues.
  • cardboard.
  • diapers and baby wipes.
  • LCD screens.
  • shoes and handbags.
  • food casings.
  • filters.

What are the white chunks in ice cream? ›

Freezer burn occurs as ice begins to evaporate over time in the freezer. As moisture leaves the ice cream and mixes with the air, it refreezes on the surface, creating those unappetizing crunchy crystals on top, according to Ben & Jerry's.

Is there egg in all ice cream? ›

While commercially manufactured ice cream is typically made with pasteurized eggs or egg products, recipes for homemade ice cream often use raw eggs in the base mixture.

Which toothpaste has pig? ›

Product Information. Colgate Peppa Pig kids toothpaste makes fighting cavities fun so children establish and maintain good oral hygiene habits from the start. It is an effective low fluoride, sugar free toothpaste specially designed for children aged 2-5 years.

Is there pig products in toothpaste? ›

Some toothpastes use glycerin which is derived from animal fats, mainly pork. This is used to give the toothpaste its texture. Some commercial toothpastes also contain harmful ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate, flavorings, artificial sweeteners, dyes and colorings, antimicrobials and thickening agents.

What are the 5 products made of wood? ›

(i) Houses, (ii) Furnitures, (iii) Paper, (iv) Pencil and (v) Doors. Was this answer helpful?

What animal hair ingredient is in bread? ›

L-Cysteine – an amino acid used to prolong shelf-life in products such as commercial bread – comes from human hair. It has been reported that most of the hair used to make L-Cysteine comes from China, where it is gathered from barbershops and hair salons.

Is there wood in cereal? ›

Cellulose is an ingredient you can find in cereals, breads and foods with added fiber.

What is the black stuff in bread? ›

The fuzzy parts of mold you see on bread are colonies of spores — which is how the fungus reproduces. Spores can travel through the air inside the package and grow on other parts of the bread (1). They're what gives mold its color — white, yellow, green, gray, or black, depending on the type of fungus.

Can humans digest wood pulp? ›

However, it's worthy to note that, because humans have no way to digest it, cellulose can cause a variety of digestive issues, most notably gas and often a laxative-like effect.

Can humans digest wood fiber? ›

Wood and bark are generally not suitable for humans to eat, although it would provide a decent amount of fiber, it's not digestible.

What do they put in shredded cheese? ›

In order to keep shredded cheese from turning into a clump, additives like anti-caking agents and mold inhibitors are added. One of the ingredients that is used (and less than appetizing) is cellulose powder. This light powder keeps the cheese from sticking together.

What is the drug dog food called? ›

Drug Information
Drug NameStreet Name
Oxycodone Narcotics (Opioids)Oxy, Ox, Perc, Kicker
Heroin Narcotics (Opioids)Dog food, Black Tar, Smack, Junk, Horse
Fentanyl Narcotics (Opioids)Poison, Tango & Cash, Apache, Apace, China Girl, Dance Fever
21 more rows

What is the white piece in dog food? ›

Simply put, this is fat which has separated from our raw materials during the canning process.

Why is wood pulp in food? ›

Best Food Facts registered dietitian Sarah Downs explains that wood pulp, or cellulose, is a safe food additive and is often added to some grated cheeses to stop the strands from sticking together.

What is the another name of wood pulp? ›

synonyms for wood pulp

On this page you'll find 6 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to wood pulp, such as: paper pulp, papier mache, pulp, pulpwood, rag paper, and rag pulp.

What are the top 3 states that produce pulpwood? ›

Alabama was the leading producer of pulpwood in 1991, followed by Georgia and Mississippi. Collectively, these three States supplied nearly 43 percent of the total production.

What common household product is usually made from wood pulp? ›

Writing paper, as well as computer and copy paper, are made from wood pulp. Household products like paper towels, napkins, disposable plates, and toilet paper are also created using wood pulp Even the glossy paper used in the production of magazines makes use of wood pulp.

Why you need to stop buying shredded cheese? ›

Pre-shredded cheese certainly is convenient, but it's not worth the final result. Pre-grated cheese contains preservatives like potato starch and natamycin, meant to keep the shreds from clumping together in the bag. That also means they don't melt together as well when cooking.

Is sawdust used in food? ›

Cellulose or wood pulp (that's basically sawdust) can be found in food like shredded cheese. It's usually used to add texture and fiber to foods. Cellulose is basically plant fiber, and it's indigestible. You have to grind wood to get the cellulose.

What is the black stuff on shredded cheese? ›

Black spot defect is known as a fatal flaw in cheese making. These minute flecks of black in aged cheeses mean serious devaluation of cheese. They are formed because of the metallic nature of compounds that find their way into the milk line. The likely cause is poor removal of internal teat sealants.

Does Walmart meat have pink slime? ›

The world's largest retailer said in a statement that while while the USDA and experts agree that it is safe and nutritious, its Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores will start offering fresh ground beef that does not contain the filler, know by critics as "pink slime."

Is jellyfish added to ground beef? ›

Pink slime, as it was dubbed by two former USDA scientists because of its gelatinous texture, is a cheap filler added to an estimated 70 percent of the ground beef sold at supermarkets and up to 25 percent of each American hamburger patty, according to ABC News.

How many animals are in a Mcdonalds burger? ›

Ferdman found that one single McDonald's patty can contain the meat of up to a shocking 100 cows. For context, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service, the average size of a cattle herd in 2017 was 43.5 cows, which means one burger alone can take down 2 ⅓ cow herds.

Does McDonald's cook their fries in chicken grease? ›

Once in our kitchens, we cook them in our canola-blend oil so you can have them crispy and hot—just the way you like them.

Do animal fries from In N Out have meat? ›

That's right, melty cheese, grilled onions, and their secret spread all top this secret menu item. But what makes the ultimate animal style fries so much better? Adding a chopped up 100% pure beef burger patty to Animal Style Fries turns this side dish into an amazing meal.

Does Wendy's use real bacon? ›

And, just like our hamburgers are made from fresh, never frozen beef*, our bacon is made from fresh pork bellies that Sugardale cuts and packages for team members to cook daily in our restaurants.

What is Jimmy Dean bacon made from? ›

Jimmy Dean® Hickory Smoked, Fully Cooked Bacon is made from fresh hand-selected, hand-trimmed pork bellies that are naturally wood smoked over real hickory chips for deliciously rich and distinctive flavor you can count on.

Is McDonald's Big Mac beef or pork? ›

Two 100% beef patties, a slice of cheese, lettuce, onion and pickles. And the sauce. That unbeatable, tasty Big Mac® sauce.

Does Taco Bell use horse meat in their tacos? ›

In 2013, the world was shocked by the discovery that horse meat had been found in Taco Bell meat. Horse is a legitimate meat source in some countries (like, CBS says, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan, Germany, Belgium, and Poland), but not in the US and much of Europe.

What is Taco Bell meat composed of? ›

We use 100 percent USDA premium beef in our seasoned beef. We prepare it much the same way you prepare taco meat at home: after simmering, it is drained of excess fat and pre-seasoned with our signature blend of 7 authentic seasonings and spices.

What are Taco Bell hard shells made of? ›

The restaurant-quality taco shells are made with yellow corn flour for a delicious flavor. Simply add ground beef, Taco Bell seasoning, Taco Bell salsa and your favorite toppings to complete your Taco Bell dinner, or add some excitement to your family dinner with chicken tacos. Preparation is easy.

What foods contain horse meat? ›

For years, there's been horse meat in hamburgers, lasagnas, raviolis, tortellinis, sausages, prepared spaghetti bolognese, bottled bolognese sauce, chili con carne, shepherd's pie, moussaka, many other “meat dishes,” frozen and not, cheap and expensive.

How much horse meat is in Taco Bell meat? ›

Taco Bell's ground beef is among the four new products found by the U.K.'s Food Standards Agency to contain more than one percent horse meat, the BBC reported.

What percentage of horse meat is in Taco Bell? ›

The British Food Standards Agency said Taco Bell's products contained more than 1% (pdf) horse meat. “We apologize to our customers and take this matter very seriously as food quality is our highest priority,” a spokesman for the chain said.

What kind of meat is in Jack in the Box tacos? ›

Based on the information provided in this article it is safe to say that Jack In The Box Tacos contain real beef and chicken products and are not vegetarian or vegan friendly.

Where does McDonald's get their meat? ›

Today, Keystone's US operations are proud to produce and deliver the highest quality beef, chicken and fish products to McDonald's, including more than 150 million pounds of beef, 300 million pounds of chicken and 15 million pounds of fish each year.

What is Jack in the Box taco meat made of? ›

Taco Regular Filling Ingredients: Beef, Water, Textured Vegetable Protein (Soy Flour, Caramel Color), Defatted Soy Grits, Seasoning [Chili Pepper, Corn Maltodextrin, Spices, Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (Contains Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Folic Acid), Salt, Garlic Powder, Hydrolyzed ( ...

What is the pink stuff in Taco Bell meat? ›

Pink slime (also known as lean finely textured beef or LFTB, finely textured beef, or boneless lean beef trimmings or BLBT) is a meat by-product used as a food additive to ground beef and beef-based processed meats, as a filler, or to reduce the overall fat content of ground beef.

What are the balls from Taco Bell called? ›

Cinnabon Delights® 2 Pack.

What are the healthiest taco shells? ›

Offering a firm, chewy texture, corn tortillas come out ahead in a side-by-side nutrition competition with other types. Corn is a good-for - you whole grain, Keating explains, and corn tortillas typically contain less fat and simpler ingredients, and are very low in sodium.

What are the 7 layers in Taco Bell? ›

Seasoned Nacho Fries topped with seasoned beef, black beans, guacamole, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, creamy chipotle sauce, tomatoes, and real shredded cheddar cheese. At participating U.S. Taco Bell® locations.

How do Mexican restaurants make their ground beef so fine? ›

Ever wonder why some taco meat found at restaurants or in chili is ground SUPER fine and how they get it that way? That is the result of actually boiling the hamburger first. This method of cooking brings the temperature of the meat up slowly and prevents it from clumping, keeping it finely ground.

What is Grade D meat? ›

D Grades: The D grades are applied to carcasses which are not youthful. They are typically given to carcasses from cows and represented 11.8% of the total graded cattle in Canada in 2021. Beef given a D grade is typically used for ground beef and further processed products.

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