PolitiFact - Facebook meme claims McDonald's burgers are made with 85 percent 'meat filler,' which causes cancer (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of beef is in a McDonald's burger? ›

McDonald's burgers are made of 100% ground beef, formed into hamburger patties, and then quickly frozen at our suppliers to seal in great fresh flavor. We add salt and pepper to our burgers when they are cooked on the grill at our restaurants to bring out all that great beef taste.

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.

McDonald's food is bad for the body as it has a higher calorie, fat, sodium, and sugar content than the average requirement of a human being. According to Science Alert, McDonald's most famous burger Big Mac contains so many calories and fats that it can take 3 days for the human body to completely digest it.

The whole cuts of beef used to make our beef patties contain approximately 20% naturally occurring fat.

Beef, chicken, and fish products at fast-food restaurants aren't always made from 100 percent meat. They can contain additional additives, such as a textured vegetable protein or a soy product, that make them cheaper to produce. Health experts say these types of processed meats are less healthy than unprocessed meats.

In one report, former USDA scientist Gerald Zirnstein said 70 percent of ground beef contained 'pink slime', a food additive made from trimmings and exposed to ammonia gas before it was used as a filler in packages labeled 100 percent beef.

Colouring agents, such as beetroot extracts, have been used in Beyond Meat's “raw” burger to mimic the colour change that occurs when meat is cooked. And the additive soy leghemoglobin, produced by genetically engineered yeast, has been used to create the Impossible Foods “bleeding” burger.

Fake meats fall into two categories: plant-based proteins and cell-based proteins. The plant-based burgers and sausages found on supermarket shelves are made by extracting the protein from plant foods, often pea, soy, wheat protein, and mushrooms.

PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have been found in food packaging at Mcdonald's and Burger King. Experts say those chemicals are linked to an increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.

What is the least unhealthy food at mcdonalds? ›

"The 3.5-ounce serving of meat in the classic hamburger contains a healthy dose of 12 grams of protein and is lowest in calories of all meat patties," offering 250 calories and 9 grams of fat, she says. Not all burgers on the McDonald's menu are created equal, though.

Over time, McDonald's and other fast-food joints made the beef fat part of their signature fry flavors. But in the 1980s, fast-food restaurants took the ingredient out when health advocates criticized how much “bad” saturated fat it added.

Sometimes, harmful plastics. A new study out Tuesday reports that far too often, small amounts of industrial chemicals called phthalates (pronounced THA-lates), which are used to make plastics soft, have been found in samples of food from popular outlets including McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Chipotle.

Beef tallow was initially used because the supplier for McDonald's couldn't afford vegetable oil. In the 1990s, as health concerns over saturated fat reached an all-time high, McDonald's faced a backlash against the use of beef tallow, and worried about losing customers, the chain switched to vegetable oil.

Who supplies Wendy's beef? To ensure the highest quality square hamburgers for our fans, we source 100% of our fresh, never frozen beef from Beef Quality Assurance certified farmers and ranchers.

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.

Our beef patties are made with 100% beef with no fillers, no preservatives, no additives, no nonsense. We also make our flagship product, the WHOPPER®, with 4.4oz* of flame-grilled beef.

The best ground beef to buy for burgers is 80/20 ground chuck – 80% lean meat and 20% fat. Ground chuck is ground from the shoulder and has that ideal lean-to-fat ratio of 80/20 (i.e. not too lean) for a super flavorful, juicy burger.

How many cows are in one burger? ›

A single package of conventional ground beef might contain meat from 100, 400, even 1000 cows. (Yes, there have been studies that have found traces of DNA from up to 1,000 cows in a single package of ground beef.) Think about that for a minute, pretty gross, right? Scary even.

Wal-Mart And Grocers To Offer Beef Without 'Pink Slime' : The Salt Wal-Mart has become the latest food retailer to announce that it's making changes after listening to customer concerns about lean finely textured beef, known by detractors as "pink slime."

News Across the U.S.

Wendy's decided to post the ads after receiving “many questions from customers and online communities,” spokesman Bob Bertini said in an email. “We felt it was important to set the record straight. We are very proud of our beef, and have never used lean finely textured beef, or 'pink slime. '”

No, our Chicken McNuggets® do not contain what some people call "pink slime" or "pink goop." We've seen the photo of "pink goop" or "pink slime" in association with McDonald's. Let's set the record straight: this image in connection with McDonald's is a myth.

Yes, there's that word again, but myoglobin isn't blood (honest!) – instead, its job is to transport oxygen through muscle. Myoglobin looks like blood on your plate because, like hemoglobin, the iron in myoglobin turns red when it is exposed to oxygen. That's why muscle tissue is red.

Acrylamide can be formed when plant-based foods are cooked at high heat–for example, cooking a fake meat burger.

“Compared to a meat-based burger, Beyond and Impossible contain roughly the same amount of saturated fat and more sodium,” she says, both of which, when over-consumed, can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Plant-based proteins offer many health benefits and can be less expensive than meat. One way to get these benefits is to choose a meatless meal once or twice a week.

What is the unhealthiest item on McDonald's menu? ›

With more sugar and saturated fat than any of the dessert items at McDonald's, the McFlurry with M&M's is by far the unhealthiest option you can choose.

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.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a variety of products due to their water and oil-resistant properties. They are commonly found in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and fire-fighting foams.

The US might not have the unhealthiest McDonald's food in the world, but it's nowhere near the "healthiest." If you're looking for the "healthiest" McDonald's food in the world, you'll find it in Israel, which ranks lowest not only for calorie count, but also for salt and saturated fat, too.

While chicken is an obvious Men's Health staple, KFC's reliance on greasy oils and subsequent sky-high calorific content makes Maccy's an unlikely victor. The more varied menu and healthy options, as well as classic, gut-busting fare, make it the ideal spot to play fast and loose with your nutrition plan.

Let your health decide

Pound for pound, chicken is the choice that gives you fewer calories and saturated fats compared with beef.

Yes. When our suppliers partially fry our cut potatoes, they use an oil blend that contains beef flavoring. This ensures the great-tasting and recognizable flavor we all love from our World Famous Fries®.

No. Our fries are not coated in any fats or substances from an animal.

Does McDonald's still use lard in their french fries? ›

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.

SAN ANTONIO (NewsNation Now) — A new study published in Nature reveals that phthalates, a chemical used to keep plastics soft, and similar chemicals were found in food purchased from McDonald's, Burger King, Domino's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Chipotle.

It stopped using foam packaging for hot beverages in 2012 after receiving pressure from As You Sow, a nonprofit that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility. The only remaining foam used in McDonald's stores today is for cold beverages.

It's what's on the inside that counts.

The test cups are sourced from a 50-50 mix of post-consumer plastic material and biobased materials.

Introducing the McPlant, a juicy burger made with a plant-based patty, co-developed with Beyond Meat. It's sizzled on a flat iron grill, then topped with slivered onions, tangy pickles, crisp shredded lettuce, Roma tomato slices, ketchup, mustard, mayo and a slice of melty American cheese on a toasted sesame seed bun.

Every one of our McDonald's burgers is made with 100% pure beef and cooked and prepared with salt, pepper and nothing else—no fillers, no additives, no preservatives. We use the trimmings of cuts like the chuck, round and sirloin for our burgers, which are ground and formed into our hamburger patties.

"It's because McDonald's cooks their fries with beef flavoring mixed within their vegetable oil," divulged the content creator.

And most important: the quarter pound of 100% fresh beef that's cooked when you order. That's what makes our Quarter Pounder® with Cheese the hottest and juiciest yet. It's perfect made perfecter. We serve our 100% fresh beef patties on a variety of burgers.

Our beef patties are made with 100% beef with no fillers, no preservatives, no additives, no nonsense. We also make our flagship product, the WHOPPER^® Sandwich, with 1/4 lb* of savory flame-grilled beef. Now that's a beefy sandwich. *Based on pre-cooked patty weight.

10:1 is the meat used in a McDonald's hamburger and cheeseburger, so named because there are ten beef patties to a pound. To cook a McDonald's cheeseburger back in the day, you laid up to 12 patties on the grill and seared them to the surface with a searing tool.

Is McDonald's Big Mac 100 beef? ›

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

Each Quarter Pounder with Cheese burger features a ¼ lb.* of 100% fresh beef that's hot, deliciously juicy and cooked when you order.

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.

A quarter-pound patty of 100% beef, with two slices of cheese, onions, pickles, mustard and a dollop of tomato ketchup in a sesame seed bun. Irresistible.

Who supplies Wendy's beef? To ensure the highest quality square hamburgers for our fans, we source 100% of our fresh, never frozen beef from Beef Quality Assurance certified farmers and ranchers.

Plant-Based Whopper®

The Plant-Based Whopper is made up of a flame-grilled, soy-based patty, topped with tomatoes, fresh cut lettuce, vegan mayo, pickles, a swirl of ketchup, and sliced onions on a soft sesame seed bun.

Not only are our beef suppliers close to home, but we've handpicked partners who share the same values when it comes to quality, animal care, and safety in both product and work environment.

According to McDonald's website, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese has 530 calories, 27 grams of fat (13 of which are saturated fat), and 1,090 milligrams of sodium. "To put that in perspective, most dietitians recommend that a woman's lunch or dinner should be around 500 calories," says Upton.

We work with three dedicated Chicken McNuggets® suppliers with various manufacturing locations within the U.S., such as Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.

An average quarter beef will have a hanging weight of about 160 pounds. HOW MUCH MEAT WILL I TAKE HOME? The average quarter will yield 100-130 pounds of cut, wrapped and frozen meat. Of course, each beef will vary in size and since your beef will be custom processed to your specifications, the yield will vary slightly.

What oil does McDonald's use? ›

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. Want to hear more about our fry ingredients? Get the down low on how we flavor our fries.

Donald A. Gorske (born November 28, 1953) is an American world record holder known as the "ultimate Big Mac fan," having eaten over 32,672 such hamburgers from the U.S. fast food chain McDonald's in his lifetime, earning him a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Description and origin. The Chicken McNugget is a small piece of processed chicken meat that is fried in batter and flash-frozen at a central manufacturing facility, then shipped out and sold at McDonald's restaurants.