Someone recently asked me what I think the worst ingredients are at McDonald’s and my first thought was… “Um, where do I start?!” The 37-page ingredient list for McDonald’s reads like an encyclopedia of nutrition-less, additive-filled, processed food. It should be pretty obvious that I don’t eat at McDonald’s (and many of you may not either) but I still have family members and friends that eat there on a regular basis (and I can guess you probably do too!).
According to a recent Morgan Stanley report, young adults eat at McDonald’s more than any other restaurant. What I found funny about their report is that while they eat there, they won’t admit it to their friends because they consider the food there so low quality.
Although most of us realize their food isn’t healthy and McDonald’s reports that their sales are struggling – they continue to feed thousands of Americans, day in and day out and that’s why it’s so important for you to share this information with all your friends and family members.
Do the people that eat at McDonald’s realize how many questionable chemicals they are eating in one meal?
McDonald’s announced recently that they are going through some major menu changes, and will be nixing some unnecessary ingredients. They also are finally listening to us, and will stop using chickens that are injected with growth-promoting antibiotics, along with dairy products raised with the growth hormone rbST but they still are using a lot of factory farmed meat and the beef is still raised with antibiotics.
McDonald’s even said they might add kale to their menu, by putting it in salads or in a smoothie. I LOVE kale, and I hope they don’t find a way to ruin it. You know the saying, “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig”. So, they need to do a lot more than just add kale to their menu before I’d ever eat there. The problem is that millions are still eating there and consuming several questionable food additives that McDonald’s could remove entirely if they really wanted to.
I know this because McDonald’s is already doing it for our friends overseas.
If you compare their ingredients with what they serve in London, you’ll see that many of the food additives used in the U.S. aren’t used over there at all, such as TBHQ, BHA, propyl gallate, azodicarbonamide, sodium phosphate and artificial colors. Instead of frying their food in partially hydrogenated oils laced with dimethylpolysiloxane like they do in the U.S., they use a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil blend instead. They also serve organic milk and don’t use GMO ingredients overseas – all while serving us GMOs here in the States. What they’re serving in other countries isn’t perfect, but it’s better.
When you eat just ONE single menu item at McDonald’s, even a “healthy” item like their Premium Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad, you’re really eating ingredients like powdered cellulose, soybean oil, autolyzed yeast extract, and high fructose corn syrup – and that doesn’t even include the dressing that’s loaded with more soybean oil and refined sugars. It’s no wonder that America is struggling as a nation with obesity, diabetes and heart disease. What would happen if McDonald’s took the lead here and finally ditched the worst ingredients on their menu? How much would the health of our nation improve?
My “Hit List” of the WORST 12 ingredients at McDonald’s No One Should Be Eating (8 of them aren’t even used in the UK at all)!
I compiled a little hit list of the biggest offenders on McDonald’s menu. If they got rid of these ingredients, dozens of menu items would be transformed for the better. Inform your friends!
1. Partially Hydrogenated Oils (19 menu items): These oils have no place in our food, as the main source of trans fats in our diet that has been unequivocally linked to heart disease and death. Until the FDA finally bans it, this ingredient should be voluntarily removed. Why should they wait for the FDA to force them to take it out when they already don’t use it in other countries? McDonald’s uses partially hydrogenated oil in their “liquid margarine” that’s used to cook their eggs – and even their “egg whites” that are advertised as a healthier option. You’ll find it in virtually all of their breakfast items with either an egg or biscuit, like Egg McMuffins, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel, and even in their low-calorie “Egg White Delight”.
2. Artificial Colors or Caramel Color (31 menu items): Artificial colors are an easy ingredient to ditch, since they don’t serve a purpose other than making “food” look better. These ingredients are on EWG’s Dirty Dozen Food Additives list, because caramel coloring is associated with cancer and there’s ongoing debate about the effects of artificial colors on children’s behavior. I’m a sucker for good ice cream, but McDonald’s doesn’t have it. McDonald’s chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry shakes are all artificially colored with either Red 40 or Yellow 5. Their “McCafe” mochas and chocolate chip frappes are tainted with artificial color Red 40 and caramel coloring. They also add caramel color to their “healthy” items like oatmeal and 8-Grain English Muffin (that’s used in the Egg White Delight), probably to make them look darker and more healthful.
3. Azodicarbonamide (aka The Yoga Mat Chemical) (30 menu items): This ingredient has been dropping like flies ever since I petitioned Subway to remove it from their bread. Pizza Hut, Bimbo Bakeries, Martin’s Potato Bread, Nature’s Own, Olive Garden, Starbucks, and Publix Grocery Store have announced they also have plans to remove the chemical from their products – and I think McDonald’s should be next. The EWG supported my petition because, “It is an industrial chemical added to bread for the convenience of industrial bakers,” and “EWG recommends that consumers take steps to avoid the industrial additive ADA in their food. It is an unnecessary ingredient, its use has raised concerns about occupational exposure, and questions remain about its potential risk to consumers. EWG also calls on all manufacturers to immediately end its use in food”. Nearly every sandwich at McDonald’s is still made with a bun that contains azodicarbonamide, from their most basic hamburger to the classic Big Mac.
4. Carrageenan (44 menu items): The Cornucopia Institute, has completed an in-depth analysis regarding the safety of this ingredient and subsequently petitioned the FDA to remove carrageenan from the “Generally Regarded As Safe” or GRAS determination. According to Cornucopia, animal studies show that “food-grade carrageenan causes gastrointestinal inflammation and higher rates of intestinal lesions, ulcerations, and even malignant tumors”. McDonald’s adds carrageenan to “crispy chicken” items like the Crispy Chicken Classic Sandwich and the Crispy Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap. You’ll also find carrageenan in their vanilla ice cream, McFlurries, Shakes, and in some breakfast sandwiches like the Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles.
5. High Fructose Corn Syrup (30 menu items): This type of sweetener has been shown to contribute more to obesity and diabetes than regular cane sugar (sucrose). Even if you don’t drink a Coke at McDonald’s, you’ll likely eat something with High Fructose Corn Syrup. It’s in most of the sauces that are slathered on their burgers, the Southwest Chicken wrap, and it’s mixed into their shakes and frappes. Not included in my count, but it’s also found in some of the dipping sauces that come with Chicken McNuggets such as the Sweet n’ Sour, BBQ, and ketchup.
6. Soybean Oil (65 menu items): Soybean oil is processed to death (usually with toxic hexane) and is very high in omega-6 fatty acids that are associated with an increased the risk of inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. I was downright shocked at the number of items that contain soybean oil at McDonald’s, and it would be a shorter list if I just summarized where you won’t find it! That’s because soybean oil is used in their fried items, buns, eggs, tortillas, and sauces – it’s pretty much impossible to avoid at McDonald’s.
7. TBHQ & Dimethylpolysiloxane (27 menu items): They use both of these ingredients in the oil in their fryers – but only in North America! TBHQ is a synthetic preservative that McDonald’s competitor Chick-fil-A is finally dumping, as it’s truly unnecessary. TBHQ is derived from petroleum and eating only 1 gram has been shown to cause all sorts of issues, from asthma to allergies, dermatitis, dizziness and it has even been linked to cancer. Dimethylpolysiloxane, the “silly putty” ingredient, simply doesn’t belong in food, and McDonald’s doesn’t use it in their fryers in other countries. So, why use it here? You’ve probably heard about its use in McDonald’s french fries and McNuggets, but you may not realize that it’s in other fried items like the Filet-O-Fish, Crispy Chicken Salads and Crispy Chicken McWraps.
8. BHA & Propyl Gallate (10 menu items): You’re not starting your day off right with these risky preservatives found in many breakfast items at McDonald’s. These preservatives are used together by McDonald’s and are both on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen List of Food Additives to avoid. BHA has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor and is believed to be a carcinogen, as BHA has caused tumors in animal studies. Propyl gallate has also been associated with tumors and endocrine disruption. You’ll find both of these ingredients in their Sausage Egg McMuffins, Sausage McGriddles, and Big Breakfasts.
9. Hidden MSG, Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Protein (23 menu items): Instead of adding straight-up monosodium glutamate (MSG) to their food, they sneak in other additives (yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins) that contain free glutamic acid, the main component of MSG. These ingredients are purely used to make you crave their food and eat more than you should, and are excitotoxins that are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. McDonald’s adds these to Chicken McNuggets and Chicken Selects chicken strips, along with some burger sauces like the Big Mac sauce and Buttermilk Ranch sauce. You’ll even find it in salads with crispy chicken.
10. Sodium Phosphate (56 menu items): This preservative is so commonly used that if you eat processed food, you likely eat it daily. That doesn’t mean it’s safe. When you eat phosphate additives often, it can lead to excessive levels of phosphate in the blood and puts you at risk of chronic kidney disease, increased mortality, heart disease, and accelerated aging. The EWG also warns that sodium phosphate is an additive to avoid. This preservative is used in all of their cheese slices and in their ice cream, so all burgers with cheese and shakes contain it. It also preserves the crispy chicken used in McWraps and salads.
11. Cellulose (30 menu items): Ground breaking research links this additive to weight gain, inflammation and digestive problems. As reported by CBS News, “A new study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, finds evidence that these chemicals in food can alter the gut bacteria, or microbiome, potentially causing intestinal inflammation which makes a person more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome and significant weight gain”. McDonald’s adds cellulose to the shredded cheese in their McWraps, their Sausage Breakfast Burrito, biscuits, shakes, smoothies and ice cream.
12: DATEM (30 menu items): The acronym “DATEM” stands for “Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Monoglycerides”, and it’s a dough conditioner that is usually derived from soybean or canola oil (GMO crops). This ingredient can be a hidden form of deadly trans fat in our food that most people don’t know about. Just like partially hydrogenated oils, these artificial trans fats have been linked to heart disease and the CDC attributes them to up to “7,000 coronary heart disease deaths each year in the U.S”! This chemical invention is clearly not a necessary ingredient in bread, but you’ll find it in most of McDonald’s buns and in their english muffins.
If you’re like me and still have loved ones eating at McDonald’s, please share this post with them!
The more awareness we can bring to these chemicals that are being served up to thousands of Americans everyday as “food”, the faster these companies will change! I have something new and really exciting coming out next week that can transform your lunchtime eating habits. Make sure you’re subscribed to email updates so that you don’t miss out!
Xo,
Vani
P.S. Maybe this is why McDonald’s is advertising their bathrooms instead of their food now?
If you like investigations like this, you will love my books.
In my #1 best selling book The Food Babe Way – I teach you even more ways you can break free from the hidden toxins in your food, lose weight, look years younger and get healthy in just 21 days. In my 2nd book, Feeding You Lies, I blow the lid off of the lies we’ve been fed about the food we eat – lies about its nutrient value, effects on our health, label information, and even the very science we base our food choices on. And, my first cookbook, Food Babe Kitchen, contains over 100 mouthwatering recipes to show you how delicious and simple it is to eat healthy, easy, real food. Available anywhere books are sold.
Their advertising is working. I’ve been to McDonalds twice last year, and on both visits, I ordered the same thing: “May I have the key to the restroom, please.”
Haha! Good one!
Are the hotcakes safe?
These are the ingredients: Water, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Whey, Yellow Corn Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Eggs, Contains 2% Or Less: Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Dextrose, Egg Whites, Emulsifier (Mono and Diglycerides, Propylene Glycol Monoester, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate), Salt, Artificial Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Beta Carotene (Color), Soy Lecithin (Processing Aid).
Tjarley has to be super lazy not to make pancakes from scratch! Seriously– who doesn’t read labels anymore? You don’t have to mill your own flour to make pancakes! When did our society stop cooking and think everything must come from a box??!!
The short answer to your question is yes, if eaten in moderation.
If you see ANY of those ingredients in the ‘hot list’ above, then the answer is NO.
NOT safe.
Chemicals even in moderation are NOT safe. One meal can cause headaches, bloating, migraines, MSG attack; it’s like saying that a little poison won’t kill you. Uh, but it can….and does…because no-one who engages in fast food is the “moderation type”. McDonald customers: just please give up this toxic poison.
That’s like saying brownies with a little dog pooh in them are okay if eaten in moderation.
So you are saying less toxins are better than more toxins. That’s genius.
I used to say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I was wrong. It actually kills you very slowly.
The problem is that toxins are accumulative and they stay in your body until you do something about it.
Moderation is relative. For some it’s once a day for others it’s once a year!
Wondering if you saw the article by Snack Girl about you?
I recently had a conversation about their nuggets and the pink slime controversy…not the fake strawberry yogurt pic online but the horrible ingredients processed together that are pink and slimey looking (even in their video). When we googled it we saw that on the McDonald’s website they are taking HUGE steps to change these ideas in people’s minds. They have bright picture for FAQs with videos and “answers”. They point out all the positive things like, using real chicken meat and even natural rosemary extract but neglect all the other crap that they put in their food. If only they would take all that effort and money wasted on cleaning their image and actually clean their ingedients list!
I have not eaten at McDonald’s or any other fast food place in many years.
I will not let my kids eat there either.
My question is why do they have this ‘stuff’ in the food…..do they want us to be sick.
Thank you Food Babe for giving this information it is very helpful!
Toxins are cheaper than healthy, natural products.
Why just McDonalds? Carls Jr is ok? Wendys, Burger King and so on?
Because they’re the industry leader and the reason all the others use the same ingredients. McDonald’s has immense influence over the entire beef industry for example because they have such high demand. When they demand rBST then suddenly it becomes the standard. But the reverse is also true.
But I contend that much like GMO’s they should be boycotted out of existence. If you have to force or shame them into selling actual food instead of counterfeits and toxic junk for profit then they will just have food scientists cook up some new unregulated toxic additives and fillers to replace them.
It’s all garbage.
Wendy’s, Carls Junior, Burger King, Taco Bell are no different. All fast food and processed food is unhealthy.
The last time I ate at McDonalds the food was so bad I called and complained and told them it would be my last trip. This just enforces my resolve.
The last time we darkened their door we were traveling home and stopped for a coffee pick-me-up..You know their gourmet type coffee. Right. We got a small French fry to share for a snack. Well, the coffee was very stale and burnt tasting and the fries were stiff and gummy. All old, no doubt. All ended in the trash, and have never gone back even just for coffee.
You should’ve went back and complained.
Vani, you are like a total hero for me and my girlfriend Linda. We have been following Dr.Hyman and also The Food Babe Way, and Linda has not had to take an insulin shot in the last six days. Our congressman is Tim Ryan and he goes to our church. We got to talk about you and your wonderful work. We feel so much better. You are an inspiration and an angel!! Thank you so much for all you do!!!
I definitely support you. I have seen you take knocks for not being a “food scientist”. I don’t think those critics have thought this through. #1) Food scientists have created our nutritional mess in the first place. 2) Food scientists are all employed by the Food Industry directly or indirectly. Are they going to bite the hand that feeds them?….Vani, please keep up the good work. You will be criticized by the threatened, the ill informed, and the jealous. You will also mess up occasionally, which is OK.
I was wondering when you were going to report on McDonald’s. Thank you again for great information. You’re so courageous. Sad reality is the victims are people without knowledge of the harmful ingredients and people who think $1 burgers are best for the budget. What’s really expensive – treating diabetes, heart disease, endocrine system problems the medical community hasn’t even started talking about, etc.! You help so many.
If anyone is eating at McDonalds or any fast food joint for their health, maybe they are just stupid?
These places are not in business to feed the masses healthy food. They are in business to make money with food people will buy.
It’s legal and they can make money at it.
If you want to eat healthy, do not eat fast food. Why is this so shocking?
The problem is, Richard, this is not just prevalent at McDonalds. It’s the industry norm. So much so, that it’s almost impossible to eat out at all, without being served some form of toxins in the food. So yes, it is shocking. And people are generally not aware, and mainstream news avoids serious discussions about it. Ignorance, stupidity, and culpability are all quite different things.
I think this creates a debate as to where personal responsibility stops and where regulations have to be installed to protect the consumer.
This article targets McDonalds..but that is just the start. Soon, articles like this will target every restaurant in the world. Our nanny governments will have to create more regulation to keep the population safe. That means the government will have to hire more and more people to enforce regulations, taxes will have to go up and up so people can safely eat at McDonalds.
Personally, I’d rather have the market decide. If I want to eat a burger, I really don’t care about knowing the calories or ingredients..I’m there to eat a freaking burger! If I want to eat healthy, I will seek out establishments that serve healthy food or pack my own lunch. It might even create an “industry” of healthy restaurants…but government wants to control all industries so the healthy eating industry will become over regulated as well.
If I’m looking for healthy food, I’d likely not stop at McDonalds after hitting the gym. …but that’s just me.
Clearly, there needs to be more articles to tell us that eating fast food is unhealthy and we need more government regulation to force us to eat healthy.
Thank you food Nazis! yeah, I said it
I second that Mitchell!
The reason why its not used in the UK is because its not allowed. Its the same in my country! In EU its recognised (since many countries have free healthcare) that its not ONLY the responsibility of the indiviual to protect yourself against harm (that alo why we have traffic rules etc). In Denamrk where i live we banned partially hydrogenated oils many years ago (beofr EU) and all the vendors that claimed that we would be killing them are still there! Laws can be made fast and its pretty effective (especially when all the alternatives already exists as is evident from fact that they are sed e.g. in the UK).
This is why we stopped eating at McDonald’s several years ago. It makes my family sick to eat their foods. Be it nuggets, burgers, or fries my lil ones would get nauseous and then spend the day in the bathroom for a few days afterwards….Just say no to McDonald’s food.
Yeukk!,
I wasn’t aware that it was THAT bad! ,but, Vani, I do have one question for you when you get time.
I ONLY go to McDonalds for coffee because, to me it’s one of the best tasting coffee’s I’ve found with it’s rich, gourmet taste.
Do you believe that it might be GMO beans?.
Thanks:-).
I’m so addicted to their hot coffee! It’s my favorite. I know their coffee cream isn’t half and half but I can’t get enough of it. I don’t ever eat there.
Even if it’s not GMO, coffee is one of the world’s most highly “pesticided” crop. It’s best to buy organic coffee. It’s almost the same price as regular conventional coffee. I personally will not drink coffee with pesticides on it. No way!
I think Tim Hortons has great coffee, I just had some today :d
The only healthy use for any coffee no matter what the quality, is in the form of an enema.
Jeff, knock yourself out then, I’ll enjoy mine in a less perverse way…..:-)
If they put a warning label on all of the food that said you will get diarrhea, this would be a fair statement. I cook three meals a day at my house. I love eating out but you never know what’s in the food.
After seeing the ingredients used in McDonalds foods, it raises the question: ‘why do they have a place called the Ronald McDonald house that treats highly I’ll children?’
Do these children eat McDonalds foods?
Do these foods contain carcinogenic ingredients?
Do these sick children continue to eat food cooked up by McDonalds while admitted?
A company that promotes unhealthy food also promotes a place to heal.
Confused?
Rachael to ease your mind a bit, Ronald McDonald House is to house the families of sick children who live farther away from the hospital.
My oldest child had a stroke before birth and we were fortunate enough to get a room at the Ronald McDonald House for a week. The house is like a hotel but they have a FULLY stocked kitchen with groceries from local grocery stores. The staff also provide a cooked meal for the families staying at a designated time where families can mingle and meet others that are going through similar hard times. They provide housing only not medical care. Also to stay is free with the hopes you can donate a small amount of money and they gave my son a lovely hand quilted blanket that had been donated by a local lady who made quilts and donated them to the house to give to families when they were able to leave their child was release from hospital care. My family took care of donating for us and we received a lovely thank you card a few weeks later. I don’t eat at McDonalds unless its a last resort but I’ve stayed twice at a Ronald McDonald house and they are WONDERFUL!
Could McDonalds change? What a question! McDonalds has re-made the American food production system to suit its needs and the needs of other eating establishments like it, starting in the early 70’s. Responding to the American desire for speed, low price and high taste in food, they made history. Has everyone read Eric Schlosser’s fine book “Fast Food Nation”? Some amazing facts about food and how deep the fast food industry goes into our economy, our health, our lifestyle. If McDonalds and its ilk could demand clean food, it would make an astonishing difference in our lives.
You mean I’ll be able to get my McChem chunks with a side of Kale? Yum.
OK just wondering have you ever gone into someones home and scrutinized what they are cooking for home made meals every day. No I’m not upset but I’m wondering if we cook at home, buying from the grocery stores, are we really doing that much better when we’re eating a “Home Cooked Meal”? Inquiring minds want to know.
That all depends on what/how we want to eat at home. When we shop in supermarkets we have choices. A choice could be shopping the veggies, fruits and outer isles (meat, dairy etc.) but even then, being watchful on ingredients. My wife and I especially shun the meat and most dairy … but we have alternatives close to home that are organic. Best suggestion would be to check ingredients in whatever we buy. If it includes chemicals, food coloring, etc. we simply don’t buy it. Now, when visiting friends we never scrutinize what they eat. Enjoying good hospitality seems to be in order and thus enjoy the meal.
For those folks who can grow a few veggies at home, great. We can’t all do that, however if possible grow what we can. Bottom line, try to stay away from processed food and eat as fresh as possible. Watch ingredients.
But even some people can’t do that, some people have to look at the price and not the ingredients cause there are people who struggle to get groceries in their fridges.
I am proud to say that my daughter of 7 all on her own accord will no longer eat MCD’s because of how heathy we eat at home. We have been teaching her better eating habits by helping her to understand what she is eating. It makes me proud that she can see past the marketing to see the food (or lack there of) for what it really is. My girlfriend turned me on to food babe and I have to admit. I am a big fan. Please keep up the amazing work. It is nice to know some one has our back.
Hi Vani
Just a thought … myself and my children are vegan and recently my hubby tried it out for a month, after his one month trial he had Meat from McDs. He was sick to his stomach for 2 days!! All the chemicals in the meats are terrible and do make you sick. So happy we are all vegan now!!! Consuming the pain and suffering of animals by eating meat will lead one to more pain and suffering!!!
Great article. Thx
IN 1994 I had a lab puppy that devoured everything and Zeke turned down MikiDs fries and then and there I stopped eating that crap……Why do they have organic MacDonalds without all the chemicals in europe ????????
I’ve seen warnings about cellulose before (e.g. on other posts at this site). The links provided reference studies on carboxymethylcellulose – is this what we are to avoid, or avoid all forms cellulose? Can somebody clarify this?
You would have trouble avoiding all forms of cellulose. Cellulose itself is a major constituent of all plant cells and is known as the insoluble fibre in our diets.
[Sodium] carboxymethyl cellulose, or cellulose gum, is a derivative that is soluble in water and is used as an emulsifier and thickener, among other things.
You can’t force them to change, Vani. You’ve done your part by educating them. Now it’s their turn to take responsibility for their own health.
I boycotted McDonald’s back in 2001 and haven’t been back since once I found out that the new Labeling Law (back in the early 2000’s) was coming out and McDonald’s, even knowing if was coming for 2-3 years earlier, still hadn’t taken the trans-fats out of their foods as some of the other fast-food restaurants had already modified their foods and removed the trans-fats. McDonald’s states that they were worried about their french fries not tasting the same, but this was just a stall tactic. The Girl Scouts, STILL to this day, after all the research on health concerns, have not removed trans-fats from their cookies!
I live in China as do many Americans and other foreigners. Mc Donald’s, KFC and Burger King are here, and millions of Chinese are eating these fast foods everyday. Do you have any idea if these bad chemicals, hormones, etc. are also in these foods over here? I ate McDonald’s chicken which does not taste good a couple times and the fish sandwich was terrible. No more for me. So many Chinese people I know have not been educated about the poisons in fast food so it would be helpful if they knew what they are eating. Thank you for your expose’ so we can try as much as possible to avoid foods that are not safe to eat.
lets face it, most places we go to eat at we shouldnt. Unless you buy it and make it yourself its got things in it we shouldnt have as our gov’t does not care….
The truth is, if we want to be healthy we need to eat at home, and never eat out!
You just do not know what you are eating in restaurants!
Many kinds of additives are in the foods and beverages we buy right from the stores. It is as if there were some unseen monster trying to cause pain, suffering and death lurking behind the scenes. We no sooner think of one piece to our puzzle to help us become healthier and wham-o, there are more things to contend with as to what/how we eat. We honestly need to look beyond these poisonous influences, asking a heartfelt, “WHY?” There IS an answer. JW.ORG check it out! I did! Amazing.
Hi Vani,
I do something similar to you here in Australia but I focus more on what’s in cosmetics because I have a beauty background.
But I have had a bit of a look into McDonald’s here and they are doing not too bad of a job. I think the only genetically modified ingredient is their tartare sauce and the oil they use to cook with has improved slightly.
I still don’t like eating there but occasionally while traveling it’s the only option and at least I can choose wiser now.
Did you do much research into Australian McDonalds??
Proud to say that I have not eaten at McDonald’s since 1976. I know without a doubt that I am much healthier for it!!! It is indeed a very rare occasion for me to eat at any fast food establishment. Sometimes when a group of us are out and about, I get voted down with my usual choice of “someplace where I can get my veggies” and I go with the flow but I am extremely opinionated about what I will eat while there. Thank you, Vani, for your efforts in trying to keep us healthy!
I havent eaten mcdonalds in years,gross. I just wamted to make a comment though on soybean oil. Obvi is bad. But what about organic soybean oil ? I noticed that in a few things i buy. I really try to avoid it but is organic soybean oil bad ?
Soy mimics estrogen in the body. (Think early puberty among other concerns.) Organic just means little or no pesticides, but should be avoided. Fermented soy is the only safe form. Women with positive estrogen receptors are advised to avoid soy due to cancer risks.
Not sure if McDonald’s here in Canada use the same ingredient list as in the US but I never eat there as it makes me feel very ill! However A&W is a place my family and I visit on the rare occasion. I was just looking at their website and they seem to be sourcing all of their beef, chicken and eggs from farms that don’t use steroids or antibiotics. Do you have any insight into the A&W franchise?
Would you do this for the foods at Chick Fil A? People think everything is great
there and it’s not.
Hi Joan, check out these posts:
https://foodbabe.com/2011/07/09/chick-fil-a-or-chemical-fil-a/
https://foodbabe.com/2013/12/03/breaking-news-chick-fil-a/
https://foodbabe.com/2014/02/12/chick-fil-agrees-go-antibiotic-free/
I swear Vani, you are the awesomest chick on the planet for posting lists like this! I admire you so much!
I haven’t eaten fast food for 9 years, or longer. I remember in 2006 I was on a field trip and we HAD to eat at McDonald’s. That was the last time, but if you don’t count that time, it has been more like 20 years since I ate there.
Vani, I’m very impressed by and thankful for your efforts. I’m sure you will be growing some thick skin, as you weather the orchestrated attacks that will be coming your way. The powers behind the corporate food industry are extremely intelligent and have most of the media at their beck and call, if not on their payroll. Hitting them in their pocketbook is the only effective method for change, right now.
Stay in this game as long as you can, but please quit, if it starts to ruin your life. You’ve already made a significant contribution and I hope you will continue for some time. You have every reason to be proud of the service you have provided us all. Kudos to you! This is how we will build a better world.
Posted! Referred to them as the ‘Arch Nemesis’ or ‘Archenemy’ !!! 😉 Thanks for what you do. You are an intelligent answer to ignorant doctors, bad medicine, and corporate giants that are all killing people.
Bimbo bakeries uses DATEM and soybean oil in their otherwise not too obnoxious Arnold’s Buttermilk bread.
I hope you can get them to remove these and go non GMO.
There is only one reason why manufacturers use artificial and questionable ingredients. They make it last longer whilst keeping the product edible and appealing. Both result in decrease cost that strangely they find irresistible and pass that bad taste on to you.
I have been showing my “Happy Meal” to children in schools in my area for over 9 YEARS, yes,9 YEARS! There is no mold on the fries or bun. I keep it in 2 zip lock bags (the first one, the grease seeped through and started to smell a little), also in a Tupperware container in the back of one of my kitchen cupboards. The receipt that had been attached to the outside of the first zip lock bag is so grease laden, you can no longer read the print…it’s gone! I tell the students, “If it doesn’t sprout, throw it out! ” Many families no longer eat at McDonalds, I am very happy to report! Let’s all keep doing our part! If you want to try this “experiment”, make sure you purchase a plain burger, no ketchup, onions, etc… since they contain “some” real food ingredients, the burger will go bad. My bun and fries look like I bought them a few minutes ago! Yuck!
Keep up the great work Food Babe. You’ve literally changed the way I see and consume food. I used to eat so unhealthy and from time to time I still do but at least now I think twice where as before I would have never even thought about what I was eating. The work you are doing has had a real change in my life. Thank you again for all that you do to shed light on the poisons and toxins in our food. You are making a real difference. Keep it up!
Vani, my friends who have never listened to me suddenly told me they won’t be eatinng at mcdonalds anymore. While that news is wonderful they still go to Burger King alot. I’m talking they go 3-4 times a week!! Why do people think that only ONE fast food chain is bad and the others are angels?!
Vani, I have friends in university who are far away from home. My bestfriend included moved to New York and we facetime frequently and I get really upset when she tells me she’s going to Dunkin Donuts!! I want to prevent this but there isn’t much information on DD and I personally have never been there. Could you please do an investigation??
Vani, this list is amazing. I will forward this to everyone I know. I have one question though, can you do a list on Canadian McDonalds?
Canadian McDonald’s does a list on Canadian McDonald’s:
http://www1.mcdonalds.ca/NutritionCalculator/IngredientFactsEN.pdf
ou en français:
http://www1.mcdonalds.ca/NutritionCalculator/IngredientFactsFR.pdf
I try to eat only organic and am gluten sensitive – so eat no gluten. Which restaurants do you like – I hate eating out – the whole thing freaks me out!!!!
I love what you are doing – keep at it!!!!! And THANKS!!!!
It pains when I see grammar errors…. This Is For Everyone That Still Eats at McDonald’s (Even if they won’t admit it!) By Food Babe
CORRECT GRAMMAR: This Is For Everyone Who Still Eats at McDonald’s (Even if they won’t admit it! By Food Babe
Anyspraaay….as I was saying Vani, great job on this article! You rock!!!!!
For someone so anal, where is your endquote? (Grammar, spelling and punctuation errors really bother me as well!)
Wow!!!! Vani! I knew it was bad but I’m flipping out over here! Especially seeing how many awful ingredients the US uses vs the UK. I wonder if there’s information out there on how many of the McDonalds Uppers making all of these decisions actually eat the company’s food? I’m sure if anyone can get this info you can! Thanks for keepin the information coming! Very shocking!
My advice to you, Vani, is to stick with teaching those who are receptive, and quit trying to convert your family. It’s very sad, but can tear your family apart.
Yes, I am speaking for VERY personal experience. The family members who are open will ask your advice. Otherwise, as hard as it is, let them eat cake!
Hey Dorothy, get a life!
I love McDonald’s! Eat it every day. You don’t? More for me!
Most of ya’ll have too much time on your hands. Except of course those who will profit financially from the lemmings that follow them. Al Gore economics. Just leave us alone. Talk amongst yourselves . You choose your food and I’ll choose mine. AMEN
This is all good work you do and report, and we praise you for it. If, at some future date the ingredient lists in our food ever read like something wholesome, the remaining concern we will have is what is being fed to the animals we consume.
Sometime in the Forties, I am a little kid my mother lent to some people who thought they would be charitable and take me to a McDonald’s type establishment. I would not eat white bread because I watched my father make glue out of flour and water. So off with the bun. I saw white spots in the alleged meat. I put it on the table and pulled these elastic white spots out into straight lines, and watched them ooze back to their original place. The people scolded me. Told me to eat that. I said it wasn’t food, it was to play with, and did not eat it.
They were miffed.