This is a very popular belief about many types of fast food, but fast food hamburgers get the worst of it. Many believe that fast food burgers are made more from industrial chemicals than real food, and for that reason, never rot or go bad. But in fact, studies have found that while a fast food burger will dry out quite a bit when left out because the normal cooking process leaves it without much moisture, it will eventually rot.
Source: Seriouseats.com
Don’t be quick to assume you’re making a better choice by going to your local sit down restaurant instead of a fast food one. Many believe fast food will always have the higher calorie count than its sit-down-restaurant equivalent, but it only gets that reputation because fast food places are forced to disclose their calorie information. That being said, while a fast food burger and fries might run you around 1,200 calories, studies have found that many meals at a sit down restaurant will run you nearly 1,500 calories or more.
Source: Abcnews.go
McDonald’s perfectly shaped egg patties have raised some speculation. Many wonder how they can be made so quickly and fresh and come out in that shape. But McDonald’s has admitted it’s quite simple: they cook the eggs in a ring mold. Even you could do that at home with your eggs.
Source: Lifehacker.com
If your excuse for eating fast food regularly was budget-related, that excuse is now void. Think about it: a combo meal of a burger, fries and a drink at most fast food restaurants ranges between $6 and $9. If you buy a combo for a family of four, you’re looking at anywhere from $24 to $36 for dinner. But you could buy enough groceries to make that meal several times with that money.
Source: Huffingtonpost.com
It’s uncertain where this rumor began, but rumors have spread that Arby’s roast beef begins as a strange, gel substance. Employees of Arby’s have come forward and said the beef is real beef, but the confusion might have come about because the beef arrives at Arby’s locations in airtight bags, surrounded with a basting solution that looks like gel.
Source: Snopes.com
Several years ago, someone tried to sue Taco Bell, saying their meat was only a very low percentage of actual beef. The court dismissed the case, finding there was no real basis for a lawsuit. But of course, the mass media missed that detail and instead, spread the rumor that Taco Bell beef is something like 13% beef and 87% filler. Taco Bell has since released a statement saying that in fact their beef is 88% real beef and 12% filler.
Source: Latimes.com
There was in fact a finger found in Wendy’s chili, but like the case of the lawsuit against Taco Bell, the media didn’t follow up. The person who found the finger in her chili pleaded guilty to planting the finger in her food as part of an extortion plan.
Source: Usatoday.com
There are plenty of studies that show how people can develop addictions to sugar and fat, however there is no secret ingredient in fast food that makes people crave it more than any other type of food. We are biologically built to crave fat—our cavemen ancestors needed to eat as much as they could between running from wild animals. But there are high levels of fat in plenty of foods, not just fast food.
Source: Foxnews.com
Because these shakes are so thick, and because making shakes with real ice cream can be costly, rumors spread that something strange must be used in McDonald’s shakes. One of the biggest rumored ingredients was pig fat. But McDonald’s has come forward and said that, while they don’t use real ice cream, they just use a pre-made mix that is in fact dairy-based.
Source: McDonalds.co.uk
White Castle meat patties are loved for their juicy, salty onions, but rumors spread that those onions were not onions at all but in fact cabbage soaked in onion juice (if the rumor were true, hey—at least cabbage is healthy!) But White Castle responded to this rumor, stating that they do use real onions. They’re rehydrated onions, which might alter their appearance.
Source: Culinarylore.com
Kentucky Fried Chicken changed its name to KFC for a very specific reason, but the masses believed it was for a very different specific reason. KFC in fact changed their name to have a healthier image, stating that the word “fried” has unhealthy connotations. But rumors spread that they changed the name because they don’t use real chicken.
Source: Businessinsider.com
You’ve probably seen the viral images of the pink slime used to make the hamburger meat in McDonald’s hamburgers. It’s called Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) and as disturbing as it may look, it is deemed safe to use by the FDA and no diseases have been linked to it.
Source: Meatsafety.org
That calorie count you see posted on the wall isn’t always accurate. If an employee gets heavy handed on the mayonnaise on your burger, or the cheese on your burrito bowl, that calorie count changes drastically. That count is based on the average calorie count for the item. But you’re not always getting the average item.
Source: Abcnews.go
Many believe these fluffy, perfectly white nuggets couldn’t possibly be all real chicken. But McDonald’s has stated that they don’t use any strange fillers. They do, however, use chicken skin to make up the nuggets because it adds a great flavor. But that is still real chicken.
Source: Businessinsider.com
McDonald’s has a large audience of conspiracy theorists it seems. Rumors spread that they grind up the entire cow into their patties. McDonald’s has listed the parts of the cow they use as shoulder, chuck, rib eye, brisket, loin and round.
Source: McDonalds.com
