8 Myths About Fast Food You Might Have Thought Were True
Updated: Jan. 05, 2022
Next time you chow down on cheap eats, have no fear. We're here to separate takeout fact from fiction by debunking commonly believed fast food myths.
MYTH: Chicken McNuggets are Made from “Pink Slime”
McNuggets are indeed made from boneless white meat. To debunk the “pink goo” rumor, McDonald’s Canada released a video that shows the process in which they’re made: with genuine chicken breasts, spices and seasonings. Pass the barbecue sauce and get dunkin.’
Check out these McDonald’s copycat recipes you can make at home.
MYTH: KFC Breeds Six-Legged Monster “Chickens”
An Internet hoax falsely claimed that KFC uses genetically engineered organisms instead of chickens. There were even rumors flying around that Kentucky Fried Chicken officially shortened its brand name to the acronym KFC because it wasn’t using bona fide chickens on its menu. Don’t worry, no mutant chickens were harmed in the making of your drumsticks—and here’s the reason KFC officially changed its name.
MYTH: Taco Bell Uses Grade D Beef
For some time, there was speculation that Taco Bell meat was “Grade D.” The taco restaurant confirmed in 2011 that its beef is made up of 88% actual beef. The other 12% of the ingredients, rest assured, are completely safe and FDA-approved. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as “Grade D” based on FDA standards. Did you know that Taco Bell was rated one of the healthiest fast food companies in America? Here’s why.
MYTH: McDonald’s Ice Cream Contains No Real Dairy Products
You may have noticed that McDonald’s calls its frozen sweet drinks “shakes,” leaving out the “milk” prefix. According to yet another fast food conspiracy theory, McDonald’s shakes contain no real milk, and therefore shouldn’t be deemed a true dairy product. However, the pre-made mix used in the creamy shakes does indeed contain dairy.
Learn how to make a milkshake like a pro.
MYTH: The Name Arby’s is the Phonetic Spelling of “R.B.” for Roast Beef
It’s commonly believed that the sandwich chain that’s has the meats is named after its signature roast beef sandwich. However, according to the brand’s website, the name comes from its founders, Leroy and Forrest Raffel, the Raffel Brothers, or “RB” (or “Arby”) for short.
MYTH: McDonald’s Breakfast Sandwiches Don’t Contain Real Eggs
Next time you order an Egg McMuffin, know that you’re biting into the real deal. The eggs in McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches do indeed come from hens and aren’t made from a mysterious elixir that mimics an egg. The Grade A eggs in Egg McMuffins are cleaned and weighed, then freshly cracked and cooked in the store kitchens, and the other breakfast menu items use liquid eggs.
Make your own breakfast sandwiches at home with these recipes.
MYTH: White Castle’s Onions Are Anything But
An internet fable states that the “onions” in White Castle sliders are actually shredded cabbage soaked in onion juice. This myth was quickly negated with evidence showing the process of the bite-size burgers being made on the fryer. The company admits on their FAQ that they use dehydrated onions for their burgers, as they have been doing since World War II, when onions were rationed and in short supply.
MYTH: Fast Food Never Spoils or Rots
Contrary to what you may have heard, your McDouble is not immortal. To this day, many consumers believe that fast food menu items contain mass amounts of preservatives and chemicals that ultimately prevent them from ever decaying. Of course, you should know by now that even fast food is real food, and decays just like anything else you consume.
Originally Published: October 19, 2018
