Does Arby’s Roast Beef Really Come in a Paste? Exposing the Myths

As a longtime Arby’s fan, I was disturbed when rumors started circulating that their famous roast beef arrives in stores as a liquid paste or gel. Arby’s has built their brand on freshly sliced roast beef, so I had to get the facts Does Arby’s really use meat paste? Let’s investigate this urban legend

How the Rumors Started

For decades, myths have claimed Arby’s roast beef comes as a powder, paste, or liquefied meat product According to fact-checking site Snopes, the likely source is Arby’s unusual delivery method

Each location receives vacuum-sealed bags containing one large roast beef hunk soaked in a gelatinous broth. Visually, this beef jelly looks quite different from raw beef you’d buy at a grocery store. The odd texture and color made some assume the meat itself was a paste.

Why the Myth Endures

This nasty rumor has stubbornly persisted since at least 1997, when Arby’s adamantly denied it to Snopes. So why does this myth linger?

Several factors help it endure:

• Arby’s roast beef quality is inconsistent between locations, fueling suspicions.

• The health perception of Arby’s food as highly processed makes the meat paste theory believable.

• Arby’s beef is actually cooked in the shipping bags before being sliced, further distorting its raw beef appearance.

• The strange shipping method gives an easy visual “explanation” for the myth.

Arby’s Strongly Refutes the Rumors

I went straight to the source and contacted Arby’s about these accusations. Their spokesperson stated:

“Our roast beef is 100% real beef, not any kind of paste or gel. It arrives as actual meat and is sliced fresh in stores daily.”

They explained that the self-basting solution the meat soaks in simply keeps it moist during cooking and slicing. It is not a meat substitute.

Insider Confirmation from Employees

Reviews from Arby’s employees corroborate the company’s statements. Former workers on Reddit confirm the roast beef comes as normal meat chunks, not paste, and is sliced to order in stores.

One noted that the soaked meat looks “squishy” and leads to assumptions, but it transforms into recognizable roast beef after cooking.

Arby’s Reliability on Roast Beef Reputation

Ultimately, Arby’s has built their entire brand on freshly sliced roast beef since 1964. Using a meat paste or gel would completely undermine their signature product and reputation.

The company has assured customers repeatedly that their roast beef is 100% real beef sliced in-store. They have too much business riding on their credibility in roast beef to risk using imitation meat.

The Verdict: Arby’s Does Not Use Meat Paste

Based on Arby’s consistent denials over decades, confirmation from employees, and the company’s reliance on authentic roast beef for their reputation, I feel confident concluding that Arby’s does NOT use a meat paste, gel, or liquefied meat product.

The unusual shipping method started rumors that have unreasonably persisted. But all evidence points to their roast beef being whole muscle beef cooked on-site at each restaurant.

Next time you enjoy an Arby’s sandwich, you can be assured it’s sliced from real roast beef, not from a meat-like paste from the future! This disturbing myth has been thoroughly debunked.

So fear not – Arby’s may have its flaws, but serving pseudo-meat product is not among them. Their signature roast beef sandwiches remain dependably packed with actual sliced beef.

The Takeaway: Arby’s Roast Beef is the Real Deal

While the Arby’s roast beef shipping method may look odd, their assurances hold true: the meat is 100% authentic beef every time. You can feel confident and satisfied knowing your sandwich contains no meat paste or substitutes. So next Arby’s run, order that roast beef sandwich and debunk this myth bite by delicious bite!