I want to be crystal clear right up front: I love McDonalds. Yes, this tree-hugging, make-my-chicken-broth-from-scratch, wont-buy-berries-unless-theyre-organic foodie loves McDonalds. I haven’t eaten at Burger King or Taco Bell in years, and the thought of White Castle or Taco Bell makes me sick. But the taste of a McDonald’s cheeseburger, which hasn’t changed much since I was a kid, makes me think of home. I also have a slight Egg McMuffin problem. Do I eat it every day? Hardly. Its hangover food. Its late-night “being bad” food. Its a once-in-a-blue moon treat (that I oddly craved constantly when I was pregnant). McDonald’s and I had a relationship like that of an old, close friend from elementary school when I was an adult. You dont see them often, but you always enjoy catching up.
But then my baby daughter grew up into the 7-year-old she is today. I tried to feed my baby organic homemade baby food purees and low-sugar pumpkin muffins in her lunchbox, but they didn’t go over well. Now I have a little person who loves “Old McDonald’s.” So, once a week, after her music lesson, we get her the same thing every time: a cheeseburger Happy Meal with four French fries on the side.
But is it really that bad? As I thought about this question while smelling her fries, I chose to learn more about one item on the menu. It’s the one that’s been getting the most attention and blame lately, and McDonald’s advertising has been making big claims about it. So lets explore whats really in McDonalds Chicken McNuggets.
McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are a fast food staple for many families. The bite-sized, breaded and fried chicken pieces are convenient, kid-friendly and tasty. But over the years, there have been rumors about what’s really inside those crunchy nuggets. One common myth is that McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets contain pork. Is this true or just an urban legend?
What McDonald’s Says About Chicken McNugget Ingredients
According to McDonald’s their Chicken McNuggets contain just a few basic ingredients
- 100% white meat chicken
- A marinade for flavor
- A breaded coating
The chicken is cut from the tenderloin breast and rib sections. They explicitly state that no artificial colors flavors or preservatives are used. And most importantly, McDonald’s confirms that there is no pork in their Chicken McNuggets.
This means that pork is not one of the ingredients used to make Chicken McNuggets, despite rumors to the contrary McDonald’s has repeatedly refuted claims that their nuggets contain pork
Where Did the Pork Rumor Come From?
So how did this pork myth get started in the first place?
Some sources cite a 1983 television commercial featuring McDonald’s executives tours a Chicken McNugget factory. In the ad, they remark that “parts is parts,” implying that McNuggets were made of low-quality meat scraps.
However, this ad was misinterpreted. The executives were referring to the fact that white meat can come from different parts of the chicken, not other animals. Still, the “parts is parts” line led some people to speculate that McNuggets contained filler ingredients like pork.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver also fueled concerns in a 2010 video that aimed to show kids how Chicken McNuggets are made. He referred to low-quality meat as “pink slime,” causing many to think this ingredient was used in McNuggets.
In reality, the “pink slime” Oliver referenced is a product called lean finely textured beef (LFTB) – not an ingredient in Chicken McNuggets. And after public outcry, McDonald’s removed LFTB from all menu items in 2011.
Quality Control at McDonald’s Chicken McNugget Factories
To dispel myths and demonstrate transparency, McDonald’s has given behind-the-scenes looks at how Chicken McNuggets are made in real factories.
In 2014, the company posted a video tour of their Chicken McNugget manufacturing process. It shows boneless white meat chicken being inspected, chopped, marinated and breaded. Nuggets are cooked in hot oil before being flash frozen for transport and then reheated at restaurants.
Throughout these tours, McDonald’s emphasizes that Chicken McNuggets only contain chicken – no filler or pork products. Their factories also have strict quality control measures in place.
For example, workers must wear protective gear to avoid contaminating the chicken. The factory environment is highly sanitized, and chicken is constantly tested to ensure food safety. This video footage helped provide solid evidence against pork rumors.
Why Don’t Chicken McNuggets Taste Like Pork?
Skeptics of the pork rumor have also pointed out that Chicken McNuggets simply don’t taste like pork. The flavor and texture of the nuggets match what you’d expect from breaded, fried chicken. There are no discernible pork-like qualities.
If the nuggets contained a significant amount of pork, the taste would likely be noticeably different. But customers find McNuggets taste just like chicken – because that’s exactly what they contain.
How Chicken McNuggets Fit Into a Healthy Lifestyle
At the end of the day, Chicken McNuggets are an indulgent fast food treat, not a health food. While an occasional order of nuggets won’t hurt you, they aren’t recommended as an everyday meal due to high sodium and fat content.
Registered dietitians advise enjoying Chicken McNuggets in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet. Be mindful of portion size and other nutrition components in your meals to keep your diet well-rounded.
As an infrequent fast food option, Chicken McNuggets can fit into healthy eating habits for both kids and adults. Just don’t overdo it on nugget consumption – variety is key!
The Bottom Line
Based on ingredients information direct from McDonald’s, as well as video footage showing how they’re produced, Chicken McNuggets definitively do not contain any pork products.
This pervasive myth seems to have originated from misconceptions about a 1980s ad and concerns about low-quality meat parts in McNuggets. But McDonald’s has dispelled these pork rumors by disclosing their simple list of ingredients and demonstrating their commitment to quality chicken.
While no one should eat Chicken McNuggets every day, they can be an occasional fast food treat you enjoy guilt-free – as long as you feel assured there’s no mystery pork lurking inside those crunchy breaded bites.
What are McNuggets cooked in?
Though TBHQ is absent from the new McNuggets recipe, McDonalds still hasnt removed it from all the cooking oil. The McDonalds website indicates that TBHQ oil may still be in the fryers of many of its restaurants.
In an email, Becca Hary, McDonald’s global director of media relations, said, “Before August 2016, our former Chicken McNuggets were cooked in oil that contained an artificial preservative that is no longer added to the restaurant cooking oil.” What did she mean? There is no word on how long it will take for restaurants to switch to the new oil that McDonald’s is making, though. Citric acid is still listed as an ingredient in the “old” oil, too.
What are the actual ingredients in McNuggets?
McDonalds is pretty forthcoming with the current ingredient list of their famous chicken McNuggets — its listed right there on their website:
“White boneless chicken, water, vegetable oil (canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil), enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, vegetable starch (modified corn, wheat, rice, pea, corn), salt, leavening (baking soda, Sodium aluminum phosphate, Sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium lactate, monocalcium phosphate), spices, yeast extract, lemon juice solids, Dextrose, natural flavors “.
Should any of these ingredients cause you concern? Lets break some down.
Food Theory: The Many Lies of McDonalds Chicken Nuggets
FAQ
Are chicken nuggets in McDonald’s halal?
What’s in McDonald’s chicken nuggets?
Does McChicken have pork?
What are the ingredients in McDonald’s chicken?
Are McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets made from chicken?
McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets® are made with all white meat chicken and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The chicken, which is cut from the tenderloin, breast and rib, gets mixed with a marinade for flavor and to help the Chicken McNuggets® keep their fun shapes. © 2017 – 2024 McDonald’s.
Are McDonald’s chicken nuggets healthy?
McDonald’s McNuggets offer quality protein in the form of chicken breast but they’re also high in sodium, which the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting. While McNuggets can fit into a nutritious eating pattern, lean protein sources with less fat and sodium are better choices. What Are McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Made Of?
Are Chicken McNuggets fried?
They’re coated in a light tempura batter, partially fried and quickly frozen to preserve flavor. Once in our restaurants, they’re fully fried and served hot to you with a delicious taste that is full of flavor. Still curious about the ingredients in Chicken McNuggets®?
Are McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets made with TBHQ?
According to McDonald’s own website, Chicken McNuggets are also made with: “Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.” At least two of these ingredients are artificially synthesized industrial chemicals. TBHQ, a petroleum derivative, is used as a stabilizer in perfumes, resins, varnishes and oil field chemicals.