Grabbing burgers at the local fast-food restaurant is pretty much a national pastime in the United States. With juicy beef patties between warm, fluffy buns, these relatively cheap sandwiches are a comforting and indulgent treat that will satisfy your cravings quickly.
For many of us, a fast-food burger is the best and most reliable way to grab a meal on the go. It’s even better when the burger is made with only beef and no fillings or other ingredients.
Eat This, Not That! looked into the food-quality policies of many popular fast-food chains and found a refreshingly large number that publicly commit to using only 100% pure ground beef for their burger patties. Some even go the extra mile, serving pure Angus beef or chuck beef. A few never freeze their meat, either.
With more than 36,000 restaurants around the world, the famous Golden Arches has mastered the art of fast food. Its burgers are always made with 100% USDA-inspected beef, as stated on the company’s website. There are no fillers or preservatives in our patties. The only thing we add is a little salt and pepper when they’re hot off the grill. ” That pure beef is formed into patties and flash frozen. Flash freezing uses extremely low temperatures to quickly freeze meat, keeping the freshness and flavor intact.
Another good piece of news? In the U. S. The hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble, Big Mac, and Quarter Pounder burgers are the restaurant’s most popular burgers. None of them have any artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors added from outside sources. Well, besides the pickles (those contain artificial preservatives).
If you like your burgers from one of Burger Kings over 6,000 locations in the U. S. , youll be happy to learn the chain only serves 100% ground beef patties in their burgers. Open since 1953, the chain started with a simple menu of burgers, french fries, sodas, and milkshakes. The company website says that the beef patties don’t have any fillers, preservatives, additives, or whatnot.
With over 6,000 restaurants across the U. S. Besides being known for its square burger patties, Wendy’s has also been serving all-beef patties for a long time. The restaurant says it has the best burger for the money; it’s fresh, never frozen, and made from 100% real beef. The website for the company says, “Our signature square hamburger patties have no fillers or additives because we know the beef is what matters when it comes to making the best hamburger in the game.” 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e.
To keep the patties fresh, the company says it closely watches the temperatures during shipping and aims to use the most advanced cooling technology available. This way, every time you eat at Wendy’s, you’ll get a juicy, fresh square patty.
This Virginia-based burger chain prides itself on its ingredients. “We only use fresh ground beef,” the company states on its website. Every day, the patties are made by hand, and Five Guys is known for not having freezers for storage. Instead, all of its nearly 1,700 locations have coolers. In a tweet, the chain also said that it uses “80/20 ground chuck,” which refers to the ratio of lean to fat in the beef. The company further added, “Our manufacturers do not use ammoniated procedures. “.
Culvers has almost 1,000 locations across the United States. At all of them, they only serve pure beef patties, and their famous ButterBurgers are famous in the Midwest and beyond. Not only that, but its ButterBurgers are made with a special blend of sirloin, chuck, and plate cuts. “All well-marbled for richness and flavor with no fillers to get in the way,” the chain says of its “prized cuts.”
Many chefs love this burger chain, which has more than 400 locations mostly on the West Coast. Some say it’s the best fast food burger ever. One of the reasons? The quality of the beef. In-N-Out says on its website, “We have always made our own hamburger patties using only fresh, 100%USD ground chuck that is free of additives, fillers, and preservatives.”
The chain says that making its own patties in California and Texas gives it control over the whole process, which ensures quality and freshness. The company says, “Each patty is made using only fresh, individually inspected, whole chucks from premium cattle chosen especially for In-N-Out Burger.” “Our team of Associates removes the bones, grinds the meat, and then makes each patty. “.
Another chef-favorite burger chain, Shake Shack has over 300 locations, primarily on the East Coast. The food here is pretty good for a fast food place, even though the prices are higher than some of the other places on this list. Shake Shacks patties are made from a “custom 100% Angus beef blend,” according to the companys website. The chain also has a strict policy on animal welfare. It says that its beef comes from cattle that were “humanely raised and grazed in the USA” and did not get any hormones or antibiotics added.
This Texas-based chain gives Shake Shack and In-N-Out a run for the title of cult-favorite, fast-food burger. Whataburger’s burgers are made with 100% pure ground beef, no fillers or additives, and they come on a gloriously big five-inch bun. This is how things have been since the first store opened in 1950, and this is still how the company works at all of its over 900 locations.
It calls itself the “Last Hamburger Stand,” and its burgers, which start at a third of a pound of ground beef, are famous for being huge. There are about 180 locations of this West Coast chain, and their smallest burger is bigger than a Whopper. The only thing you should know about them is that According to Fatburger’s website, all of its giant burger patties are made with 100% pure lean beef that is freshly ground, grilled to perfection, and built to order.
Sonic Drive-in, which most people just call “Sonic,” opened in 1953 as a walk-up root beer stand that sold soda, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Today, Sonic currently has over 3,500 locations in the United States. Sonics’ website says that for more than 20 years, all of their burger patties have been made from 100% pure, seasoned beef.
Founded back in 1969 in Santa Barbara, Calif. Today, this quickly expanding chain has more than 350 stores across the country, most of them in California and along the West Coast. Habit Burger’s website says that its burgers are made with 100% pure ground beef and no other ingredients, preservatives, or fillers of any kind. The chain also says that every burger is made with fresh, natural ingredients that are in line with all USDA and FDA rules, standards, and policies.
This growing burger chain, headquartered in Plano, Texas, has over 100 locations in 20 states. All of Mooyahs juicy burgers are made with “100% Certified Angus Beef Brand beef,” according to its website. This brand is the first premium black Angus beef in the world. It is owned by the American Angus Association and its group of farming and ranching families. Mooyah says its meat is better because Certified Angus meets 10 science-based standards that are stricter than the USDA’s Prime, Choice, and Select grades.
With its classic drive-in aesthetic and signature slushy drinks, Sonic has become one of America’s most iconic fast food chains. But while customers rave about Sonic’s chili cheese tots and footlong hot dogs, some questions have emerged around the actual beef content in Sonic’s burgers. Does the meat stack up to the company’s “100% beef” claims? Let’s investigate.
A Look at Sonic’s Burger History
Sonic first started serving up burgers and fries in 1953 when the restaurant opened its doors in Shawnee Oklahoma under the name Top Hat Drive-In. As the chain expanded in following decades, it developed a reputation for fast food with a hint of 1950s nostalgia.
By the 2000s, Sonic had grown to over 3000 locations nationwide. Their menu advertised beef hamburgers and cheeseburgers made with 100% pure beef and no fillers. Customers could customize burgers with a variety of toppings and sauces.
In 2018, Sonic introduced a new blended burger called the Signature Slinger containing 75% beef and 25% mushrooms While not 100% beef, Sonic continued serving their classic all-beef burgers as well
The 2019 Beef Report Card
In 2019, Consumer Reports and other advocacy groups graded the beef policies of major chains like Sonic. The report analyzed antibiotic use and transparency around beef suppliers.
Sonic did not formally participate, but received a “D” grade based on available info. The report indicated 30% of Sonic’s beef still came from cows treated with antibiotics, conflicting with “no antibiotics” advertising claims.
While not conclusively proving fillers in Sonic burgers, the low grade raised doubts about the purity of Sonic’s beef supply chain.
Lawsuits Question Beef Purity
Several recent lawsuits alleged Sonic burgers contain additives and non-beef fillers, contradicting the 100% beef marketing.
One 2018 lawsuit used independent lab testing that supposedly found non-meat ingredients like starch and plant matter in Sonic burger patties. Sonic disputed the accuracy of this analysis.
In 2021, a new lawsuit alleged similar beef purity issues based on the Consumer Reports findings. Sonic maintains its burgers contain “100 percent pure beef, no fillers or additives.” The ongoing suit has not legally settled the validity of these claims.
The Rise of Beef-Veggie Blends
Many fast food chains now blend plant ingredients like mushrooms into beef as a sustainability move. Sonic tested this approach with the Signature Slinger.
Consumer demand for meatless alternatives has climbed quickly, with brands like Beyond Meat and Impossible making beef-mimicking veggie patties.
While most chains still use mostly real beef, the plant-based trend could force future menu changes.
What Percentage of Beef is Actually in Sonic Burgers?
Sonic’s official position is its burgers are 100% American beef, no fillers. But based on antibiotic use in 30% of their beef supply, their purity claims may be questionable.
Lawsuits alleged the presence of non-beef fillers, but without conclusive lab evidence. There’s no proof of hidden mushroom or other fillers outside of Sonic’s marketed Signature Slinger.
How Sonic Stacks Up to Other Chains
Most fast food chains now advertise 100% beef burgers without fillers. Wendy’s notably challenged competitors in a 2011 “Where’s the Beef?” campaign.
Other chains have faced accusations of beef impurities. For example, a 2022 lawsuit alleged McDonald’s burgers weren’t 100% beef. McDonald’s insists their burgers are pure.
Without definitive third-party testing, it’s unclear how Sonic’s beef content compares. But email leaks in 2015 did show Sonic discussing cost-cutting measures like reducing portion sizes.
The Bottom Line
Sonic continues promoting its burgers as 100% pure American beef. But antibiotic use in their supply chain and lawsuits questioning beef purity have raised some doubts. It’s uncertain whether their beef is additive-free.
Sonic blended beef and mushrooms just for their Signature Slinger, not classic burgers. But the growing plant-based trend could pressure more restaurants to add veggie fillers or beef substitutes.
For now, Sonic’s true burger formula remains a mystery. The company firmly states its beef purity while critics allege otherwise. Without transparent supply chain data, customers have little choice but to take Sonic’s word for it.
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Sonic Drive-In – The Rise and Fall…And Rise Again
FAQ
What is a Sonic burger made of?
What grade is Sonic’s beef?
Are fast food burgers real beef?
How much meat is in a Sonic burger?
Does Sonic have a Burger?
Founded in 1953, Sonic Drive-in, more commonly known as Sonic, was originally a walk-up root beer stand selling soda, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Today, Sonic currently has over 3,500 locations in the United States. For over 70 years, all of Sonic’s burger patties have been made from 100% pure, seasoned beef, according to the company’s website.
Where are Sonic burgers made?
For over 70 years, all of Sonic’s burger patties have been made from 100% pure, seasoned beef, according to the company’s website. Founded back in 1969 in Santa Barbara, Calif., this fast-growing chain has over 350 locations around the country, mostly in California and on the West Coast.
Does Sonic have a cheeseburger?
In a news release, Sonic says it “revamped the traditional American cheeseburger” to offer “all the flavor with none of the guilt.” The new burger debuted on the menu Monday and starts at under 350 calories. The recipe includes three ingredients, the company says: 100 percent pure beef, mushrooms and seasonings.
Is Sonic going to make a beef-Mushroom Burger?
In an earlier study, consumers preferred a beef-mushroom mix in tacos over 100% beef. Sonic is planning to conduct a 60-day trial in some markets before deciding whether to make the blended burger a permanent offering at its more than 3,500 locations.