Chicken nuggets: Call em tasty, call em crunchy, call em quick and convenient. But maybe you shouldnt call them “chicken. “.
So says Dr. Richard deShazo, a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. A study note from deShazo and his colleagues was published in The American Journal of Medicine. It talks about a small test they did to find out what was in a popular kid’s snack. Their conclusion?.
“Our sampling shows that some commercially available chicken nuggets are actually fat nuggets,” he tells The Salt. “Their name is a misnomer,” he and his colleagues write. The nuggets they looked at were only 50 percent meat — at best. The rest? Fat, blood vessels, nerve, connective tissue and ground bone — the latter, by the way, is stuff that usually ends up in dog food.
Now, this was an informal test. They went to two national fast-food chains near their health center in Jackson, Mississippi, to do their “autopsy” on chicken. , and ordered chicken nuggets over the counter. No names were given to the fast food chains involved because “we felt that would generate negative publicity off topic,” deShazo told us by email.
When put under the microscope, one chicken sample consisted of just 40 percent skeletal muscle — what we tend to think of as “meat” — and just 19 percent protein. The other sample was 50 percent meat and only 18 percent protein.
“The predominate component is not healthy, lean chicken meat, a great source of healthy protein,” he says, “but an adulterated chicken product containing 50 percent or less chicken meat, with other chicken components, in a suspension of unknown carrier material.”
Still, kids love chicken nuggets — even when informed of the less-than-savory ways they can be made, as chef Jamie Oliver disturbingly demonstrated with a bunch of school kids several years ago on his television show Food Revolution. “We were surprised that chicken nuggets have not been cleaned up” since that quite memorable episode, deShazo says.
And deShazo, who also hosts the wellness show Southern Remedy on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, has a real professional interest in what kids are eating. About 1 in 3 adults are obese in Mississippi, and the epidemic now includes kids, too. So, he writes, “we thought knowing a bit more about the content of the contemporary chicken nugget could be important.” But the chicken nuggets the researchers looked at, he says, were a “poor source of proteins” with limited nutritional value.
In a statement, the National Chicken Council said that you cant really make “scientifically justifiable” inferences “about an entire product category given a sample size of two.”
“Chicken nuggets tend to have an elevated fat content because they are breaded and fried. But its no secret what is in a chicken nugget — most quick service restaurants have nutritional information posted in the store or on their Website,” the statement adds, noting that nuggets sold in grocery stores also list a complete nutritional profile.
DeShazo agrees that not all chicken nuggets are created equal. “There may well be healthy chicken nuggets on the market that are not dipped in batter and fried, but are grilled or baked,” he says. The goal, he says, is to get people to read and understand food labels. “Folks need to choose the healthier alternative.”
In case youre curious, we checked the websites of some major fast-food chains. Burger King says its nuggets are made with “premium white meat,” McDonalds boasts “USDA-inspected white meat,” KFC touts “premium, 100% breast meat,” and Chick-Fil-A declares its nuggets are “all breast meat.”
Chicken nuggets are a beloved fast food treat especially for kids. The crispy battered exterior and tender interior make them hard to resist. But have you ever wondered what’s actually inside those nuggets? What part of the chicken do they come from? The answer may surprise you.
A Breakdown of Nugget Anatomy
It’s not enough to just chop up a chicken breast to make nuggets, even though that’s often what they’re made of. In this more complicated method, different parts of the chicken are usually used along with seasonings, binders, and coatings. Here’s what typically goes into a chicken nugget .
Chicken Meat
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Breast meat: The lean, white breast meat provides the main source of protein. Premium nuggets advertise using 100% breast meat.
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You can also use chicken skin, wings, thighs, and other parts of the chicken. This adds fat for flavor and juiciness.
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Mechanically separated chicken (MSC): Produced by forcing bones and attached tissue through a sieve, MSC allows manufacturers to utilize the whole bird efficiently.
Breading
- The crispy coating often contains flour, starch, spices, and leaveners like baking powder.
Binders
- Ingredients like sodium phosphates help the nugget hold its shape.
Seasonings
- Herbs, spices, salt, garlic, and onion add flavor.
As you can see, nuggets are not simply sliced and breaded breast meat. Various chicken parts, seasonings, and binders come together to create the final product.
Debunking Common Myths
Some misconceptions surround chicken nuggets. Let’s explore two prevalent myths:
Myth #1: Nuggets contain “pink slime”
Pink slime is low-quality beef scraps that have been killed by ammonia. Even though it sounds gross, pink slime is not used in chicken nuggets.
However, the similar-looking MSC may have caused this confusion. MSC is safe to eat and USDA-approved.
Myth #2: Nuggets are all fat
Some claim nuggets contain little real meat, instead using fat as filler. This generalization is false.
The fat content varies widely depending on ingredients. Nuggets made with skin and MSC will be fattier than those using mostly breast meat. Check labels for nutrition facts.
FAQs About America’s Favorite Nuggets
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about chicken nuggets:
Are chicken nuggets healthy?
Not particularly. They’re high in sodium and fat while being low in nutrients. However, nuggets made with breast meat and baked instead of fried are a better choice. Enjoy in moderation.
What parts of the chicken are used?
Most of them have a mix of chicken parts, like skin, bone, connective tissue, breast meat, and MSC. Premium varieties focus on breast meat.
How are nuggets made?
Chicken parts are ground together, mixed with seasonings and binders, shaped, breaded or battered, then cooked. Most are fried, but baking or air frying is healthier.
What about calories and protein?
Calories range from 250-400 for a 6 piece serving. Protein content depends on the meat used; more breast meat means more protein.
How long do they last frozen?
Properly frozen nuggets last for months. Always check package dates. Reheat fully when ready to eat.
The Takeaway: Moderation and Awareness
Chicken nuggets can occasionally be part of a balanced diet. Just be aware of what’s in them, and enjoy in moderation. When possible, choose nuggets made with premium breast meat and minimal processed ingredients. With a little discretion, you can still enjoy this fast food favorite. Just don’t make nuggets an everyday habit!
