In the past few years, food transparency has become very popular because people want to know what is in the food they eat.
These changes have made even McDonald’s feel like they need to make changes to their menu. The chain said in 2018 that they would be taking artificial preservatives out of a lot of their menu items, including their popular breakfast sausage.
We will get a better idea of what is in McDonald’s sausage and see if nitrates are still a problem in this article.
McDonald’s is one of the most iconic fast food chains, known for its burgers, fries, and breakfast sandwiches The sausage patties and sausage McMuffins are breakfast favorites for many But there are often questions around what exactly is in McDonald’s sausage, including whether or not it contains concerning ingredients like nitrates.
In this in-depth article, I’ll take a close look at McDonald’s sausage ingredients, nutrition facts, and cooking methods to see if their sausage really does have nitrates or other controversial additives
Overview of McDonald’s Sausage Options
McDonald’s offers two main types of sausage on their breakfast menu:
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Sausage patties – These are round, flat sausage patties that are served on sandwiches like the Sausage McMuffin with Egg.
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Sausage crumbles – Pre-cooked, diced sausage used in menu items like the Sausage Burrito.
Both the sausage patties and crumbles are fully cooked and just need to be quickly reheated prior to serving. McDonald’s uses pork and chicken in their sausage.
For this article, I’ll focus specifically on the ingredients and nutrition of the regular pork sausage patties that McDonald’s uses in sandwiches like the Sausage McMuffin.
Ingredients in McDonald’s Sausage Patties
Here are the basic ingredients found in a McDonald’s sausage patty:
- Pork
- Water
- Salt
- Spices
- Sugar
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Soy protein concentrate
- Caramel color
- Extractives of paprika
The sausage contains pork as the first and main ingredient. The other ingredients help add flavor, texture, color, and help keep the patties moist.
Soy protein concentrate is added to help bind the sausage. The caramel color and paprika extractives provide visual appeal.
Do McDonald’s Sausages Contain Nitrates?
After reviewing the ingredients list, nitrates are not present in McDonald’s regular pork sausage patties.
Nitrates and nitrites are sometimes used as preservatives in cured, processed meats to prevent bacterial growth and add color. However, McDonald’s regular sausage patties do not contain these added nitrates or nitrites.
They are fully cooked fresh with a relatively short shelf life and do not require nitrate preservatives. The caramel color and paprika extract likely help provide some natural color without nitrates.
Other Controversial Ingredients
While McDonald’s sausage doesn’t contain nitrates, here are some other ingredients that are sometimes considered controversial:
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MSG – Monosodium glutamate is added for flavor. Some claim adverse reactions to large doses of MSG.
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Soy protein – Soy ingredients are avoided by some due to soy allergies or preferences.
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Caramel color – Artificial coloring derived from treated sugars. Thought by some to be unhealthy.
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Sugar – The patties contain 1g of added sugar per serving. Could be a concern for those limiting sugar intake.
So while nitrates are not present, those wishing to avoid the above ingredients may want to choose menu options without sausage.
Nutrition Facts for McDonald’s Sausage
Here is the basic nutrition information per McDonald’s sausage patty:
- Calories: 230
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Sodium: 480mg
Each 2.4 oz patty packs a hefty 230 calories, with most coming from 18g of fat. Half the calories are from fat.
The 12g of protein provides a decent hit of this nutrient. But the 480mg of sodium is also high, equal to about 20% of the daily recommended value.
So while the sausages provide protein, they are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Those watching their health and diet may want to consume McDonald’s sausages in moderation.
How McDonald’s Prepares Their Sausage
To ensure safety and consistency, McDonald’s uses the following processes for preparing sausage in their restaurants:
- Sausage patties arrive at restaurants pre-cooked and frozen.
- Patties are stored frozen until ready to use.
- When needed, patties are placed on the grill to reheat until hot and sizzling. This takes 1-2 minutes.
- Sausage patties are held in a warming cabinet until served.
- Cooked sausage patties not served within 10 minutes are discarded.
The quick grilling step just heats up the pre-cooked frozen sausage. Proper storage, cooking, and holding procedures are followed.
Is McDonald’s Sausage Healthy?
At the end of the day, is McDonald’s sausage a healthy choice compared to other options? Here are some key points:
- It provides protein, but also relatively high in fat and sodium.
- No nitrates, but contains other controversial ingredients like MSG, soy, caramel color.
- Fine in moderation, but those watching health or ingredients may want to limit intake.
- Other menu options like egg white sandwiches are lower in fat and sodium.
While convenient and tasty, McDonald’s sausage is quite high in fat and sodium. It’s best treated as an occasional indulgence rather than an everyday breakfast choice for a balanced diet. Choosing lower fat proteins, vegetables, and whole grains can provide healthier and more nutrient-dense alternatives when eating breakfast at McDonald’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some other common questions about McDonald’s sausage and what’s in it:
Does McDonald’s sausage contain pork?
Yes, pork is the first and main ingredient in McDonald’s sausage patties.
What parts of the pig are used in McDonald’s sausage?
McDonald’s does not provide specifics on which pork cuts are used. It likely contains both prime lean cuts and trimmings.
Is McDonald’s sausage fully cooked?
Yes, the frozen sausage patties arrive at restaurants pre-cooked so they just need to be quickly reheated on the grill.
Are McDonald’s sausage and egg sandwiches healthy?
While convenient, these sandwiches can be high in fat, sodium, and calories due to ingredients like sausage, cheese, buttery biscuits or muffins. In moderation, they make for an occasional treat.
Can you request no sausage in a sausage McMuffin?
Yes, you can order an egg McMuffin without the sausage to lower fat, sodium, and calories.
Does McDonald’s sausage contain gluten?
No, regular pork sausage at McDonald’s does not contain gluten ingredients. But sandwiches containing biscuits or muffins do contain gluten.
Is McDonald’s sausage vegan or vegetarian?
No, all McDonald’s sausage contains pork, so it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.
What is in the spicy sausage at McDonald’s?
Spicy sausage contains the same basic ingredients with addition of spices like black pepper. Nutrition is similar.
The Bottom Line
After reviewing ingredients lists, nutrition info, and prep methods, McDonald’s regular pork sausage patties do not contain concerning nitrates or nitrites. However, the sausages are high in fat, sodium, and calories, so should be consumed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet.
While tasty and convenient, those concerned about ingredients or health may want to limit intake of McDonald’s sausage, or choose lower sodium options on the menu. But you can eat McDonald’s sausage guilt-free knowing it doesn’t contain added nitrates.
The Health Risks Of Nitrates In Food
Nitrates are a set of compounds commonly used in processed meats as a preservative and to enhance flavor. However, they have been linked to several health concerns, including an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.
When nitrates are added to processed meats, they can easily convert to nitrosamines in the stomach. Whenever people are exposed to nitrosamines over and over again, they raise their risk of cancer, especially colon cancer. The FDA has warned about the dangers of nitrosamines in processed meats.
Green, leafy vegetables have a lot more nitrates than cured meats, but the fact that nitrates are linked to cured meats makes people worry that they might cause cancer. Studies show that eating foods high in natural nitrates can lower the risk of getting chronic diseases. On the other hand, eating foods high in added nitrates can put your health at risk.
Nitrosamines can form if nitrates or nitrites are cooked at high heat. Different types of nitrosamines can increase the risk for cancer. Nitrosamines are some of the main carcinogens in tobacco smoke. Bacon, hot dogs, and processed meat can contain high levels of both sodium nitrite and protein. On exposure to high heat, this combination creates the perfect conditions for nitrosamines to form. Cooking vegetables, however, is less likely to produce nitrosamines. People rarely cook vegetables at very high heat, and they don’t contain large amounts of protein.
Inorganic fertilizers have caused an increase in nitrate levels in water resources in many places around the world. When the amount of nitrate in drinking water is less than 10 mg/L, most people will get their nitrate from the vegetables they eat. If, on the other hand, the nitrate level in drinking water is high (above 50 mg L−1), water will definitely be the main way people are exposed to nitrates.
The Role Of Nitrates In Food Preservation
Nitrates are often used to keep food fresh, especially cured meats like hot dogs, salami, ham, and sausage. They work by stopping bacteria from growing and keeping food from going bad, which makes these items last longer. Nitrates also improve the taste and color of meats by giving them their unique umami flavor and pink or red color.
However, there are concerns about the potential health risks associated with the consumption of nitrates. Nitrates can change into nitrosamines when they come in contact with amino acids and high heat. Nitrosamines are known to cause cancer and other health problems. Because of this, the FDA controls the use of nitrates and nitrites in processed foods to make sure that the amount of these chemicals we are exposed to stays safe.
In recent years, people have tried to lower the number of nitrosamines that can form during cooking by adding things like Vitamin C, which stops them from getting formed. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that eating processed meats in moderation as part of a healthy diet probably won’t hurt your health in the long run.
Even though nitrates help keep food fresh, it’s important to know the health risks they may pose and only eat them in small amounts. Also, make sure you read food labels carefully and pick foods with safe amounts of nitrates and nitrites.