The chicken snacks offered by the big fast food chains are not only made of meat.
Chicken burgers and nuggets may contain surprising ingredients such as beef, flour or seaweed. This is the conclusion of an article published this week on the site “The Daily Meal”. This very serious media, specialist in food has analyzed the content of the products of the major fast food chains in the United States, with the exception of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
At McDonald’s, “nuggets contain boneless white chicken, different varieties of flour, flavorings, spices, yeast, dextrose and dehydrated lemon juice.” As for the chicken sandwich at Wendy’s (which is not yet present in France but which is preparing its opening), it is made up of 56% poultry – “the remaining 44% is a mixture of water, wheat flour , starch, acids, spices and aromatic powders”, assures The Daily Meal. It also contains fully refined soybean oil, a leavening agent, and more unusual ingredients like dried chicken powder and smoke flavoring.
At Subway, “an oven-roasted chicken also contains flavorings, potato starch, and carrageenans.” This thickener, made from red algae, is not harmful to health but also has no nutritional value.
Burger King nuggets contain, in addition to meat, a whole range of other flavors. “Among them are autolyzed yeast extract, a substance derived from yeast, and other flavor enhancers, including disodium guanylate, a type of salt sometimes used in combination with monosodium glutamate and also known as name of E627.” They are not suitable for people intolerant to eggs, milk, wheat, gluten or celery. Some additives may extend shelf life.
The most “amazing” burger chain is Carl’s Jr. Most fast food outlets opt for the classic nugget shape for their small chicken offerings. But Carl’s Jr. does things a little differently. Carl’s Jr. Chicken Stars have a special shape. But it’s not just the shape that surprises. Its chicken stars have a frankly confusing ingredient list. This includes soy protein, the odd “chicken-like flavor” (which contains corn protein), and perhaps most surprisingly, a beef flavor. This beef flavor, which you probably don’t expect in a chicken choice, contains three different types of protein (hydrolyzed soy, wheat and corn protein) and beef fat.
The price of chicken at KFC has become a selling point. In late March, the fast-food chain announced in the United States that premium nuggets made from 100% chicken breast had been added to its permanent menu.