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- Many fast food chains use American cheese, which technically isn\u2019t real cheese.<\/li>\n
- American cheese only needs to contain a minimum of 51% of real cheese, according to the FDA.<\/li>\n
- The FDA says that American cheese is \u201cpasteurized process cheese.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nWhen it comes to fast food, nothing is more iconic than the cheeseburger. From the Big Mac to the Whopper, people have their favorites. Aside from any health and nutrition qualms, there\u2019s another harsh reality about your favorite burger: It might not even contain real cheese.<\/p>\n
While chains like Chick-fil-A, Wendy\u2019s, and Chipotle use real, non-processed cheese for some of their menu items, not every fast food spot can say the same, Mashed reports<\/a>. For starters, McDonald\u2019s is using cheese that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/a> doesn\u2019t consider real cheese.<\/p>\n
After internet rumors claimed that Micky D\u2019s is topping their burgers with straight-up \u201cplastic,\u201d former McDonald\u2019s corporate chef Mike Haracz debunked<\/a> the theory. Well, sorta. The company\u2019s website<\/a> states that the cheese is \u201cpasteurized process American cheese,\u201d made from milk, cream, water, sodium citrate, salt, cheese cultures, citric acid, enzymes, soy lecithin, and added color. <\/p>\n
\n While you might be wondering, Isn\u2019t American cheese…real cheese?<\/em> According to the FDA, not quite. The organization claims that American cheese is actually a \u201cpasteurized process cheese\u201d and only about 50% of each slice comprises actual cheese.<\/p>\n
\n \n\n![\"mcdonalds](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/close-up-of-mcdonalds-double-quarter-pounder-with-cheese-news-photo-1726765863.jpg?resize=980:*\" "\\"Mcdonalds")
![\"pinterest\"](\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/pinterest.e8cf655.svg?primary=%2523ffffff\")
<\/div>\nSmith Collection\/Gado<\/span>\/\/<\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption> Mcdonald\u2019s Double Quarter Pounder<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\u201cBasically, it allows for a lot more filler and \u2018approved ingredients\u2019 in the mix, which generally results in a lower quality product,\u201d Brian Civitello, a cheesemaker at Mystic Cheese Co.<\/a>, told Food Network<\/a>. <\/p>\n
Many fast food chains use a variety of \u201ccheeses,\u201d some of which are American cheese and others are real cheese. You\u2019ll find a slice or two on most Burger King burgers, but the chain uses real cheese in some of its items, according to nutrition information on its website<\/a>. The Mozzarella Fries, for example, are made with Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese. The same goes for Wendy\u2019s, which uses American cheese on most sandwiches. Some menu items, however, include real cheese, like the Asiago Ranch Club<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n
Sonic, Dairy Queen, and Tim Hortons similarly use the same processed American cheese that the FDA doesn\u2019t consider authentic cheese. But, hey, real or not, that melty slice hits the spot. And I\u2019m not giving up my Big Mac anytime soon.<\/p>\n