I want to be crystal clear right up front: I love McDonalds. Yes, this tree-hugging, make-my-chicken-broth-from-scratch, wont-buy-berries-unless-theyre-organic foodie loves McDonalds. I haven’t eaten at Burger King or Taco Bell in years, and the thought of White Castle or Taco Bell makes me sick. But the taste of a McDonald’s cheeseburger, which hasn’t changed much since I was a kid, makes me think of home. I also have a slight Egg McMuffin problem. Do I eat it every day? Hardly. Its hangover food. Its late-night “being bad” food. Its a once-in-a-blue moon treat (that I oddly craved constantly when I was pregnant). McDonald’s and I had a relationship like that of an old, close friend from elementary school when I was an adult. You dont see them often, but you always enjoy catching up.
But then my baby daughter grew up into the 7-year-old she is today. I tried to feed my baby organic homemade baby food purees and low-sugar pumpkin muffins in her lunchbox, but they didn’t go over well. Now I have a little person who loves “Old McDonald’s.” So, once a week, after her music lesson, we get her the same thing every time: a cheeseburger Happy Meal with four French fries on the side.
But is it really that bad? As I thought about this question while smelling her fries, I chose to learn more about one item on the menu. It’s the one that’s been getting the most attention and blame lately, and McDonald’s advertising has been making big claims about it. So lets explore whats really in McDonalds Chicken McNuggets.
McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are a fast food staple, beloved by kids and adults alike. But over the years, rumors have swirled about what’s actually in those bite-sized nuggets. Specifically, some have questioned if there could be pork products lurking in this popular menu item.
As a go-to fast food order it’s understandable that consumers want to know precisely what’s going into their McNuggets. Let’s examine the ingredients and production process to determine if pork plays any role.
Tracing the Origin of McNuggets
First introduced in 1983 Chicken McNuggets were conceived as a way to make use of excess chicken trim and parts. After much experimentation McDonald’s landed on a simple recipe chopped, reconstituted white meat chicken formed into nugget shapes, coated in a tempura-style batter, then deep fried.
This preparation resulted in a tasty affordable, kid-friendly food that could be easily mass-produced. McNuggets became an instant hit and have remained a McDonald’s staple ever since.
The Evolution of McNuggets’ Ingredients
While McNuggets originally used some lower-quality chicken parts, McDonald’s has upgraded the ingredients over the years:
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1983: First launched using a mix of chicken parts.
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2003: Switched to all white chicken meat.
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2016: Removed artificial preservatives from McNuggets.
Today’s McNuggets contain just white chicken breast meat, chicken skin, water, seasoning, a batter mix, and a touch of vegetable oil. No pork products are included.
Why Did Rumors About Pork Circulate?
Pork-related rumors stemmed from confusion between McNuggets and McDonald’s McRib sandwich, which does contain pork. The shaped chopped pork patty is dipped in barbecue sauce then served on a bun.
The McRib has a cult following, but has never been a permanent menu item like McNuggets. Its on-again, off-again availability led some to wrongly assume McNuggets were also pork-based when no McRib was available.
McNuggets Are Now Considered One of the ‘Healthier’ Options
With their simple ingredients and lack of secret additives, McNuggets are now viewed as one of the healthier fast food options available:
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Source of lean protein from all breast meat
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No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
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No MSG or other controversial additives
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Made with vegetable oil, not beef tallow like decades ago
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Lower in fat than fried chicken pieces
Of course, McNuggets should still be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. But overall, they’re a decent choice for an easy fast food meal.
Other Meats You Won’t Find in McNuggets
In addition to being pork-free, today’s Chicken McNuggets contain no other meats beyond chicken. Here are some other meats you won’t find:
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Beef – Never been an ingredient, despite confusion with the McRib
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Turkey – All white chicken breast is used
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Fish – No seafood is included
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Other poultry – Only chicken is used
The Bottom Line: 100% Chicken, No Pork
Based on their published ingredients and simplified preparation process, McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets contain no pork or other meats beyond chicken. Years ago mystery meats may have been used, but today’s McNuggets are merely chicken breast meat, coated and fried.
Some consumers may still prefer to avoid highly processed fast foods like McNuggets. But those seeking a quick meal can enjoy McNuggets with confidence that the advertised ingredients are an accurate reflection of what’s inside. No pork goes into making these bite-sized chicken snacks.
So next time you’re debating whether to order nuggets, you can feel assured there’s no pig hidden in that chicken. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are simply chicken breast meat and seasonings, shaped into snackable nugget form. No pork products are mixed in or come into contact during processing.
While not the healthiest choice, McNuggets in moderation can be part of a balanced diet, providing protein, energy, and childhood nostalgia. And for those avoiding pork, McNuggets present no concerns.
The old recipe vs. the ‘healthier’ recipe
The McNuggets recipe has changed, and McDonalds wants you to know it. 2016s marketing boasts of a simplified list of ingredients in many McDonalds products, including the famous fried nuggets of chicken. Along with a promise that all its chicken was now free of “antibiotics important to human medicine,” McDonalds has removed some of the more questionable ingredients from the McNuggets recipe, boasting that McNuggets no longer contain artificial preservatives. So what exactly did they remove?
Citric acid. Though it also comes from lemons, most citric acid used industrially comes from Aspergillus niger, the same mold that gives us black mold. Used as a preservative, the ingredient has been replaced with lemon juice solids, which have naturally occurring citric acid. Sodium phosphate is widely used as a preservative in processed foods, particularly meats, as a tenderizer and emulsifier.
TBHQ, aka tertiary butylhydroquinone. Author Michael Pollan made waves when he mistakenly referred to this preservative as being derived from lighter fluid in his book The Omnivores Dilemma, but it is still nasty stuff. TBHQ is a man-made antioxidant that is used to preserve foods that contain fats, but its also used in cosmetics, paints, and varnishes. In mega-large doses it can cause nausea, collapse, and even death, but youd probably need to eat 11 pounds of chicken McNuggets (made with the old recipe) to hit that level. However, take a look at the Material Safety Data Sheet used by factories that handle the stuff, and ask yourself if you want to swallow even the smallest dose of it. TBHQ is also being studied for possible links to the rise in food allergies.
Its no wonder McDonalds was anxious to remove some of these ingredients from McNuggets. Good news, right? Well, dont forget to read the small print.
So what about those phosphates?
This is where things get tricky. Yes, TBHQ and citric acid have been removed from the primary ingredient list. Sodium phosphate has been removed from the ingredient list of the meat portion of the nugget, where its presumably been used as a preservative adding moisture to meats, However, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium acid phosphate, and monocalcium phosphate are still being used in the leavening of the McNuggets breaded coating. Whats the difference you ask? The difference lies in what exactly the phosphates are used for. In the case of the current McNugget recipe, the particular phosphates in question are inexpensive leavening agents (they bind with baking soda to rise, color, and crisp the breading), not preservatives.
Lets get technical, then. Can McDonalds say its product is free of artificial preservatives because the artificial preservatives in the food arent there for the purpose of preserving the food? Yes, it can. But its not just fast food giants like McDonalds that include ingredients like this in their foods. In fact, sodium phosphates are just one of the many artificial food additives currently allowed by the USDA for use in packaged organic foods. I found sodium phosphate listed just yesterday on my daughters package of organic, grass-fed, “free from all artificial preservatives” macaroni and cheese.
Keep in mind folks, McDonalds promised to remove all artificial “preservatives” from their McNuggets, but not necessarily artificial “additives,” a move that proves to be much more difficult than it may seem. (McNuggets, by the way, have never contained artificial colors or flavorings.)
How It’s Made McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets
FAQ
Is there pork in McDonald’s chicken nuggets?
What are McDonald’s chicken nuggets made of?
Is McDonald’s chicken nuggets Halal?
Does McChicken have pork?
What is in Chicken McNuggets®?
Chicken McNuggets® from McDonald’s are made with all white meat chicken and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The chicken, which is cut from the tenderloin, breast and rib, gets mixed with a marinade for flavor and to help the Chicken McNuggets® keep their shape.
Is McDonald’s chicken used for nuggets white meat?
McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets® are made of all white meat Chicken. This information is correct as of January 2022, unless stated otherwise. Try tender, juicy Chicken Nuggets at McDonald’s near you!
What meat is used to make McNuggets?
According to Steward, the breast and rib meat, as well as the chicken tenderloin, are used to make McNuggets. Before McNuggets are made, the entire chicken skin is removed initially, and a small portion is added back ‘for flavor’.
Does McDonald’s serve Chicken McNuggets?
McDonald’s has launched a new ad campaign called ‘Our Food. Your Questions.’ In this campaign, they have addressed the public’s inquiries about their most popular menu item, the Chicken McNuggets. McDonald’s hired former to provide answers to these questions.