According to recent investigations, McDonald’s fries contain tank sealant and biodiesel ingredients.
Mythbusters co-host Grant Imahara took a trip to the McDonald’s processing plant, where he investigated how the fries were made and what ingredients were used.
While he found that there were real potatoes in the fries, the investigation also revealed some concerning ingredients. Among them was dimethylpolysiloxane, a chemical found in Silly Putty, tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a petrol-based chemical, and hydrogenated soybean oil, which is a manufactured trans fat.
According to an article by Vani Hari, aka the “Food Babe,” dimethylpolysiloxane is a chemical often used in aquarium tank sealants, hair conditioning products, and mold releasing products.
The Food Babe also explains that sometimes dimethylpolysiloxane contains formaldehyde, which is considered a deadly chemical.
It is reported that in the U.K., French fries at McDonald’s are made with much simpler ingredients, like oil, potatoes, and salt.
“How can McDonald’s make french fries with such an uncomplicated list of ingredients all over Europe, but not over here?” Hari writes in her article. “Why do McDonald’s french fries in the U.S. have to have an ‘anti-foaming’ agent? Do the [B]rits like extra foam? No, they don’t, Europe actually regulates this ingredient because they know this man-made chemical was never intended to be consumed by humans. This whole time [McDonald’s] has known about this and chooses to continue to serve [its U.S.] citizens silly putty.”
Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is also a major concern. While manufacturers claim that is used to stabilize foods and prevent oxidation, it is also found in biodiesel and some perfumes.
Hydrogenated soybean oil is another scary ingredient. It is a trans fat, which have been linked to early death and heart disease, along with other serious conditions.
Are you thinking twice about reaching for those fries now?
Homemade parsnip chips or carrot chips are a much better option than chemical filled fries.
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REFERENCES:
1. “Trans Fats, but Not Saturated Fats, Linked to Greater Risk of Death and Heart Disease.” The BMJ (n.d.): n. pag. BMJ. BMJ, 12 Aug. 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.
2. “McDonald’s French Fries Found to Contain Ingredients Used in Tank Sealants, Biodiesel.” News Target. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
3. “You Won’t Believe Where Silly Putty Is Hiding In Your Food.” Food Babe. N.p., 22 Oct. 2013. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
4. “Here’s How McDonald’s Makes Its French Fries.” Time. Time, n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.
