Before You Eat That Breakfast Sandwich, Read This
Consider the egg. Simple, delicious, and incredibly easy to prepare.
And yet, if you peruse the nutritional listings of America's favorite fast food restaurants, quite a different picture of the egg emerges -- and it's anything but simple.
I took a look at the published ingredient lists for six fast food mainstays that sell breakfast: McDonald's, Burger King, Chik-fil-A, Subway, Dunkin' Donuts, and Hardee's. I wanted to know just one thing: what's in their eggs?
I found several interesting ingredients, and one big surprise (at least it was surprising to me). I fully expected that McDonald's or Burger King would take the prize for the most unrecognizable ingredients, but neither one stacks up to the egg manipulation of Subway. McDonald's still takes second prize, but as you'll see, it's the "Eat Fresh" folks whose list is easily the most baffling.
On the other end of the spectrum, Hardee's, Burger King and Dunkin' Donuts all come out looking decent with relatively short lists of ingredients. For the most part, they stick to nature's simple delight. Chik-fil-A sits in the middle of the pack with ordinary and dubious ingredients.
What's most intriguing is the comparison between lists. For example, Hardee's sells its customers eggs with only one preservative added, while Subway sells a concoction that includes eggs and "premium egg blend" containing at least ten preservatives and additives nowhere to be found on most of the other lists.
Let me stress that this information has been published by the companies and is there for all to see; just follow the links (you'll not find any secret formulas ahead). The ingredient explanations below the lists were added by me and not included in the published list.
1. Subway
Egg Omelet Patty (Regular): Whole eggs, egg whites, water, nonfat dry milk, premium egg blend (isolated pea product, salt, citric acid, dextrose, guar gum, xanthan gum, extractive of spice, propylene glycol and not more than 2% calcium silicate and glycerin to prevent caking), soybean oil, butter alternative (liquid and hydrogenated soybean oil, salt, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavors, beta carotene (color), TBHQ and citric acid added to protect flavor, dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming agent added), salt, beta-carotene (color).
A few words on the ingredients:
Propylene glycol, a solvent for food colors and flavorings, is also used in anti-freeze, to lubricate air-conditioner compressors, and in deodorant sticks.
Isolated pea product is a protein additive often used as a substitute for animal-derived protein.
Guar gum is a thickening agent.
Xanthan Gum is used to prevent oil separation.
Glycerin is a solvent that is found in soap, moisturizers and some brands of shaving cream.
TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is used to preserve vegetable oils against oxidation, and can also be found in varnishes, lacquers, and perfumes.
dImethylpolysiloxane is a type of silicone used to prevent cooking oil from foaming after repeated uses. It’s also found in Silly Putty and many lubricants.
Calcium silicate is used to prevent caking and is also a popular antacid. In addition, it's a sealant used on roads, roofs and concrete.
2. McDonald's
Pasteurized whole eggs with sodium phosphate (preservative), citric acid and monosodium phosphate (added to preserve color), nisin preparation (preservative). Prepared with liquid margarine: Liquid soybean oil and hydrogenated cottonseed and soybean oils, water, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, salt, soy lecithin, mono-and diglycerides, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), artificial flavor, citric acid, vitamin A palmitate, beta carotene (color).
A few words on the ingredients:
Mono and diglycerides are used to blend substances together that would otherwise not blend well (oil and water, for instance).
Potassium sorbate is a preservative that inhibits the growth of molds and yeasts. It's also used in personal care products as a replacement for the controversial chemical, paraben.
Cottonseed oil, when fully hydrogenated, is 94% saturated fat.
3. Chik-fil-A
Whole egg, citric acid, butter oil (soybean oil, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavor, TBHQ and citric acid added as preservatives, and artificial color).
A few words on the ingredients:
Palm kernel oil is roughly 50% saturated fat.
TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) is explained in the Subway section above.
Whole Eggs, whole milk, soy oil, water, modified foodstarch, salt, xanthan gum, white pepper, citric acid.
5. Burger King
Whole eggs, skim milk (water, nonfat dry milk) vegetable oil (soy and/or corn oil), salt, xanthan gum, natural egg flavor, natural butter flavor.
6. Hardee's
Whole eggs, citric acid, 0.15% water added as carrier for citric acid (Citric acid added to preserve color).
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