Happier Meal? McDonald’s nixing some unpalatable ingredients

McDonald’s United States of America is making big changes to its food including scrapping artificial preservatives from several menu items and only using chicken that hasn’t been treated with antibiotics.

It has removed artificial preservatives from cooking oil used to fry Chicken McNuggets and from breakfast ingredients such as sausage patties.

Such changes, together with its decision in 2015 to buy only chicken raised without antibiotics used to treat humans, affect nearly half the food on McDonald’s menu, the company said. He has eliminated jobs, started selling off company-owned locations to franchisees and announced plans to move McDonald’s headquarters to downtown Chicago.

Mike Andres, president of McDonald’s U.S., said in a release that his company is aiming to appease to consumers who want healthier fare with fewer artificial products.

Buns in your Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, McChicken sandwiches, and Filet-O-Fish sandwiches will be affected, according to Business Insider UK.

Chicken McNuggets, one of the icons of American processed food, are no longer made with artificial preservatives.

“Some of the changes may be a little on the late side, but it was McDonald’s that kicked off the move to cage-free eggs”, said Nomura Securities analyst Mark Kalinowski.

It appears that the decision to cut out antibiotics, artificial ingredients and high-fructose corn syrup comes as the public continues to be more mindful of its health – even when indulging in fast food.

As the company admitted the overhaul will take six months to implement, Marion Gross, senior vice president for supply chain at McDonald’s, said that was down to the sheer volume of how much food the company sells. When it announced it would phase out antibiotics in its chicken, it promised to do so by March 2017. By hitting their commitment to serve chicken raised without the misuse of antibiotics, McDonald’s is recognizing that they understand the seriousness of the situation and the importance of taking action.

However, McDonald’s does continue to make strides to incorporate healthier items, such as adding kale and spinach to its salads, and is committed to using cage-free eggs in all USA and Canada locations by 2025.

McDonald’s did not decide to make its food healthier at a higher cost to the company because it cares about its customers’ welfare. “I don’t think this is ever going to be complete”.

Sugar, fat and salt are the three big nasties in our modern diet, and they’re lurking in junk food – those delicious treats we can’t resist.