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What's Really in a McDonald's Chicken McNugget?

Chicken McNuggets include several synthetic ingredients, such as tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a petroleum-derived chemical sprayed onto the "food" or inside the box to preserve freshness.

Deep-fried foods in general are also dangerous in many ways, which is why French fries remain one of the worst foods anyone could eat.

Also, about one-third of the ingredients necessary to make the average McNugget (13 out of a lengthy list of 38) include some derivatives of corn, which may explain one reason why industrial agriculture produces so much of it -- in addition to the lucrative subsidies.

The Omnivore's Dilemma


Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I can honestly say I have never tasted a Chicken McNugget, but I am sure that is not true for most people. If you fall into that group then I would encourage you to review The Omnivore's Dilemma, a brilliant book by New York Times author Michael Pollan, who has also written about all the health problems associated with cattle raised conventionally.

You can use the information he has researched to lovingly share with your children the next time they beg you to take them to the nearest McDonald's. (Most likely one is close to your home as there are over 30,000 McDonald's restaurants worldwide.)

Pollan found that not only do the french fries contain acrylamide but the nuggets also contain TBHQ, which in high doses has caused precursors to stomach tumors and DNA damage in lab animals. A number of studies have also shown that TBHQ can be carcinogenic with prolonged exposure.

Other McNuggets ingredients include sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate, hydrogenated vegetable oils (that is to say, trans fats), and dimethylpolysiloxane.

Sounds like exactly what you want in your food, doesn't it?

I know it is not the easiest thing in the world but it is VITAL to understand that you are not going to achieve optimal health unless you make a conscious commitment to eat healthy unprocessed food made by someone in your kitchen.

Yes, this is not always convenient, but it is important to think long term. Wouldn't you much prefer to invest a few minutes to do some cooking and enjoy the increased energy, vitality and freedom from acute illnesses like coughs, colds and flus?  

Believe me, once you start eating healthy you will be shocked at how good you feel in the short term. And the great thing is that 10 to 20 years from now when your friends and relatives are dropping like flies because they chose "convenience" foods you will not be following their quick path to the grave.

Wise up, stop the McDonald's and start Taking Control of Your Health today.

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Comment on This Article Community Comments (44)
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2007
Beyond artificial flavorings, hydrogenated fats and oils, trans fats, many harmful sweeteners, emulsifiers, gums, modified starches, preservatives, stabilizers, fake colorings, freeze/thaw agents, water binders, salts, chemicals, man made fibers, synthetic polymers, unabsorbed vitamins/minerals/hyped functional ingredients at non-efficacious dosage levels, and many other harmful or death inducing categories allowed in the food and beverage chain (for PROFIT), there is yet another dirty BIG SECRET on what we as a nation consume.

Approximately 2/3rds of all meals are consumed outside the home, daily and annually.

This generally means these products, or meals, are unlabeled, over portioned, and therefore much more susceptible to bad for you ingredients for profit maximization.

Solution?  Do not eat out, unless it's very clear what you really are consuming.

 
Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
Replied

dondman2
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
dondman2  
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2007
I never eat at The Mc Donalds anywhere and never will. I don't even take my grandchildren there and the oldest is 16!


Area51
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 12/2006
Area51  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
This is why I loved Morgan Spurlock for doing the movie "Super Size Me", eventhough there were many harsh critics. Anyone who criticizes that movie is a fast food eater themselves! Or works for the McDonald Corporation. 

The book "Fast Food Nation" was also insightful at exposing some of the evil things that McDonald's has done. There is now a movie "Fast Food Nation" based partly on the book, which is now on DVD. 


Dr. David Spitz
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 12/2006
Dr. David Spitz  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
McDonalds better "catch the wave" soon. People are waking up and thinking. I've been involved in alternative healthcare for 25 years, and I am finally seeing a greater number of people interested in what goes into their bodies.

Mercola's website is a prime example. 25 years ago, if there was a net, this site would not have flourished.

I am proud of my fellow vital voters who continue to push the envelope with progressive thinking and steadfast determination in getting this 'vital' information to the public. Thanks, Dr. Mercola for giving us this forum.


Dr. David Spitz
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 12/2006
Dr. David Spitz  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
I wonder if Mcdonalds has the courage to hand a list of ingredients to parents who order nuggets for their kids.


Jacinda
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2007
Jacinda  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
I agree whole-heartedly!  I found out the hard way that something I felt was nutritionally safe was far from it!   

I started a blog on McDonald's Apples and the preservatives they use on them to keep longer.  It actually burned in my mouth when I ate them.  I can't wait for someone to take this publically.

http://geneticpollution.blogspot.com/index.html


Don Bantum
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
Don Bantum  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
I believe the question was "What's really in a McDonald's Chicken McNugget?" You said there are 38 ingredients, but only mention a half dozen items. Why not list them all if you have that information? I'm wondering if one of those ingredients might be chicken?

And I have to ask, do you believe that the readers of your web site are the kind of people who hang out at McDonald's? And if McDonald's is poisoning Americans, why isn't the FDA doing something to stop it?

It would seem to me, the FDA and the rest of our government is the real problem here not McDonald's or his french fries or McNugget. Because the only reason anybody would poison it customers, is if our government allowed them to do it. Notice our government doesn't have any problem stopping healthy foods from reaching it's citizens, like raw milk from organic cow's and pastures. But we are allow to poison our children and grandchildren without protest for that same government. You have to ask yourself why that is? What's "THEIR" agenda. Are they hoping to kill us all off before anybody reaches the age of retirement? Or do they want there citizens to all die of cancer or some other horrible disease?

How about refraining from beating up McDonald's, and other American based businesses and start placing the blame where it belongs. Why are McDonald's and other food industries selling poison to it's customers? Because the Federal Government, allows them to do so, in fact they encourage them to do so. Why not just for once, place the blame where it ultimately belongs. The real danger to the health and well being of Americans, are those we've given the job of protecting us. They and they alone are responsible for what is happening to us and our children. They are being bought off all the time. The FDA is one of the biggest offenders. But it doesn't' stop there, that's  just the tip of the Iceberg. It goes all the way to the top. Has anybody notice a border problem, are t


Alisa_203
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 3/2007
Alisa_203  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
"Chicken" McNuggets - And people feed this to their kids?!

No Wonder kids have learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, they are not even consuming real food at home or at the schools that serve fast food.

The book Fast Food Nation should be renamed Dummied Down Nation.

SAD: Standard American Diet

 
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2007
Resturant food is not to be trusted, no matter the price.  Food today smells different, taste different, and looks different.  A hugh red flag.  They cannot even cover the tainted meat and veggys up any more.  That is how bad it is.

I stopped eating at resturants 4 years ago, and began to eat at home only, or carry a brown bag to work. 

Are we sure the chicken is really chicken?  Or could it be--- nay!!!  Yes it could.  It could be RAT>    

Trust only yourself to eat the real food.  Remember, when you are buying fruits and veggies, be sure the preface number is  9.  Anyother number is  GM or hormone invaded.  If it reads 9, buy it, if it reads any other number  RUN_N_N_N.

 
annapavlova42
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 2/2007
annapavlova42  
Replied

dondman2
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
dondman2  
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2007
You have a great habit. keep up the good life!


sweet melissa
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 2/2007
sweet melissa  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
I have heard about there being a number that tells weather a fruit is modified or not. Is it the SKU number on the sticker, is it only on ftuits and veggies or is it on other things to? I asume it starts with a 9 from your message. Does a 9 also mean its organice. Please explain more.


emm76
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 7/2006
emm76  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007

"sweet melissa",

Produce is marked with a PLU # consisting of four digits.  If it is organic, the same number will be prefixed with the number 9, and if it is a genetically modified produce it can be prefixed with the number 8.  But if you notice, you will never see any GM produce marked as such, since no one would purchase, but all organic will be marked since there is a market for such foods.  To my understanding, GM food are not required to be labeled as such.



Jackye Chan
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2007
Jackye Chan  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets gave me food poisoning 10 years ago. I had fever, chills, and black diarrhea. You better believe I never ate there again!


eatright
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2007
eatright  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
What's a preface number and where do I find it?

 
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2007

What’s in the McPoison-Nuggets:

Chicken, water, salt, modified corn starch, sodium phosphates, chicken broth powder (chicken broth, salt, and natural flavoring (chicken source)), seasoning (vegetable oil, extracts of rosemary, mono, di- and triglycerides, lecithin). Battered and breaded with water, enriched bleached wheat flour (niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, modified corn starch, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, dried whey, corn starch. Batter set in vegetable shortening. Cooked in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, (may contain partially hydrogenated soybean oil and/or partially hydrogenated corn oil and/or partially hydrogenated canola oil and/or cottonseed oil and/or sunflower oil and/or corn oil). TBHQ and citric acid added to help preserve freshness. Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an anti-foaming agent.

We didn’t need nuclear weapons during the Cold War, all we needed to do was send them McNuggets!


 
PPARGammaGirl
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
PPARGammaGirl  
Replied

dale_3
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
dale_3  
 
Posted On Apr 03, 2007
that is disgusting!.... i cant believe it....never eat mc donalds again!...........by the way      www.dontforgettotakeyourvitamins.com/hermosillo40559


Tylersgram
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2007
Tylersgram  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2007
Thanks for the listing of the McNasty stuff in Mcnuggets. We were taught to trust our Government and we need to wake up to the fact its all about the McMoney

 
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2007
 What disgusts me even more than the garbage based ingredients,  is the marketing techniques targeted at the youngest of our children. When my vaccine-injured grandson was 3, he lost a great deal of his ability to communicate with words. Once, when traveling a long distance in the car, we passed several McDonald's signs. He was becoming more and more frustrated with me because I would not stop. Finally, at one point, I looked in the rear view mirror to see him whip his head in the direction of the golden arches. When I ignored this, he hummed out the tune, "buh buh buh buh buhhh...and clearly finished the last line of the commercial, ..."I'm lovin it!!!"  I was both heartened by his creative attempt to tell me what he wanted, and angry that this huge corporation had found away to get to the most vulnerable among us!!!
 
Fortunately,  a gluten and casein free diet has been a huge step in his recovery process... that means there are no Chicken McChemicals and wheat coated fries for him!!!!  Fast food sucks!!!!

 
minnie-me
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 2/2007
minnie-me  
 
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2007
There's finally a use for McDonald's french fries - check out the creative and amusing video at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gvGDsIYrrQ

 
Bridestein
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 12/2006
Bridestein  
Replied

helpingheart
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
helpingheart  
 
Posted On Apr 11, 2007
Thanks!  That person has artistic talent!

 
 
 
 
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