McDonald's is the largest fast food chain in the world.
But the image of the American giant is very paradoxical.
On the one hand, we all know that McDo's diet is bad for your health .
But on the other, McDonald's has the advantage of being present all over the world and at affordable prices.
If you are looking for a balanced meal, you will surely not find it at McDonald's!
More and more scientific research indicates that "junk food" is directly linked to serious diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Yet despite these scientific certainties, McDonald's continues to serve billions and billions of meals.
McDo's global success is mainly based on the fact that its "restaurants" are present on every street corner.
The fast food giant is everywhere:in airports, in shopping malls, in tourist areas, on the main arteries of cities (such as the Champs-Élysées).
Many people around the world are addicted to this unhealthy diet.
Unfortunately the success and popularity of McDo does not seem to be running out of steam.
It's high time to discover the toxic ingredients you eat in McDonald's preparations:
It is important to specify that the foods offered in McDonald's menus may vary slightly from one country to another.
But there is one fried food that can be found in ALL McDonald's around the world:French fries .
And these fries contain a product very bad for your health:acrylamide.
Acrylamide is far from being a natural ingredient as you can see on Wikipedia here.
It's a synthetic product that forms when you fry food — one of the most common cooking methods at McDonald's.
However, the acrylamide content of McDonald's fries is particularly high.
The question of the link between acrylamide and cancer is more relevant than ever.
Indeed, this molecule is carcinogenic and affects male fertility in animals (it has not yet been studied in humans).
Be aware that the World Health Organization considers acrylamide to be a real health risk.
The cooking time of food also determines the level of acrylamide:the more a food is fried, the higher its level of acrylamide.
For example, fries cooked too long and turning brown in color contain much more acrylamide than fries cooked for less time.
Yum!
McDonald's hamburger buns contain thickening chemicals to give them a better hold.
McDonald's uses azodicarbonamide in all of its hamburger buns — from the classic sesame seed bun to the bread of its “special” sandwiches.
Azodicarbonamide is a chemical used in the manufacture of yoga mats and sports shoes. Just that!
It comes in the form of an orange-yellow powder which has swelling properties, thus giving softness and elasticity to the rubber.
Fortunately, the use of azodicarbonamide as a food additive is banned in the European Union.
Moreover, in Singapore, the use of azodicarbonamide is subject to a 15-year prison sentence and a fine of €450,000!
Unfortunately, there is another ingredient that is still allowed in Europe:hydrogenated oil.
And as McDo itself says on its own site, its products are made with a liquid margarine that contains oil partially hydrogenated soybeans.
Partially hydrogenated oils have an extremely high content of trans fatty acids .
This type of fatty acid is known to increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
In addition, trans fatty acids increase the level of "bad cholesterol" (LDL cholesterol) and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Yum!
Sodium pyrophosphate is a synthetic product often used as a ferment in the food industry.
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interests , "excess consumption of sodium pyrophosphate causes dietary imbalances that can cause osteoporosis".
Egg sandwiches, for example, are McDonald's preparations that have a high content of sodium pyrophosphate.
In bulk, sodium pyrophosphate can cause severe inflammation if it comes into contact with the eyes and skin or is ingested or inhaled.
Yum!
Polydimethylsiloxane is used as an antifoaming agent in McDonald's frying oils.
It is in these oils that Filets-O-Fish, Chicken McNuggets and French fries are lovingly prepared.
Know that polydimethylsiloxane is also used in cosmetics, in hair conditioners, and even in breast implants.
Yum!
Chicken McNuggets are also prepared in an oil that contains a preservative, tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) .
TBHQ is a petroleum derivative toxic and not really biodegradable...
It is used in particular in the cosmetics industry to make eye shadow.
Yum!
Disodium diphosphate is one of many food additives found in Chicken McNugget batter.
Several studies indicate that there is a link between the consumption of disodium diphosphate and the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
To discover: Grandparents Who Babysit Have Less Risk of Developing Alzheimer's.
Sodium benzoate is an ingredient in most McDonald's sauces, as well as most sodas offered in their "restaurants".
According to a study from the United Kingdom, the consumption of the mixture of sodium benzoate and artificial colors is directly linked to hyperactivity in children.
The study advises children to avoid foods that contain sodium benzoate and artificial colors.
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide is a preparation composed of two flavor enhancers, disodium inosinate and disodium leguanylate.
It is used in McDonald's chicken-based preparations as well as in most of their sauces.
However, the consumption of disodium leguanylate is dangerous for babies under 3 months, for people with asthma and for people who suffer from gout.
Sodium metabisulphite is another conditioning agent for industrial bread doughs.
But this conditioning agent causes allergic reactions in people sensitive to sulfites.
In fact, sulphites are linked to several diseases and health problems. The list goes on:skin conditions, lethargy, diabetes, bloating, joint pain and even memory loss.
You should also know that sodium metabisulphite is also used in waste treatment and as a bleaching agent in coconut cream.
Yum!
To restore its image, McDonald's continues marketing campaigns of misinformation and greenwashing.
The objective is clearly to minimize the harmful effects of the toxic ingredients used in their preparations.
On their website, they claim that the composition of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), an ingredient frequently used in their preparations, is similar to that of traditional sugar (cane or beet).
They also claim that SGHF is used "in a wide variety of products that you find on your supermarket shelves." An obvious strategy to trivialize the use of the SGHF.
It's also a great way for McDo not to have to decide on the problem of using the SGHF.
Indeed, many scientific studies indicate that the consumption of SGHF is linked to obesity and the onset of cardiovascular disease.
As we just saw together:McDonald's frying oils, hamburger buns, and sauces contain toxic products.
One could even say that the kitchens of the fast food giant are laboratories — laboratories in which it is not very advisable to go to eat...
Fortunately, all is not lost! That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a good burger and homemade fries.
To do this, simply choose your own quality products and try our homemade recipes. Watch:
The American CheeseBurger Recipe Cheaper than Fast Food.
Finally The Secret Big Mac Sauce Recipe for Your Homemade Burgers.
Homemade Fries:4 Recipes Cheaper and Better Than Frozen!
Do you know of toxic ingredients that we would have forgotten? Share them with us in the comments. We can't wait to read you! :-)
