Happier Meal? McDonald’s to junk unpalatable ingredients
NEW YORK: McDonald’s, which is trying to shake its image for serving processed junk food, said in Monday it was eliminating some unpalatable ingredients from its most popular menu items.
That includes making Chicken McNuggets and other items without artificial preservatives, and removing high-fructose corn syrup, from its burger buns. McDonald’s did not immediately respond when asked about which specific preservatives are being removed.
The changes come as the world’s biggest burger chain fights to win back customers after three straight years of declining guest counts at its established U.S. locations. Major restaurant chains are scrambling to step up the im-age of their food as they face more competition from smaller rivals promising wholesome alternatives.
“Why go to the position of trying to defend them, if the consumer is saying, I prefer not to have that particular ingredient in my food?” said Mike Andres, president of McDonald’s U.S., during an event at the company’s head-quarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, about its “food journey.”
Michael Jacobson, executive director for the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, said the moves by McDonald’s don’t seem to address the big-picture problem with restaurant food the overabundance of calories.
LOVIN’ IT: The change includes making Chicken McNuggets and other items without artificial preservatives. — PHOTO: AP
For instance, he said swap-ping out high-fructose for sugar doesn’t make burger buns any healthier.
In the past year and a half, McDonald’s has also switched to butter from margarine for its Egg McMuffins and added kale and spinach to its salads. Its rivals have made changes as well.
Dunkin’ Donuts, for instance, has promised to put more egg in its egg patty. Currently, the patty looks like a fried egg but is a composite of ingredients.
Indulgent concoctions
As part of its own push to remove artificial ingredients, Taco Bell has said it would switch to actual black pepper rather than “black pepper flavour.” That’s even as it continues trying to lure new diners with indulgent concoctions and neoncolored drinks.
Subway has introduced a “rotisserie chicken” and “carved turkey” that contain more texture and also look more natural compared to its its regular chicken strips and turkey. — AP
