Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

[NoMorePumpkin]

I'm often on the run and new to Atkins. Thinking that beef is 0 carbs (and hoping that McDonald's really does use 100% beef), I have had their double cheese-burgers w/out ketchup and pickle. I take off the bun, of course.

I've also done the same thing at Wendy's and I'm a little more confident about their burgers. Wendy's actually makes it easy to order their burger w/out the bun, unlike McDonald's. I like to order a double w/ cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomatoe. Then get their side salad, take off the carrots, and get the Ceaser dressing (1 carb).

I would appreciate any and all thoughts on my way of trying to stay true to Atkins, OWL and eat on the run.

Thanks!!
-Dawana

[TyCowboy]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

McDonald's Burgers are made from their cattle ranches out west. They raise Holstein cattle at last check, and ship them to the stores. They're safe from a meat perspective...I can't talk about any other form of condiment or other stuff (cheeses, etc.)

Wendy's burgers are pure ground beef, but I believe that they are purchased at bulk and processed by comissaries for Wendy's. (this is all third or fourth hand info).

Either way, both restaurants should be safe from a meat perspective...no fillers or soy in there.

Ty

[BikerGoddess]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

Just about every chain restaurant has nutritional info online now. And you can still ask for it in the store.

Checking out www.wendys.com, I come up with 3g for the sandwich and 8g for the salad (but it doesn't let me take anything off).

Unfortunately, www.mcdonalds.com doesn't let you take off the bun, for comparison. The cheese is processed, so it will probably be higher than real cheese, but I find hamburgers with absolutely nothing else kinda hard to eat. You'd probably know outside of fast food if you had a problem with cheese/dairy, so I'd leave it as long as you're losing weight.

Ideally, you should limit your fast food visits. It really does make life easier though, so as long as it's not an every day thing, you'll probably be fine. There are other options for meals on the go - just takes a bit more thought and effort.

Laura

[2big4mysize]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

The meat is real beef but it is seasoned with a spice mix that contains soy if you are allergic or avoiding soy.

Your choice of foods is a fine fast food pick. Watch the dressing though as many of the fast food dressings are more carby then the salads.


Actually the Pasteurized Processed American Cheese in the McDonalds foods is real cheese.

Pasteurized Processed American Cheese is the legal tern for the top quality American cheese made from mixing only cheddar and colby cheeses and having a certain moisture content for American cheese. the stuff labled American cheese or processed American cheese is real cheese too but has other cheses besides colby and cheddar in it.

[TyCowboy]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

I worked at a wendy's for several months when I was younger, and the only thing that touches the beef is iodized salt. So I'm baffled about a soy mixture.
I love the information on the american cheese, where'd ya dig that up?

Ty

[2big4mysize]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

sorry that was the McDonalds, Hardees and Burger King meats have the soy in the seasoning. Wendy's is the only soy free one out there for all the soy avoiders.

The Pasterized Processed American Cheeese always confused me cause it sounds like a bad ofr you cheese but it is actually the best of the best of the Americans. The Cheese info was from answeing newbie questions about can I have this cheese ..... so I figured back when I was a mod I should learn all about the cheeses and I got the FDA and USDA cheese info for all cheeses by name.

[NoMorePumpkin]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

Thanks everyone!!!

I really appreciate all the information.

Have a great week.
-Dawana

[ssgswife]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

Hey...saw this thread earlier and just wanted to add something I found a few minutes ago. McDonald's has a list of the basic sandwiches/breakfast items where they've taken off bread and condiments for low-carbers. Here's the link.
http://app.mcdonalds.com/countries/u...bohydrates.pdf
I also found the carb breakdown for food components for Wendy's here:
http://www.e-clipse.com/fastfood_wendys.htm
Hope this helps.

ssgswife

[freakaccident]

Re: Are the burgers at McDonald's/Wendy's Safe?

I would go nuts if I couldn't rip the meat out of fast food burgers and chow down. Hardees is my favorite. Hopefully the soy isn't a big deal.