7 Reasons We’re Proud of Our Food

For more than a decade, we’ve been revolutionizing our approach to food in the areas of sourcing, ingredients and preparation. From cage-free eggs to our antibiotics commitments, we’re doing some pretty cool things in the U.S. that are changing the industry and taking action on some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. 

Read on for seven reasons we’re proud of our food revolution – some of them might surprise you! 

1. In the U.S., our classic burgers do not contain artificial preservatives (except the pickle).

This is huge. In September 2018, we announced that in the U.S., all McDonald’s classic burgers have no artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors and no added colors from artificial sources. (Except for the pickle. Our pickle contains an artificial preservative, so customers can skip it if they like.)

The classic burgers include the hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble®, Quarter Pounder® with Cheese, Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Big Mac®. 

2. We’re paving the way to use cage-free eggs – and we’re 33% toward our goal.

In September 2015, McDonald’s USA announced our commitment to source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025. And we’re making serious progress. In April 2019, we announced that our U.S. egg supply is now 33% cage-free, marking significant progress to our 2025 goal.

3. We’re reducing the overall use of antibiotics important to human medicine in our beef supply chain.

As one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, we are committed to tackling issues important to people, animals and the planet, like antibiotic resistance. That is why, in December 2018, we announced a global* beef antibiotic policy to reduce the overall use of antibiotics important to human medicine as defined by the World Health Organization.

*policy covers McDonald’s top 10 beef sourcing markets, including the US, making up more than 85% of our global beef supply

4. You can feel really good about your morning cup of McCafe®.

We’ve committed to sustainably sourcing 100% of our ground and whole bean coffee by 2020. This includes espresso-based drinks and coffee brewed at restaurants, as well as all coffee retail products.

5. We changed up our Chicken McNuggets®, too!

Don’t forget about the ‘Nuggets. Back in 2016, we announced that our Chicken McNuggets do not have any artificial preservatives, flavors or added colors. They are also made from chicken not treated with antibiotics important to human medicine*.

We’re especially proud of this accomplishment because it’s often our youngest guests who are eating Chicken McNuggets – and it’s our mission to provide feel good moments for families everywhere. 

*Farmers still use ionophores, a class of antibiotics that are not prescribed to people, to help keep chickens healthy.

6. Our Quarter Pounders® are hot, juicy, fresh 100% beef. 

Last year in the U.S., we launched 100% fresh beef, cooked right when you order, in our quarter-pound burgers*. Our beef patties, made with North American beef, are seasoned with just salt and pepper and are hotter and juicier than before. And the verdict is in. One year post launch, our customers are loving fresh beef … and they loved it from the start. The national launch in the U.S. in May 2018 resulted in a more than 50% increase in sales of quarter-pound burgers during the first month – and the hits kept coming.

*Weight before cooking 4 oz. Fresh beef available at most restaurants in contiguous U.S. Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories.

7. Ending things on a sweet note… we’ve made changes to our soft serve too. 

Back in 2017, we announced* that our vanilla soft serve is made with no artificial preservatives, artificial flavors or added colors from artificial sources. Sweet.

*Change made in October 2016.

For more details on the ways we’re revolutionizing our approach to food, check out our Food Journey timeline.