Wait, what’s really in McDonald’s burgers?

We want to set the record straight about our burgers. 

What are McDonald’s burgers made of?

Here are the facts: All of our burger patties in the U.S. are always made with 100% USDA-inspected beef. That’s the only ingredient: 100% real beef. Our patties contain no preservatives or fillers, and the only thing we ever add is a touch of salt and pepper when the patties are sizzling hot on the grill.

Preservatives in McDonald’s food

Here's something else you should know: In the U.S., none of the classic burgers or our Quarter Pounder® burgers contain artificial preservatives, artificial flavors or added colors from artificial sources, besides the pickle.* Our pickle contains an artificial preservative, so skip it if you like. That’s right – the buns, cheese, patties and other ingredients that make up our classic  burgers and Quarter Pounder burgers have no artificial preservatives, artificial flavors or added colors from artificial sources.

Which burgers are considered “classic,” you ask? Our classic burgers include the hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble®, and Big Mac®.

Quarter Pounder

And, in case you missed it, the beef patties in our Quarter Pounder® burgers are 100% North American fresh beef and cooked right when you order in our U.S. restaurants, every time.***

So there you have it – the truth about McDonald’s burgers. It’s not as exciting as some of the rumors would have you believe, but we’re proud of our quality ingredients and our delicious menu items.

*National sandwiches only. Excludes local and limited time options.

**Weight before cooking: 4 oz.

*** Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, and US Territories.