In a stunning about-face, American fast-food giant Burger King has announced their intention to begin serving “real food.” The modest yet overdue goal will include the banning of 120 artificial ingredients from the chain’s nationwide menus.
According to BK’s press release, which should be celebrated for its poetics, “We firmly believe that real food doesn’t have to compromise on taste, so there have been no compromises to the authenticity of every crunch, sizzle, and Mmmm our guests expect from their BK favorites.”
For those who are curious to see if their preferred chemical made the cut, here is the full list:
Allura Red, Aluminium ammonium sulphate, Aluminium potassium sulphate. Aluminium sodium sulphate, Aluminium sulphate, Aluminum, Amaranth, Ammonium Glutamate, Ammonium Sulphate/Ammonium Sulfate, Anoxomer, Astaxanthin, Azodicarbonamide (ADA), Azorubine, Carmoisine, Benzoate and all Benzoates. Benzoic Acid, Bleached Flour, Brilliant Black BN, Black PN, Brilliant Blue FCF, Brown FK, Brown HT, Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylhydroquinone, Calcium benzoate, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Calcium Glutamate, Calcium Guanylate, Calcium hydrogen sulphite, Calcium Inosinate, Calcium Lactate, Calcium Propionate, Calcium Ribonucleotides, Calcium Sorbate, Calcium sulphite, Canthaxanthin, Citrus Red, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Guanylate, GMP, Disodium Inosinate, IMP, Dodecyl gallate, Erythosine, Ethoxyquin, Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Fast Green FCF, Glutamic Acid, Green S, Guanylic Acid, Hexamethylene tetramine, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Indigotine, Indigo Carmine, Inosinic Acid, Latolrubine BK, Magnesium Glutamate, Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Monopotassium Glutamate, Monosodium Glutamate, Octyl gallate, Orange #1, Orange #2, Orange B, Parabens (all), Partially Hydrogenated Oils/Artificial Trans-Fats, Patent Blue, Polysorbate 20, Ponceau 4R, Potassium Benzoate, Potassium Bisulfate, Potassium Bromate, Potassium Guanylate, Potassium hydrogen sulphite, Potassium Inosinate, Potassium Lactate, Potassium metabisulphite, Potassium Nitrate (added only), Potassium Nitrite (added only), Potassium propionate, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium sulphates, Propionic acid, Propyl Gallate, Propyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, Propyl-p-hydroxybenzoate sodium salt, Quaternary Ammonium Chloride combination, Quinoline Yellow, Red #40, Red 2G, Rose Bengal B, Silver nitrate and hydrogen peroxide solution, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Sodium hydrogen sulphite, Sodium Inosinate & Disodium Inosinate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Sodium Nitrate (added only), Sodium Propionate, Sodium Ribonucleotides, Sodium sulphates, Sodium sulphite, Sorbic Acid, Sudan Red, Sulfites (added as ingredient in formulation), Sulfur Dioxide, Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S, Tartrazine, TBHQ, THBP, Titanium Dioxide, Trihydroxybutyrophenon, Vanillin/Artificial Vanilla, Violet #1, Yellow #1, Yellow #2, Yellow #3, Yellow #4, Yellow #5, Zeaxanthin
While the added Potassium Nitrite will be missed, fans and critics alike appear excited to experience the newer and healthier Burger King experience.
BK’s efforts deserve some applause, but banning artificial flavors and colors surprisingly does not make burgers and fries significantly healthier.
According to Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet, “Many of the ingredients on the list, such as MSG, vanillin, bleached flour, glutaminc acid, and astaxanthin are completely harmless, and Burger King is still fast food that’s mostly ultra-processed.”
Tell us in the comment section if you think this is truly a noble act by Burger King or simply a cheap marketing ploy. Either way, all this talk about that flame broiled deliciousness is drawing me towards my local franchise.
Dear Abby (Langer, R..D.); Yes, all the things on that list are completely harmless, and BK just dfid it to make the beef big enough to see over the bun. Maybe now by taking them all out, we’ll be able to have a REAL flame broiled Whopper that is HOT from the flame, without some nut complaining about how the flame is a carcinogen, and I have to get a cold one from the drawer.