What's Unhealthy About McDonald's?

Why Are Burgers Considered Junk Food?

I remember my teacher at infant school giving us a lesson on "junk food". She didn't adequately explain what constitutes "junk food" nor what the word junk actually means, but I do recall her asking us for examples of typical junk foods and that "burgers" were definitely in that category...

My 5-year-old brain grasped the general picture of what she was attempting to teach us, while simultaneously questioning which ingredients, exactly, made a McDonald's or Burger King burger "junk". After all, if we take the typical Big Mac & Fries and a Strawberry Milkshake, for example, and break it down into its constituent parts, isn't it the case—according to the western food pyramid—that bread is good, salad is good, meat is good in moderation, cheese is good, pickles are good, potatoes are good, and milk and strawberries are good, and a bit of sugar never hurt anyone..? So what was the issue with these foods, exactly? And it's a question I had sitting in the back of my mind my whole life.

And for anyone imagining that no 5-year-old has the capacity to think this way, I can assure you I did. As a kid, I frequently questioned the validity of what came out of the mouths of the adults around me which often didn't go down well. As my mother explained not too long ago, "You shouldn't be so opinionated—I don't want you to be lonely." Because, of course, to the longhouse mind, being surrounded by easily offended idiots who don't ask questions, and going along with their mindless foolery while suppressing individual thoughts is far less lonely than expressing your ideas openly and honestly to a select few smart enough to think outside the box. Back to the article...

Why Isn't a Big Mac Healthy?

It's as if everyone—and I mean EVERYONE—knows that dining from a burger place isn't ideal for health, but the reasons why aren't made clear. So I'm going to break it down, in simple terms, so that more people can understand the long-term damage they're doing to their health:

Since that lesson from my teacher in the late 1970s, the ingredients have changed somewhat for the worse. I'm going to pick apart what's in a McDonald's Big Mac, fries, and strawberry milkshake, these days, in the UK, and then explain what's healthy and what's not:

Big Mac

The Big Mac consists of two beef patties, a sesame seed bun, Big Mac sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions. The specific ingredients for each component are as follows:

• Beef Patties: 100% pure beef with no additives or fillers.

• Sesame Seed Bun: Wheat flour with added calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, thiamin, water, sugar, yeast, rapeseed oil and/or palm oil, sesame seeds, salt, emulsifiers (E472e, E471), flour treatment agent (E300), and enzymes.

• Big Mac Sauce: Rapeseed oil, water, spirit vinegar, sugar, pasteurised egg yolk, salt, mustard flour, thickener (E415), preservative (E202), spices, and flavourings.

• Lettuce: Shredded iceberg lettuce.

• Cheese Slice: Cheese (milk), water, butter (milk), milk proteins, emulsifying salts (E331, E341, E452), natural cheese flavouring, and colour (E160a).

• Pickles: Cucumbers, water, spirit vinegar, salt, firming agent (calcium chloride), preservative (potassium sorbate), natural flavouring, and colour (curcumin).

• Onions: Rehydrated onions.

French Fries

McDonald's French fries in the UK are made from potatoes, sunflower and rapeseed oil, and refined salt.

Strawberry Milkshake

The strawberry milkshake is made by blending vanilla soft serve with strawberry syrup and topping it with whipped cream. The components are:

• Vanilla Soft Serve: Milk, sugar, cream, corn syrup, natural flavour, mono and diglycerides, cellulose gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and vitamin A palmitate.

• Strawberry Syrup: Sugar, water, strawberry purée, citric acid, natural flavouring, fruit and vegetable concentrates (for colour), and preservative (potassium sorbate).

• Whipped Cream: Cream (milk), sugar, and stabiliser (carrageenan).

Why are these ingredients a problem?

1. Refined Salt – The salt used in McDonald's fries is a processed, refined version that has been stripped of its natural minerals. Unlike unrefined sea salt or Himalayan salt, which contain essential minerals like magnesium and potassium, this type of salt is devoid of nutritional value and contributes to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances which creates a cascade of long-term health issues.

2. Starchy Vegetables (Potatoes) – Potatoes are a high-carb, insulin-spiking food loaded with anti-nutrients which cause inflammation and digestive issues.

3. Vegetable Oils – These highly processed, industrial seed oils are one of the worst things you can consume. They are packed with inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, heavily processed using high heat and chemicals, and are known to cause oxidative stress, heart disease, and metabolic dysfunction.

4. Sugar & Corn Syrup – Sugar and its even worse counterpart, corn syrup, are highly addictive and toxic to the human body. They disrupt insulin function, cause metabolic syndrome, and lead to long-term health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

5. Carrageenan & Gums (Guar, Cellulose, etc.) – These so-called "natural" thickeners are anything but harmless. Carrageenan, in particular, has been shown to trigger gut inflammation, leading to leaky gut and autoimmune conditions. The gums also cause bloating and digestive distress.

6. E-Numbers & Preservatives – Most of the preservatives and additives listed, such as potassium sorbate and E-numbers, serve no purpose other than extending shelf life and improving texture. They come with various health risks, including carcinogenic effects and immune system suppression.

7. Plant Toxins in Lettuce & Pickles – Even the lettuce isn't safe. Like all leafy greens, it contains oxalates and other plant toxins that lead to kidney stones, inflammation, and nutrient malabsorption. Pickles, while slightly better, are still soaked in additives and preservatives.

So, what’s the only healthy part of this meal?

The beef patty. That’s it. The 100% beef patties contain no fillers, no oils, no sugars—it may be mushed up, covered in refined salt, and overcooked, but at least it's real food that the human body is designed to thrive on.

The Best Option at McDonald's?

McDonald's should never be your first choice. However, if you find yourself out and about, maybe at the motorway services or an airport or it's a Sunday or bank holiday and everything else is shut, with no other choice than McDonald's - stick to the plain beef burgers and ask for a bottle of water and you’ll at least avoid the worst of the toxic sludge they’re serving up.

How to Replicate a Healthier Version at Home

If you love the flavour of a Big Mac but don’t want the toxic ingredients, here’s how to make a cleaner, nutrient-dense version that’s actually good for you.

Big Mac Alternative

• Burger: 100% grass-fed minced beef, shaped into patties and cooked on a grill or cast iron pan (just like McDonald’s, but better quality).

• Cheese: A slice of raw, unpasteurised cheese (cheddar or gouda works well).

• Onions: A few thin slices of fresh raw onion for flavour (instead of McDonald’s rehydrated version).

The Sauce (Big Mac-Style, But Cleaner)

A healthy, tangy alternative to McDonald’s chemical-laden sauce:

• 2 tbsp raw egg yolk mayonnaise (just blend egg yolks, lemon juice, and tallow or butter).

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (instead of distilled vinegar).

• 1 tsp dijon mustard (without sugar or additives).

• ½ tsp smoked paprika (for a hint of depth).

• ½ tsp garlic powder (optional but tasty).

Mix everything together for a creamy, tangy, and keto-friendly sauce.

Keto Fries Alternative

Since potatoes are nothing but sugar bombs, here’s a much healthier alternative:

• Halloumi Fries – Slice raw milk halloumi, fry in beef tallow or butter until crispy, and sprinkle with real sea salt.

Strawberry Milkshake Alternative

McDonald's strawberry milkshake is nothing but chemical sludge—corn syrup, artificial thickeners, and industrial stabilisers. Instead, try this delicious, nutrient-dense version:

• 1 glass of raw, high-fat milk (or raw cream for extra decadence).

• A handful of fresh, organic strawberries.

• Blend together for pure, creamy goodness—no additives, no junk, just real food.

This homemade version beats McDonald's in every way—better taste, better nutrition, and zero inflammatory ingredients. If you find yourself stuck at McDonald's, your best bet is to order plain beef patties and water—but when you're at home, you can have the real deal without any of the garbage.

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