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McDonald's breakfast menu is one of the best in the world. I mean, it's so good that the chain decided to make it available all-day long. Though Mickey D's breakfasts are undeniably delicious, their eggs aren't the best choice on the menu. In fact, most of the chain's eggs are made with some pretty shocking ingredients...
[Photos: Instagram]
The chain's popular folded eggs and scrambled eggs are made with a slew of preservatives that can leave a negative impact on your body. Some have even been linked to causing autoimmune diseases and cancer!
CNBC found that the folded eggs, which are used to make a variety of McDonald's breakfast sandwiches including the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit and the McGriddle sandwiches, are made from liquid eggs that feature a mixture of preservatives. Among them are sodium acid pyrophosphate, carrageenan and monosodium phosphate. These are used to preserve the color and texture, while also improving their taste.
One addititve you should really be aware of is carrageenan. It's used as an thickener and emulsifier to improve the texture of several popular processed items -- including McDonald's liquid eggs, as we mentioned before. It's also been shown to cause ulcerations and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and many other stomach problems, according to Joanne K. Tobacman, MD. Her research has shown that exposure to carrageenan causes inflammation in our bodies, which she says is "the root" cause for diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. Yikes!
[Photos: McDonalds.com]
As for the scrambled eggs, they're made with the same liquid egg mixture as the folded eggs, meaning that you can also find sodium acid pyrophosphate and monosodium phosphate in them to maintain their signature yellow color and fluffy texture. Forbes says that potassium sorbate is also used, which is also found in personal care products, eyeshadow, and contact lens solution. Plus, the eggs are made with cottonseed oil, which is 94% saturated fat when fully hydrogenated. Yeah, that's definitely not good for your waistline...
Thankfully, freshly-cracked eggs are used to make McDonald's McMuffins. So if you're in the mood for a fast food breakfast that isn't loaded with preservatives, we recommend opting for the chain's Egg McMuffins, Sausage Egg McMuffins, and Egg White Delight McMuffins.
But, nothing compares to the wholesome goodness of the eggs you can make yourself at home. So make sure that you're enjoying your McDonald's egg sandwiches in moderation!
