Many foods sold by popular fast food chains in the U.S. contain harmful chemicals and other substances linked to increased health risks, according to a new analysis by the Daily Mail.
The U.K. newspaper examined the ingredient lists of nine of the “most-loved fast food items” from restaurant chains across the country including Chipotle, KFC, Burger King, Wendy’s, Starbucks, Panera Bread, Domino’s, McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A.
Chipotle faired best in the analysis — the Daily Mail analysis found no harmful chemical or other substance among its ingredients.
However, it warned people to be mindful of consuming too many calories when dining at Chipotle. “Just one burrito can quickly add up to 1,600 calories — more than half of the recommended daily caloric intake.”
Chick-fil-A was arguably the worst on the Daily Mail’s list. Several of its items contained sodium benzoate and maltodextrin.
Sodium benzoate — which the Daily Mail also found in items from Wendy’s and Domino’s — is a synthetic additive and preservative. Several studies have suggested it may be linked to cancer-promoting inflammation, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), increased appetite, oxidative stress and allergies.
Maltodextrin is a white powder manufactured from starchy foods, such as corn or potatoes, and is used as a thickener in many processed foods. Research has shown consuming maltodextrin may reduce the number of good gut bacteria and increase the number of bad.
Maltodextrin has also been linked to a greater risk of intestinal infections and may be a priming factor for the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease.
The number of ingredients matters
The Daily Mail reported that a recent study in The BMJ linked eating “ultra-processed food” to an increased risk of numerous adverse health outcomes and early death.
Some doctors say it’s a wise rule to try eating foods with fewer than five ingredients, the Daily Mail said.
Chick-fil-A’s children’s mac and cheese, market salad and classic chicken deluxe sandwich each had at least 55 ingredients.
A McDonald’s Big Mac had more than 60 ingredients, including the sweetener food additive dextrose and xanthan gum.
Dextrose — a simple sugar made from corn or wheat that acts in the body as glucose — has been linked to liver abnormalities.
While some studies have linked xanthan gum to health benefits, such as lower cholesterol, other researchers noted that it can alter the gut microbiome.
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Bread items especially problematic
Many fast food items that included bread or a bun had long ingredient lists containing harmful substances.
For example, Domino’s stuffed cheesy bread had more than 45 ingredients, including hydrogenated soybean oil and sodium propionate.
Hydrogenated soybean oil contains harmful trans fats.
Sodium propionate is a food preservative and mold inhibitor. A Harvard study found it can raise the risk of obesity and diabetes.
KFC’s biscuit contained more than 25 ingredients, including trans fats and palm oil, which is high in saturated fats. Saturated fats can increase cholesterol, thereby raising the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Wendy’s classic burger, the Dave’s Single, had more than 35 ingredients. Among them was calcium peroxide, a bleaching agent used in baking that is unapproved for use in the European Union.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers calcium peroxide to be GRAS (generally recognized as safe), The Daily Mail reported.
