Help us turn our website into an app, Support our Fundraiser!

McDonalds Menu

Flavor:

Quarter Pounder®* with Cheese Deluxe

Ingredients:

Quarter Pound 100% Beef Patty* Ingredients: 100% Pure USDA Inspected Beef; No Fillers, No Extenders. Quarter Pound Bun Ingredients: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Contains 2% or Less: Sesame Seeds, Salt, Wheat Gluten, Dextrose, Guar Gum, Vinegar, Vegetable Proteins (Pea, Potato, Rice), Sunflower and/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, May Contain One or More Dough Conditioners (DATEM, Ascorbic Acid, Mono and Diglycerides, Enzymes), Modified Food Starch. Pasteurized Process American Cheese Ingredients: Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Soy Lecithin, Color Added. Roma Tomato Ketchup Ingredients: Tomato Concentrate From Red Ripe Tomatoes, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Natural Flavors. Shredded Lettuce Mayonnaise Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Egg Yolk, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Sugar, Spice, Lemon Juice Concentrate. Pickle Slices Ingredients: Cucumbers, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Alum, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Polysorbate 80, Extractives Of Turmeric (Color). Onions Mustard Ingredients: Distilled Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric, Paprika, Spice Extractive.

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Awarded a 1/5 green leaf rating, the McDonald’s Menu Quarter Pounder® with Cheese Deluxe is a product that warrants caution for those seeking cleaner food options. This item does not meet the criteria for a health-conscious choice due to a variety of concerns rooted in its ingredient list and production processes.

The Quarter Pounder® with Cheese Deluxe is not organic, a factor that contributes to its low rating, as many consumers seeking cleaner options prefer foods that are grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Furthermore, the inclusion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) detracts from its appeal for those aiming to avoid genetically altered ingredients.

Added sugars are present in multiple forms, from straightforward sugar to corn syrup and dextrose, all of which are ingredients that health-focused individuals often try to limit. High fructose corn syrup, a sweetener linked to various health issues, is particularly problematic and significantly impacts the product’s score.

The burger also contains a range of additives that raise concern. Natural flavors, though common in processed foods, are a vague category that can encompass a wide range of substances, some of which may not align with a clean eating philosophy. Emulsifiers like diglycerides and maltodextrin, an additive often derived from corn, further diminish the product’s standing. Maltodextrin in particular has been flagged as a known harmful additive.

Oils such as soybean and canola, while common in fast food, are viewed unfavorably by those prioritizing cleaner eating due to their processing methods and potential health implications. The use of enriched flour, soy lecithin, potassium sorbate, and sodium citrate as preservatives and stabilizers also detract from the product’s overall quality.

The Quarter Pounder® with Cheese Deluxe, with its extensive list of questionable ingredients, is not recommended for those looking to make healthier food choices. Its 1/5 green leaf rating reflects a product that is far removed from the ideals of clean eating.