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

Wendy’s

Flavor:

Dave's Single®

Ingredients:

Hamburger Patty: Ground Beef, Salt. HAMBURGER PATTIES ARE COOKED ON THE SAME GRILL AS AND MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH INGREDIENTS THAT CONTAIN MILK AND SOY.

Premium Bun: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup and/or Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Contains less than 2% of each of the following: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Calcium Peroxide, Calcium Propionate (Added as a Preservative), Calcium Sulfate, Canola Oil, Citric Acid, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Enzymes, Maltodextrins, Modified Food Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate, Monoglycerides, Salt, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (SSL), Starch, Sunflower Oil, Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Proteins (Pea, Potato, Fava Bean), Wheat Dextrose, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Wheat Maltodextrins, Sesame Flour. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SESAME. BUNS ARE TOASTED IN A COMMON TOASTER WITH PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN WHEAT, SOY, MILK, SESAME.

American Cheese Slice: Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Contains 2% or less of Apocarotenal and Beta Carotene (Color), Cheese Culture, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Soy Lecithin. CONTAINS: MILK, SOY.

Tomato: Tomato.

Crinkle Cut Pickles: Cucumber, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Lactic Acid, Natural Flavors, Polysorbate 80 and Turmeric.

Mayonnaise: Soybean Oil, Water, Egg Yolks, Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Mustard Seed, Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Flavor). CONTAINS: EGG

Lettuce: Lettuce

Ketchup: Tomato Concentrate from Red Ripe Tomatoes, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Salt, Natural Flavoring, Spices, Onion Powder. CONTAINS EGG.

Sweet Onion: Onion.

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, the Wendy’s Dave’s Single® hamburger falls short of our standards for cleaner food options. This assessment is grounded in a rigorous analysis of the burger’s ingredients, which reveals several areas of concern for health-conscious consumers.

The hamburger is not organic, nor does it utilize non-GMO ingredients, which are fundamental criteria for a higher score on our scale. The inclusion of added sugars, such as sugar and high fructose corn syrup, and even more concerning sweeteners like dextrose and corn syrup, significantly detracts from the product’s nutritional profile. These sugars contribute to the overall caloric content without providing any essential nutrients.

Further scrutiny of the Dave’s Single® ingredients uncovers a range of potentially harmful additives. These include natural flavors, enriched flour, monoglycerides, polysorbate 80, soy lecithin, calcium disodium EDTA, and sodium citrate, which may pose risks when consumed regularly. Notably, the presence of known harmful additives such as sodium benzoate and maltodextrin compounds these concerns, as they are associated with negative health effects.

The burger also contains oils that are often considered less healthy, including canola, soybean, and unspecified vegetable oils. These oils can be high in omega-6 fatty acids, which in excess may contribute to inflammation and other health issues.

Despite the product’s popular standing as a fast-food staple, the Wendy’s Dave’s Single® hamburger’s low green leaf rating reflects its composition of ingredients that are not aligned with our criteria for cleaner eating. As such, we advise consumers to opt for alternatives that prioritize organic, non-GMO ingredients without harmful additives, sugars, and oils. This approach supports a diet that is more conducive to health and well-being.