FOOD NEWS
The Difference Between Beef Patties At McDonald's And Wendy's
BY Megan Hageman
McDonald's and Wendy's offer similar products, but that doesn't mean their burgers are created equal. Perhaps the most significant difference is in how they source their beef.
McDonald's patties are made with 100% real beef, with no fillers, additives, or preservatives. McDonald's works with many global food groups.
Lopez Foods is listed as a key supplier of its USDA-inspected beef, though Keystone Foods also provides the company with over 150 million pounds of meat per year.
The different suppliers flash freeze the patties before shipping them out. However, McDonald's prized Quarter Pounder is shipped fresh in a special gas-filled container.
Wendy's sources its meat from Beef Quality Assurance-certified farmers and ranchers across North America and uses 100% real beef with no fillers or additives.
At least 40% of Wendy's fresh, never-frozen fast food comes from lots certified by the sustainability-focused Progressive Beef program.
Wendy's also cites Wisconsin-based Birchwood Foods as a long-standing supplier of beef patties for over 50 years. The suppliers send the meat out in refrigerated trucks weekly.