McDonald's fries do not contain beef flavouring in India, ignore what that viral video claims
McDonald's is by far the most popular multinational fast-food chain in India. And its fries are one of the most popular items not just in India, but all around the world.
But when an Instagram influencer, whose account goes by the name byzackdfilms, posted a video saying that McDonald's fries tasted so good because of the beef flavoring, it became viral.
Though it may not be a big thing in many countries, in India, it is a big issue. In India, cows are considered sacred by many and their meat is not consumed by humans in most parts of the country. Many Indian states have even banned the slaughtering of the domestic animal and on sale of their meat.
What happened?
An Instagram user byzackdfilms posted a video that talked about why McDonald's fries tasted so good. He mentioned how the food company back in the 1950s cooked their fries in beef tallow or beef fat and customers loved them. But in the 1980s, the company was pressured to move to vegetable oil due to health reasons.
He said that the customers noticed the change in the taste back then and McDonald's solution to this was to add beef flavouring to the vegetable oil, a practice they still continue to this day.
What does the company say?
The company has clearly said that French fries at McDonald's India are 100% vegetarian and do not contain any animal extract and that all the vegetarian and non-vegetarian products are fried separately.
After the video went viral, McDonald's India issued another statement clarifying this issue. "We use only 100% vegetable oil for our fries, and there is no flavour added to the fries or oil. More so, we have a strictly separate kitchen for veg & non-veg preparations in all our stores," the company said.
Beef flavoring in McDonald's fries
McDonald's has said that when its suppliers partially fry cut potatoes, they use an oil blend that contains beef flavoring. The company says that this ensures the recognizable flavor for its fries. But it is not the case in India. Here the company does not use any flavour or animal extract while making the fries.
What is beef flavouring?
Beef flavouring is a food additive that is used to impart a beef-like flavor to various food products. The specific ingredients in beef flavouring can vary but generally, it contains a combination of natural and artificial ingredients that mimic the taste of beef.
Some common ingredients in beef flavoring include hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), yeast extract, beef stock, beef fat, and various spices and flavorings. HVP is often used as the base for beef flavoring because it contains a high concentration of amino acids.
Some beef flavorings may also contain monosodium glutamate (MSG).