McDonald's Stops Use of Ammonia-Treated Beef Trimmings

For a number of years prior to 2011, to assist with supply, McDonald’s said that it, like other food retailers "who used this safe product," had used some lean beef trimmings treated with ammonia in its burgers. However, the company said that at the beginning of last year, it made a decision to stop using the trimmings, so the ingredient has been out of the McDonald’s USA supply chain since last August. 

 

McDonald’s serves only 100% USDA-inspected beef with "no preservatives, no fillers, no extenders - period," the statement said.  

 

According to an article on ABC News, Beef Products Incorporated, the company that had previously supplied McDonald’s with boneless lean beef trimmings, denied that Oliver’s show had anything to do with decision, saying it was made long before the show aired and was based on BPI’s inability to supply McDonald’s on a global basis.