Most people don't go to McDonald's for fresh, healthy food that fits their diet.
Instead, words like fast, cheap, and tasty come to mind when you get a craving for chicken nuggets.
Sure, burgers and shakes aren't "good" for our bodies, but so what?
Still, the popular restaurant brand is looking to change their image - and their burgers - in a way some fans might not appreciate.
Big Mac Au Naturale
McDonald's has been working to change the way people view their food for years now.
In 2016, the chain removed artificial preservatives and high fructose corn syrup from their buns and nuggets.
This week, McDonald's announced that their most popular burgers are now made without artificial ingredients.
Chris Kempczinski, the company's American president, said it was part of the plan to build "a better McDonald's."
The change won't just affect products like Big Mac Special Sauce. The burgers and buns themselves will also switch to new, all-natural recipes.
Seven of the chain's "classic" menu items are set to change starting this week.
The hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, and the Big Mac will all be made without artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors.
While this is a major change to their burger recipe, McDonald's says the changes won't include "sacrificing that signature taste" of their meals.
Oddly, one burger ingredient that will still contain artificial preservatives are the pickles.
In fact, a third of the chain's sandwiches - including Egg McMuffins and the Filet-O-Fish - still contain artificial ingredients, and there are no plans to cut them any time soon.
Better Ingredients, Better Burgers
McDonald's isn't the only restaurant chain putting their menu on a diet.
Panera Bread, Subway, Pizza Hut, Chipotle, and Taco Bell have all cut down on artificial ingredients in recent years.
In Taco Bell's case, the brand stopped dying their nacho cheese yellow and swapped "black pepper flavor" in their beef for the real thing.
Experts say the average customer these days is more health conscious, and has higher expectations for their food.
That means McDonald's probably won't be the last brand to freshen up their menu.
Of course, McDonald's has made other changes to stay competitive in a world with so many fast food options.
The chain swapped their frozen Quarter Pounder patties for fresh beef, and added new, healthier options to their Happy Meal lineup last year.
Even the company's Apple Pies were given a recent makeover.
While the new version of the pastry uses 100% American-grown apples, some customers were turned off by the low-sugar recipe.
Hi, Megan! Our new apple pie is made with fewer ingredients such as sugar, sliced 100-percent American grown apples and a bit of cinnamon to the filling for flavor to give each one that homemade taste our customers love.
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) September 17, 2018
Pie fans are still divided about the change, and only time will tell if the choice to cut artificial ingredients is more popular.
[H/T: CNN]
