So anyway, I was looking through McDonald's "Full Serving Of Nutrtion Facts" pamphlet.
Reading through the ingredients of the Chicken Selects® Premium Breast Strips/Sauces section I saw this:
...,seasoning (salt, monosodium glutamate, chicken broth, natural flavor (vegetable and animal source), malodextrin, spice, autolyzed yeast, chicken fat, ploysorbate 80, gum arabic),...
Gum arabic?! Gum arabic is what I use to sensitize my metal rollers and plates.
When rollers or plates get "sensitized" they lose their natural dyne rating which makes it more difficult for them to pick up and transport water or, specifically, "fountain solution". A coating of gum arabic re-sensitizes the plate or roller and helps to maintain an optimun ink/water balance.
This seemed like an odd ingredient to put in a fried chicken seasoning mixture. So, I checked the label on my gallon jug of gum arabic.
INGESTION: Induce vomiting if victim is conscious. Obtain medical attention immediately.
Oooooookay.
Jus' throwin' that out as food for thought.
Posted by Tuning Spork at April 8, 2005 10:38 PM1. It's never a good idea to eat anything at McDonalds, because you never know what you're really getting.
2. Chicken Select strips is a complete scam anyway. People think they are eating something that is healthier than the McNuggets, but they're not. (Just three of those things have 530 calories - not including the asstasting dipping sauce that is provided.)
3. Thank you for the warm welcome and the helpful advice. It is greatly appreciated.
4. What is ploysorbate 80 anyway? :D
If you want to avoid all chemicals in your food, then you'll starve to death, because all food is is various chemicals in various combinations. Gum Arabic is probably a thickening agent that is stable enough for long-term storage and you'll see it in lots of different pre-packaged foods (ice cream comes immediately to mind). I doubt there's more than a minute fraction of a percent in the recipe, but it's necessary. Believe me, if McD's could get by without the expense of adding it, they would.
Posted by: Ted at April 10, 2005 05:41 PMOk, that was as interesting as it was icky. Thanks for the warning and the information about the plates.
Posted by: RP at April 12, 2005 09:57 AM