Patrick Oconnell
McDonald's is a world-renowned fast-food chain, and its cheeseburgers are a significant contributor to its success. Despite the rumours, McDonald's uses a slice of real American cheese, which is made with natural ingredients and is safe to eat. McDonald's cheese is produced by a number of different suppliers, with the Great Lakes Cheese Plant being one of the most important. They provide McDonald's with at least 18 million pounds of cheese each year, supplying about 13,700 restaurants around the country. The cheese is made from a blend of processed cheddar cheese, water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavouring, and food colouring.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main ingredient | Natural cheese |
| Other ingredients | Water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavoring, and food coloring |
| Percentage of cheese | 60% |
| Percentage of fillers | 40% |
| Cheese suppliers | The Great Lakes Cheese Plant and 2 other suppliers |
| Annual supply | 18 million pounds |
| Number of restaurants supplied | 13,700 |
| Number of cows | 67,000 |
| Annual milk production | 1.1 billion gallons |
| Number of employees | 1,800 |
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What You'll Learn
- McDonald's cheese is made from natural ingredients and is safe to eat
- McDonald's uses a blend of 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients
- McDonald's cheese is not plastic, despite urban legends
- McDonald's cheese is produced by a number of different suppliers
- McDonald's cheese is exclusive to them and cannot be purchased in supermarkets
McDonald's cheese is made from natural ingredients and is safe to eat
McDonald's is one of the most popular fast-food chains in the world, and its cheeseburgers are a significant contributor to its success. The cheese used in McDonald's cheeseburgers is produced by a number of different suppliers, including the Great Lakes Cheese Plant, which is one of the most important. The Great Lakes Cheese Plant provides McDonald's with at least 18 million pounds of cheese each year, supplying about 13,700 restaurants across the country. The plant has approximately 67,000 cows that produce 1.1 billion gallons of milk annually, which is used to create McDonald's signature cheese.
Despite urban legends claiming that McDonald's cheese is made of plastic, the cheese is, in fact, made from natural ingredients and is safe to eat. The main ingredient in McDonald's cheese is natural cheese, specifically American cheese, which gives their burgers a richer flavor and a more authentic taste. The cheese is placed on the burger while it is still hot, ensuring that it melts quickly and evenly.
In addition to natural cheese, McDonald's cheese also contains other ingredients such as water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavoring, and food coloring. These additional ingredients make up 40% of the cheese, while the remaining 60% is cheddar cheese. While the cheese is safe for vegetarians, it is not suitable for vegans due to the inclusion of dairy products.
McDonald's has addressed concerns about the quality of their cheese, stating that the smoothness and flexibility of their cheese are obtained by blending heated cheeses and other ingredients with emulsifiers and dispensing the mixture onto a smooth chilled surface. This process helps improve the color and texture of the cheese.
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McDonald's uses a blend of 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients
McDonald's cheese is produced by a number of different suppliers, including the Great Lakes Cheese Plant, which is one of the most important. They provide McDonald's with at least 18 million pounds of cheese each year, supplying about 13,700 restaurants around the country. The Great Lakes Cheese Plant must be functional and producing cheese 24 hours a day, five days a week, to meet this large order. That's 120 hours of cheesemaking each week!
The cheese is produced by native farmers and factories in each country where McDonald's operates, helping to ensure that the product meets local food standards. While McDonald's cheese is not available for purchase by consumers, the closest cheese to McDonald's blend that is available to the public is Kraft's single-serve processed cheddar cheese. Although the blends are different, they taste nearly identical.
McDonald's places the cheese on its burgers while they are still hot, so the cheese melts quickly and evenly, giving the burgers a richer flavor and a more authentic taste.
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McDonald's cheese is not plastic, despite urban legends
McDonald's is a world-renowned fast-food chain, and its cheeseburgers are a significant contributor to its success. Despite the urban legends, McDonald's cheese is not plastic. The fast-food chain's cheese slices are individually wrapped in plastic to prevent them from sticking together, but the cheese itself is 100% real.
McDonald's cheese is produced by a number of different suppliers, with the Great Lakes Cheese Plant being one of the most prominent. The Great Lakes Cheese Plant provides McDonald's with at least 18 million pounds of cheese annually, supplying about 13,700 restaurants across the United States. To meet this massive demand, the plant operates 24 hours a day, five days a week, and has approximately 67,000 cows that produce 1.1 billion gallons of milk each year.
The cheese used by McDonald's is exclusive to the company, as they have their own personal suppliers. The high demand for cheese from McDonald's means that these suppliers often have little to no time for other orders. While the exact blend is not publicly known, it is believed that McDonald's cheese is made from a combination of processed cheddar cheese and other ingredients. According to McDonald's, their cheese slices contain natural cheese as the major ingredient, along with milk solids, butter, and emulsifiers.
Despite the rumors, McDonald's cheese is not vegan, as it contains dairy products such as milk protein, butter, and cheese. The company has also addressed concerns about the use of artificial ingredients in their cheese, stating that they are working towards improving the quality of their cheese blend. While some consumers have expressed a desire for more than 60% processed cheddar cheese in the blend, McDonald's has assured that their cheese is made with natural ingredients and is safe to eat.
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McDonald's cheese is produced by a number of different suppliers
The Great Lakes Cheese Plant provides McDonald's with an impressive 18 million pounds of cheese annually, helping to supply approximately 13,700 restaurants across the country. To meet this substantial demand, the plant operates 24 hours a day, five days a week, and relies on the milk produced by its 67,000 cows, amounting to 1.1 billion gallons of milk each year.
While the exact recipe for McDonald's cheese blend is not publicly available, it is known to contain 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients. These additional ingredients include water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavoring, and food coloring. This combination of ingredients gives McDonald's cheese its distinctive taste, texture, and melting properties.
The use of emulsifiers, for instance, contributes to the smoothness and flexibility of the cheese slices, as confirmed by McDonald's crew member Nicole Thornton. She clarifies that the cheese is, indeed, made from natural cheese and not plastic, dispelling a common misconception. McDonald's cheese is safe for vegetarians due to its dairy content, including milk protein, butter, and cheese, but it is not suitable for vegans.
McDonald's sources its cheese from multiple suppliers and local producers in each country where it operates. This approach ensures compliance with varying food standards across different markets. While McDonald's cheese is not available for direct purchase by consumers, those seeking a similar taste experience can opt for Kraft's single-serve processed cheddar cheese, which is reported to have an almost identical flavor.
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McDonald's cheese is exclusive to them and cannot be purchased in supermarkets
McDonald's cheese is unique to the fast-food chain and cannot be purchased in supermarkets. The company has its own suppliers and a blend that is made specifically for them. The cheese is produced by a number of different suppliers, with the Great Lakes Cheese Plant being one of the most significant. They provide McDonald's with a minimum of 18 million pounds of cheese each year, supplying about 13,700 restaurants across the country.
The Great Lakes Cheese Plant must operate 24 hours a day, five days a week, to meet the high demand from McDonald's. The plant has around 67,000 cows that produce 1.1 billion gallons of milk annually, and this milk is used to create McDonald's signature cheese. The plant employs about 1,800 people, who collectively own 20% of the business through a stock program.
McDonald's cheese is made with natural ingredients and is safe to eat. It is not plastic, despite some urban legends. The slices are individually wrapped in plastic to prevent sticking, but the cheese itself is 100% real. It is a blend of 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients, including water, salt, whey powder, butter, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavoring, and food coloring.
While McDonald's cheese is not available for purchase, those seeking a similar product can try Kraft's single-serve processed cheddar cheese. The blends are different, but the taste is nearly identical. McDonald's cheese is also suitable for vegetarians due to its dairy content, but it is not vegan-friendly.
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Frequently asked questions
McDonald's cheese is made from natural cheese, milk solids, butter, and emulsifiers. Their blend is 60% cheddar cheese and 40% other ingredients, which include water, salt, whey powder, milk proteins, emulsifying salts, natural cheese flavoring, and food coloring.
Yes, McDonald's uses a slice of real American cheese. The cheese is not plastic, despite some urban legends. The cheese slices are individually wrapped in plastic to prevent them from sticking together.
McDonald's has its own suppliers and does not make the cheese itself. The Great Lakes Cheese Plant is one of the most important suppliers, providing at least 18 million pounds of cheese each year to about 13,700 restaurants.
No, you cannot purchase McDonald's cheese directly from supermarket shelves as it is exclusive to them. The closest cheese to McDonald's cheese blend available to consumers is Kraft's single-serve processed cheddar cheese.
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