The McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is a classic fast food item that lots of people love. In fact, every year the chain sells around 300 million of them. How about the four main ingredients in this well-known sandwich? The crunchy fish filet patty (made from Alaskan pollock at U.S. S. locations), a fluffy bun, a half-slice of processed American cheese, and tartar sauce—have more than 50 ingredients and around 390 calories. But what you dont know about the McDonalds Filet-O-Fish might surprise you.
The sandwich has some questionable ingredients, and even McDonald’s employees tell customers not to order it because most Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are not fresh and sit around for hours before they are served. A Reddit thread says that McDonald’s employees would often see Filet-O-Fish sandwiches “in the heated cabinet for hours.” Another worker said, “McDonald’s kept the fish sandwiches in a super dirty cabinet and cooked them for like five seconds when they actually get ordered.” One customer saw their Filet-O-Fish order get microwaved and then handed to them. ” Lets break down some other unappetizing things that are hiding inside the McDonalds Filet-O-Fish sandwich.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is one of the most popular items on the fast food menu, with millions sold every year. But is the fish inside this iconic sandwich actually real fish? Or is it something else trying to pass as fish? Let’s investigate the mystery fish patty at the center of the Filet-O-Fish.
What Kind of Fish is Used in McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish?
First, let’s establish what type of fish McDonald’s uses in their famous fish sandwich:
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The primary fish is Alaskan pollock. This is a mild, white fish caught wild in the North Pacific.
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Outside the U.S., the fish may be haddock or cod depending on location and availability.
So real, natural fish is definitely used for the Filet-O-Fish. But what exactly goes into processing and preparing the fish?
How is the Fish Patty Made?
To make the crispy fish fillets, McDonald’s uses wild-caught Alaskan pollock that is ground up, mixed with stabilizers and binders, shaped into patties, breaded and fried.
The process involves:
- Grinding up fish flesh trimmings into a fish paste
- Adding modified food starch, potato starch and wheat starch as binders
- Forming the paste into uniform patty shapes
- Dipping patties into wheat flour and bleached wheat flour batter
- Coating patties in crispy breadcrumbs
- Partial pre-frying and freezing patties for delivery
- Fully frying patties on-site until golden brown
So while real fish is used as the base, the patties do contain added starches, batter and breading. This allows them to hold their shape and achieve that signature crispy crust.
Are Any Fish Fillers or Extenders Used?
This is a common concern – that the patties may contain fillers, extenders or artificial fish flavors rather than 100% real fish. However, McDonald’s has repeatedly confirmed that its fish patties contain nothing but real fish and some added starches.
The ingredients list doesn’t show any types of fillers like these:
- Surimi (fish paste made from pollock or other whitefish)
- Fish protein powder concentrates
- Textured vegetable protein
McDonald’s claims the patties are “100% Alaskan Pollock” with no fakes or imitators. Independent lab tests of fast food fish patties support their real fish composition.
Are There Any Preservatives in the Fish Patties?
Yes, the fish patties do contain some added preservatives:
- Citric acid – An acid that preserves flavor and prevents bacterial growth
- Sodium phosphates – Help maintain moisture and texture
- Natural lemon flavor – Masks fishy notes and tastes fresh
These approved preservatives allow the patties to be mass-produced and frozen for consistent quality. But there are no worrisome chemicals present according to McDonald’s published ingredients.
What Parts of the Fish Are Used?
McDonald’s uses flesh trimmings from fish processed for fillets. These small shreds and pieces of flesh come from:
- Muscles along the flank and tail
- Belly flaps near the fins and bones
- Meat clinging to the bones and skin
Using these nutritious trimmings reduces waste and allows more fish to be used. The flesh comes from the same edible parts humans enjoy when eating fresh fish fillets.
How Does McDonald’s Prepare and Cook the Frozen Patties?
The pre-formed, breaded fish patties are partially fried and then blast frozen for delivery to McDonald’s restaurants. There, they are stored frozen until needed for Filet-O-Fish preparation.
When you order a Filet-O-Fish, cooks deep fry the frozen fish patty for 3.5-4 minutes until hot and golden brown. Then they assemble the sandwich with tartar sauce and American cheese before serving hot and fresh.
Does the Fish Taste Fishy? How is Flavor Added?
Surprisingly, the Filet-O-Fish patties don’t taste overtly fishy despite being 100% fish. McDonald’s adds natural lemon flavor to provide a clean, mild flavor. The crisp coating and tartar sauce also help mask any strong fishiness.
Some speculate that the wild Alaskan pollock itself has a very mild, neutral flavor. Overall, the flavor profile aims for inoffensive with broad appeal rather than an intensely fishy experience.
Why Don’t Filet-O-Fish Sandwiches Taste Fresh?
Despite being cooked to order, many customers report Filet-O-Fish sandwiches tasting less than fresh. There are a few reasons for this:
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The frozen fish patties lose freshness over long storage.
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Natural fish oils degrade into less appealing compounds.
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The crisp coating and tartar sauce overpower subtler flavors.
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Frying oil absorbs fishy flavors from many previous cooks.
So while technically cooked “fresh,” many factors work against the perception of freshness.
Do Employees Recommend Avoiding the Filet-O-Fish?
Some McDonald’s employees do seem to recommend against ordering the Filet-O-Fish, claiming the frozen patties sit around for hours and taste less than appealing. However, McDonald’s insists the item remains one of its most popular sandwiches.
Opinions seem to vary between individual restaurants. Some locations may let the patties sit frozen too long before frying. But well-managed kitchens should be frying them fresh to order.
The Verdict on McDonald’s Fish Patties
After looking at the ingredients and preparation, we can confirm McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish does in fact contain real fish. The mild white fish flavor may not satisfy people wanting an authentic fish dining experience. However, the fast food giant isn’t misleading customers – there are no fake fish fillers or flavorings used despite some concerns.
While arguably not the freshest or most natural fish dish, the iconic Filet-O-Fish continues to satisfy millions of diners craving its distinctive crunchy, creamy flavor profile. As with any processed food, it’s up to individual consumers to decide if the taste and nutrition fit their lifestyle. But at least you can eat McDonald’s fish sandwich without worrying about mystery meat in your meal!
The bread contains dough conditioner
In 2014, it was said that Subway used a chemical in its bread that was also found in yoga mats. Vani Hari, an online food blogger and activist known as “Foodbabe,” started a petition to get the chemical taken out of all “healthy” Subway sandwiches for good. However, Subway wasn’t the only fast food chain using the chemical, even though they got a lot of bad press. In fact, McDonalds, Wendys, Chick-fil-A, Jack in the Box, and White Castle all did as well. The chemical, named azodicarbonamide, is a dough conditioner that has been associated with asthma and cancer (via Livestrong).
While McDonalds, like many chains, has since phased out azodicarbonamide, their bread contains a different dough conditioner called diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- and diglycerides, or DATEM for short. Although DATEM doesnt have nearly the same bad reputation as azodicarbonamide, it has been linked to cardiovascular issues in lab animals, according to one scientific report. Its starting to seem like dough conditioners dont have a good track record.
It contains hydrogenated soybean oil
Popular or not, the Filet-O-Fish sandwich has a long list of questionable additives. One of the most concerning ingredients in the sandwich is hydrogenated soybean oil, which has been associated with life-threatening health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, as per Livestrong. According to nutritionist Jennifer ODonnell-Giles, RD, hydrogenated oil “is a processed way of altering oil so it can stay on the shelf for longer, and it creates a mouthfeel people like. [Hydrogenated oil is] my first red flag as an ingredient.”
Hydrogenated oil is a type of trans fat that is bad for your heart and cholesterol levels. It has also been linked to inflammation all over the body. Many food experts say to stay away from trans fats, even if it’s only a small amount, for health reasons. “It can be worse for you and hurt your heart health more than saturated fats,” says ODonnell-Giles.