Myths about McDonald’s Food to Stop Believing

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By Ghuman

Introduction

McDonald’s is one of the most popular fast food restaurants in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the food they serve. From the ingredients they use to the nutritional value of their meals, there are a lot of false claims out there. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most common myths about McDonald’s food and why you should stop believing them. We’ll also discuss the truth behind the ingredients and nutritional value of McDonald’s food, so you can make informed decisions about what you eat.

Myths about McDonald’s Food to Stop Believing

McDonald’s is one of the most popular fast-food chains in the world, and it’s no surprise that there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the food they serve. From rumors about the ingredients in their burgers to the nutritional value of their meals, there are plenty of myths about McDonald’s food that need to be debunked. Here are some of the most common myths about McDonald’s food that you should stop believing.

Myth 1: McDonald’s Burgers are Made with Pink Slime

One of the most common myths about McDonald’s food is that their burgers are made with “pink slime,” a processed meat product made from beef trimmings. This is simply not true. McDonald’s burgers are made with 100% pure beef, and no pink slime is used in the production process.

Myth 2: McDonald’s Food is Unhealthy

Another common myth about McDonald’s food is that it is unhealthy. While it is true that some of their menu items are high in calories and fat, there are also plenty of healthy options available. For example, their salads and grilled chicken sandwiches are low in calories and fat, and they also offer a variety of fruit and vegetable sides. So, while it’s important to be mindful of what you order, McDonald’s food can still be part of a healthy diet.

Myth 3: McDonald’s Uses Low-Quality Ingredients

Another myth about McDonald’s food is that they use low-quality ingredients. This is simply not true. McDonald’s is committed to using high-quality ingredients in all of their menu items, and they have strict standards for the suppliers they work with. So, you can rest assured that the food you’re eating is of the highest quality.

Myth 4: McDonald’s Food is Highly Processed

Finally, some people believe that McDonald’s food is highly processed. While it is true that some of their menu items are processed, they also offer plenty of fresh options. For example, their salads are made with fresh ingredients, and their burgers are made with 100% pure beef. So, while some of their menu items are processed, there are still plenty of fresh options available.

These are just a few of the myths about McDonald’s food that you should stop believing. While it’s important to be mindful of what you order, McDonald’s can still be part of a healthy diet. So, don’t let these myths keep you from enjoying your favorite fast-food chain.

McDonald’s is without doubt one of the most acknowledged fast-food chains on the planet. Recognized for its world-famous fries, Large Macs, and Pleased Meals, the Golden Arches is residence to many iconic meals, however that additionally means the chain is not resistant to a fair proportion of criticism or controversy. We have rounded up a number of the wildest myths about McDonald’s meals, and also you would possibly marvel how these rumors began circulating within the first place.

Customers need to know the reality about McDonald’s, and luckily, it is rather a lot higher than you’d anticipate. No, the meat is not actually created from slime, and the burgers aren’t full of worms. (Significantly, how did that rumor get began?) The fast-food chain has been the topic of loads of rumors, however most of them are nothing greater than tall tales.

And for extra, do not miss these 15 Basic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback.

mcrib sandwich
Courtesy of McDonald’s

Like McDonald’s hen nuggets, the McRib generally will get a nasty rep for the way it’s made. However McDonald’s is open concerning the McRib course of, which incorporates forming meat into rib-shaped bricks. So, sure, the form is not actual, nevertheless it actually is meat, not pink slime.

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mcdonalds egg mcmuffin breakfast
TY Lim/Shutterstock

This might need been true at one level, nevertheless it looks like McDonald’s might need caught on to the trick. Some articles will counsel ordering a plain model of a breakfast sandwich, like a sausage muffin or McGriddle, and including issues like cheese and eggs on individually. As the idea goes, constructing the identical sandwich will probably be cheaper than simply ordering it.

This is not the case, although, not less than by New York costs. Right here, a Sausage McMuffin with egg prices $3.89. However shopping for a Sausage McMuffin and scrambled eggs for $1.89 and $1.99 every, respectively, would set you again $3.88—nearly the very same worth, and you do not get the superior spherical egg. Do not waste your time attempting to give you the most effective mixture on your buck, as a result of likelihood is, it is already on the menu.

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Due to sensational headlines (like this one claiming that “foolish putty is hiding in your meals”), it is comprehensible that individuals are apprehensive concerning the components in meals from locations like McDonald’s. However the actuality is that these are completely frequent preservatives which are authorised by the FDA.

On this case, the agent in query is dimethylpolysiloxane, which stops oil from boiling over, as McDonald’s explains on its web site. Sure, it is an additive in your meals. No, that does not imply you are consuming Foolish Putty.

eggs in carton on wood table
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McDonald’s USA has really pledged to make use of 100% cage-free eggs by 2025. And the corporate is already effectively on its approach: In response to the corporate’s web site, fewer than 1% of eggs utilized in McDonald’s USA dishes have been from sources that weren’t cage-free.

mcdonalds drive thru employee wearing gloves
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In the event you’re taking a stroll and resolve to cease at McDonald’s, you will have to enter the shop to get your meals. It is on your personal security, although—for those who obtained hit by a car from behind, you could be out of the staff’ line of sight.

McDonald's apple pie

It is regular to imagine that you just would possibly simply get caught with a dried-out apple pie for those who go to McDonald’s throughout off-hours. And it is the rationale why some folks nonetheless assume it is a “hack” to order unsalted fries within the hopes of getting a contemporary batch. However there is a option to keep away from all of those situations: Simply ask for a contemporary batch of fries, a contemporary pie, or a contemporary Filet-O-Fish. In the event you do it properly, the staff will probably be completely satisfied to make it for you.

McDonald's oatmeal raisin mcflurry from the secret menu
Courtesy of Flickr

In the event you’re a fan of McDonald’s mushy serve, likelihood is good that you’ve got gone to the chain for a McFlurry, solely to be sorely disenchanted that the machine is down. Technically, the machine won’t be damaged—it is simply being cleaned.

McFlurry machines take so long as 4 hours to scrub, and clients cannot order the treats throughout that point. (In fact, the machines are damaged generally. However they’re additionally only a ache to scrub.)

Mcdonald's filet o fish sandwich
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Sure, the fish sandwich is a superb possibility for many who are avoiding meat within the weeks main as much as Easter. However the majority of gross sales of the sandwich occur throughout the remainder of the 12 months. USA Right this moment reported in March that round 25% of Filet-O-Fish gross sales occur throughout Lent. That is a big determine, nevertheless it additionally reveals that loads of individuals are having fun with the seafood sandwich year-round, too.

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After pivoting from promoting barbecue, the primary McDonald’s bought 15-cent hamburgers—however they have been accompanied by chips, not fries. The crunchy fries joined the menu in 1949, changing chips.

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Sure, there’s technically a McDonald’s secret menu, and it has been making its approach across the web for years. However do not simply order a “McBrunch burger” and anticipate an worker to know the best way to make it. These aren’t official menu gadgets, so you will have to clarify what goes into the merchandise in order for you them to make it (otherwise you’ll have to purchase all the pieces individually and assemble it your self).

mcchicken
Courtesy of McDonald’s

One U.Ok. teen claimed that there was a child mouse in her sandwich in 2018. However McDonald’s issued a press release saying the picture really confirmed a “blood vessel” from a hen. That is nonetheless not essentially the most comforting factor to be consuming, nevertheless it positive beats chomping on a rodent.

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This can be a fairly bizarre one, however some girls have apparently claimed that consuming McDonald’s fries helped them get pregnant. Clearly, there is no scientific proof to help the declare, although. In the event you’re combating fertility, your finest guess is to see a physician, to not gobble up a McDonald’s order.

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The reality is, McNuggets aren’t created from pink slime however from white boneless hen. Some consider this delusion took place when superstar chef Jamie Oliver confirmed a pink substance referred to as lean beef trimmings—that are components of beef that you may’t take away from the bone—that McDonald’s used as fillers for its burgers. McDonald’s discontinued utilizing beef trimmings in its burgers in 2012, however they have been by no means added to the McNuggets.

Wish to understand how hen nuggets are actually made? McDonald’s made a video about it.

mcdonalds hamburger
McDonald’s/Yelp

McDonald’s used ammonium hydroxide to assist separate the meat from the bone of their lean beef trimmings and make it secure for consumption—a observe the FDA deemed secure. However in 2012, the corporate stopped utilizing lean beef trimmings altogether, and consequently, the usage of ammonium hydroxide, too.

Mcdonalds big mac
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This is without doubt one of the most pervasive myths about McDonald’s meals. The concept McDonald’s burgers, buns, and toppings by no means decay has turn into nice social media fodder through the years, however there’s little science to show it. Individuals who have examined it have usually come to the identical conclusion: Most burgers will not rot in dry air as a result of it eliminates the moisture vital for micro organism and decay to kind. However we do not suggest consuming something that is been sitting out for greater than two hours.

Mcdonalds burger fries and soda
eighth.creator/Shutterstock

This delusion possible caught hearth as a result of folks need to consider that enormous chains would do something to maintain earnings low and use undesirable cow components just like the eyeballs. McDonald’s is clear concerning the components of the cow the chain makes use of in its dishes, and eyeballs aren’t on the record. And given how a lot beef McDonald’s buys and the way little of a cow is in its eyeballs, it is secure to say this declare is fiction reasonably than truth.

three raw seasoned burger patties stacked on top of one another
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The phrase on the road is that the Golden Arches embody ground-up worms to complement the meat as a less expensive different. However identical to the eyeball concept, this one does not maintain up the financial take a look at, as a result of worms are literally costlier to purchase per pound than beef. A number of satirical media shops will drum up this story sometimes to get clicks, nevertheless it’s nothing greater than an city legend.

spatula flipping burger patty on grill
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When Huzlers, a website that permits folks to create prank information tales, ran a bit claiming that an Oklahoma Metropolis McDonald’s had used each human and horse meat in its burgers, the information unfold like hearth on social media. Not everybody was sharp sufficient to understand it was all a hoax.

mcdonalds big mac no ketchup
Ann Marie Langrehr/Eat This, Not That!

This delusion began from a YouTube video that reveals somebody pouring molten copper over a Large Mac sandwich. Many individuals assumed that the molten copper would soften the sandwich. But it stays intact, main folks to attract conclusions concerning the preservatives in McDonald’s meals. However the precise trigger known as the Leidenfrost Impact, the place the moisture in meals evaporates quickly, making a vapor layer that insulates the meals from the molten copper.

mcdonalds chicken sandwich with fries and drink
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There is a small a part of the Web who consider that McDonald’s does not use 100% actual beef in its patties. The idea is that McDonald’s buys its provide of beef from an organization referred to as 100 % Beef, to allow them to use the difficult wordplay on their clients. This declare shouldn’t be solely false, however McDonald’s provide chains are additionally pretty clear about the place they supply their elements.

McDonald's french fires
Courtesy of McDonald’s

Like the parable concerning the burgers, America’s favourite fries have gained a social media popularity for having an unnatural shelf life. Certain, your fries will not develop mildew or micro organism if it is saved in a dry setting, however would you actually go for 2 weeks’ outdated crispy spuds to fulfill a salty craving? We did not assume so.

Side view of french fries
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McDonald’s did use beef tallow—a rendered cow fats—to fry up their well-known crispy sides. However the observe was discontinued many years in the past, due to the well being business’s battle towards saturated fats. To switch beef tallow, the chain resorted to utilizing vegetable oils with trans fat, however everyone knows concerning the trans-fat ban. Right this moment, you will discover “pure beef taste” within the World Well-known fries and different McDonald’s dishes.

RELATED: The simple option to make more healthy consolation meals.

Mcdonald's french fries
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Simply because the fries do not use beef tallow it does not imply they’re secure for vegan consumption. McDonald’s makes use of “pure beef flavoring” in its fries in each the U.S. and Canada. As a result of the flavoring is definitely created from milk, the fries are vegetarian however not vegan. If you would like vegan fries, head throughout the pond, the place they do not add beef flavoring to their spuds.

Light mcdonalds fries
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Pure beef flavoring is not the one factor you will discover in McDonald’s fries. Whereas the primary ingredient is potatoes, in addition they include a vegetable oil combine, salt, and sodium acid pyrophosphate, which is used to take care of shade. That stated, McDonald’s is not attempting to cover these elements, as a result of all of them are listed on the corporate’s web site.

Potatoes
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In a 2014 video by famed meals author Michael Pollan, he argued that McDonald’s picked solely excellent potatoes for his or her fires and threw the remaining away. That is half true as a result of McDonald’s is choosy concerning the potatoes they use of their fries.

Mcdonalds french fries
Jelena990/Shutterstock

Pollan’s video additionally illustrated that McDonald’s farming practices concerned spraying potatoes with pesticides so sturdy that farmers needed to keep away for 5 to 6 days. As soon as once more, he is half proper, besides that it is a typical farming observe to avoid any pesticide for that period of time. If that scares you, it could be time to contemplate shopping for natural produce.

sack of russet potatoes
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Pollan’s video additionally highlighted that McDonald’s saved the potatoes in greenhouses for weeks or months. In response to Pollan, storing them in a greenhouse permits pesticides to evaporate. However the true clarification? Farmers need to have the ability to promote potatoes year-round and protecting them within the greenhouses helps preserve them brisker longer.

Mcdonalds mccafe coffee
Courtesy of McDonald’s

Within the early Nineties, a lady sued McDonald’s for serving her extra-hot espresso that gave her third-degree burns. Stella Liebeck initially requested for $20,000 to cowl her medical bills, however when McDonald’s countered with $800, she took it to trial. The jury awarded her $2.7 million (which is what grabbed the headlines), however the decide lowered the quantity to $480,000 they usually ended up settling for an undisclosed however smaller quantity.

cup of mcdonalds coffee
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After the espresso lawsuit, experiences got here out that McDonald’s espresso was 40 to 50 levels hotter than different eating places, which served theirs at 190 levels Fahrenheit. Since then, McDonald’s has modified the best way the corporate heats its espresso.

mcdonalds egg mcmuffin and hash brown on tray
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Regardless of theories that the proper egg circles in Egg McMuffins are from frozen discs of one thing aside from eggs, the reply is far less complicated. You crack an egg right into a mildew and it cooks into the proper 360-degree sandwich. The Golden Arches even got here out with a advertising and marketing marketing campaign a number of years in the past displaying precisely the method to get to every egg dish.

Big mac special sauce
Courtesy of McDonald’s

One of many key elements within the well-known Large Mac is the particular sauce. Some clients have taken “particular” to imply that the sauce is a secret recipe, however like many “secrets and techniques,” McDonald’s has been pretty open about this, even posting a video with the corporate’s government chef making the sauce.

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Many fast-food chains have tried to shed their unhealthy label with advertising and marketing campaigns round what they deem as more healthy gadgets, like leafy inexperienced salads and grilled hen sandwiches. Nonetheless, a examine revealed within the American Journal of Preventive Medication tracked McDonald’s well being information over a 14-year interval, displaying that ranges of sodium, sugar, and fats have gotten solely marginally higher.

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The Web is in charge for the rumor mill that McDonald’s will get its meat from hairless, limbless animals. Not like some myths which have picture proof (doctored or mislabeled), McDonald’s has by no means actually felt the necessity to answer this rumor as a result of it is most likely just a bit too far on the market.

vanilla ice cream cone from mcdonald's
Kiersten Hickman / Eat This, Not That!

One in style delusion is that McDonald’s makes use of pig fats in its mushy serve, whether or not for filler, style or simply to create culinary abominations. This one has been requested sufficient instances that McDonald’s in New Zealand put out a video debunking this delusion. The chain did change its ice cream recipe, however the modifications did not make the ice cream more healthy or laced with pig fats.

mcdonalds pie boxes
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Among the many record of faux ingredient claims, this rumor that is been circulating for many years could be among the many tamest. The parable claims that McDonald’s makes use of potatoes or pears with flavoring in its baked apple pies. As with a number of different myths, the corporate’s transparency in its elements makes it comparatively straightforward to disprove.

mcdonalds egg mcmuffin and breakfast burrito in wrappers
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Many consider McDonald’s and different fast-food chains because the image of all the pieces incorrect with the American eating regimen. However a examine revealed within the Journal of Vitamin Schooling and Conduct discovered that sit-down eating places are simply as unhealthy as their fast-food counterparts.

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That is one other instance of wordplay resulting in ridiculous rumors. This one has brought about many to assume McDonald’s does not have dairy of their shakes, just because they do not name them milkshakes. Nonetheless, the corporate has dispelled this one, too, as a result of the mushy serve used to make the milkshake does include milk.

mcdonalds secret menu apple pie mcflurry
Ann Marie Langrehr/Eat This, Not That!

It appears there is no a part of an animal that somebody hasn’t accused McDonald’s of utilizing someplace of their menu. This concept began within the late ’90s when one Web person stated {that a} pal who was allergic to hen feathers (which is seemingly a factor) obtained sick from a McFlurry. Another theories have credited hen feathers with offering the fluffiness within the ice cream dishes, however the one fluff is the rumor itself.

mcdonalds salad and coffee on blue tray
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Certain, a facet salad at McDonald’s can are available in at underneath 100 energy with the correct dressing. However an entree salad will often run round 500 energy, and dressing packets can pack on as much as 300 extra energy. That is extra energy, sugar, and sodium than a Large Mac and a small fry.

Observe: McDonald’s salads aren’t obtainable through the pandemic, and it is unclear whether or not they’ll return to the menu.

mcdonalds milkshake mcfloat with chicken sandwich on tray
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With its comfort and gadgets on the worth menu, it will be straightforward to assume that McDonald’s is all the time cheaper—and simpler—than cooking at residence. Nonetheless, with combos working 5 {dollars} or extra, it could be cheaper (and higher for you) to whip up a handy gradual cooker meal that is prepared if you stroll within the door.

McDonald's happy meal toys
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If meals is so tasty that you may’t put it down, there needs to be one thing in there to get you hooked, proper? Effectively, within the case of McDonald’s, Web theorists have claimed that the corporate purposefully places secret elements in for the only real objective of getting clients addicted. There isn’t any “secret” ingredient that retains clients coming again for extra, although—they simply love the McDonald’s style.

chipotle paper bag
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When Chipotle was only a fledgling chain with 14 shops, McDonald’s swooped in and purchased a controlling share within the burrito franchise. However in 2006, when Chipotle had greater than 500 franchises throughout the nation, McDonald’s divested its curiosity in an effort to higher give attention to its core model. So whereas the narrative that Chipotle, which is famend for its ingredient high quality, is owned by an organization that has fought off bizarre ingredient myths for many years is ironic and enjoyable, it hasn’t been true for years.

mcdonald's coca cola cups with straws
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This one is an easy case of bewilderment an acronym on a CNN broadcast, when a commentator praised McDonald’s for contributing to their staff’ particular person retirement accounts (IRA). The rumor mill did the remaining, with many within the U.Ok. considering that McDonald’s was sending cash to the Irish Republican Military, a recognized terrorist group. Fortunately for everybody, McDonald’s is sending its cash to a lot much less nefarious locations.

Mcdonald's holiday greeting mitten cup peppermint mocha limited time
Fb/McDonald’s (6875 Sandlake Rd, Orlando, FL)

Some myths are began due to a single picture. When one person posted an image of a McDonald’s cup with some drawn-on fingers that turned harmless mittens right into a risque illustration, McDonald’s debunked the parable with an equal quantity of humor.

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The Information Examiner revealed an article with quotes from Paul Horner posing as a McDonald’s spokesperson, stating that the transfer was a cost-cutting measure. However McDonald’s denied the declare. Horner inserted himself into faux tales for years, even claiming to be the secretive avenue artist Banksy.

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Ray Kroc is an American icon largely for his function in making McDonald’s the biggest fast-food chain on the earth, however the fact is he wasn’t the founding father of the unique restaurant. Richard and Maurice McDonald have been the founders and opened a number of franchises earlier than Kroc purchased the chain and made it right into a worldwide model.

original mcdonalds location
Courtesy of McDonalds

Many individuals declare that the primary McDonald’s restaurant was in Des Plaines, IL, nevertheless it was really the primary retailer that Kroc opened since creating McDonald’s Methods, Inc. The oldest McDonald’s retailer nonetheless working is in Downey, CA. This was the fourth retailer based by the McDonald brothers, which appears to be like very totally different from the best way the chain appears to be like at present.

McDonald's employee handing customer food through the drive thru window
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A meme on Fb claimed that McDonald’s employees in Denmark have a union and make $45,000 per 12 months. This delusion is definitely partially true on a number of fronts. Danish employees do have a union, and their hourly wages are excessive sufficient {that a} full-time worker might earn $45,000 per 12 months or extra. The catch is that there are solely about 500 full-time McDonald’s employees in Denmark, out of about 4,000 complete, so most do not come near this determine.

McDonalds employee mask
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You most likely think about a excessive school-aged teen asking if you would like fries with that. Nonetheless, the common fast-food employee is an grownup, not a teen. Many are single dad and mom attempting to earn a dwelling, not children in search of some spending money.

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Regardless of hiring campaigns by McDonald’s, extra fast-food employees are on the entrance line than in most different industries.

Now that we have dispelled a number of the most pervasive myths about McDonald’s meals, we hope you are a bit much less cautious of the chain. Certain, you should not eat there each day, however you are not consuming pink slime for those who do.

Enjoyable truth: some now-famous faces as soon as labored at Mickey D’s! Listed here are 22 Well-known Folks Who Labored at McDonald’s.

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