McDonald's cheese is a processed American cheese product, primarily made from real cheese (like cheddar and other cheeses), milk, cream, water, and emulsifiers (like sodium citrate) for that signature smooth melt, plus salt, color, and preservatives for consistency and shelf life, not plastic. It's a blend of natural dairy ingredients and additives to achieve its specific texture and melt, and it contains about 60% real cheese.
Pasteurized Process American Cheese
Ingredients: Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Soy Lecithin, Color Added. Contains: Milk, Soy.
The cheese slice used in our menu items like our Big Mac®, Cheeseburger and Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese contains approximately 60% real cheese (51% Cheddar and 9% Other Cheeses).
CHEESE: Cheese (Milk, Salt, Culture, Enzymes (Rennet, Lipase)), Water, Milk Solids, Butter, Emulsifiers (340, 452, 331), Salt, Acidity Regulators (260, 330, 339), Colours (160b, 160c), Preservative (200), Soy Lecithin.
Fonterra – signature cheese. Lactalis Australia Pty Ltd - shake and sundae mixes.
The unexpected winner? Great Value Deluxe Pasteurized Process Sliced American Cheese from Walmart. As it turns out, Walmart's store brand is the closest substitute for McDonald's American cheese you can buy.
We are the Bega Group and we're proudly Australian-owned. For over a century, we've been passionate makers and innovators of food and today, we produce foods, beverages, and ingredients that millions of people use daily.
The unhealthiest item at McDonald's is often cited as the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes, packing over 1,300 calories, nearly a full day's sodium, and significant saturated fat, making it a calorie and nutrient bomb, with other contenders including large shakes, certain Angus burgers, and large fries.
Now that the sting of miracle french fries has passed, you may be wondering, “But what about the fries?” As we mentioned before dimethylpolysiloxane (or PDMS) is the silicone compound McDonald's uses in its french fries to prevent the oil from foaming.
Velveeta may look like cheese, smell like cheese, and even taste like cheese, but it is technically classified as a “pasteurized process cheese product.” Though Velveeta was originally made from real cheese (sure it was runoff, but still), it is now mainly whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, milk, fat, ...
The salt content in processed cheese is usually higher than natural cheese. Processed cheese does not go through a months-long aging process like natural cheese. Cheese can be made faster by mixing all the ingredients. Processed cheese has a longer shelf life, softer texture, and consistent flavor.
"Eating fast food in moderation can still be part of a healthy pregnancy," says Erin Hinga, a registered dietitian and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. "Focus on small healthy swaps and mindful choices to maintain balance."
These are some minimally processed options: Ricotta cheese. Goat cheese. Feta cheese.
What are McDonald's burgers made of? Here are the facts: All of our burger patties in the U.S. are always made with 100% USDA-inspected beef. That's the only ingredient: 100% real beef.
McDonald's cheese is made by our trusted supplier, Fonterra, with milk from dairy farms around the country.
Plain Hamburger
CDC also confirmed there were no new illnesses associated with consumers eating at McDonald's following our swift and decisive action on October 22, 2024. This reinforces the importance of our values, particularly in moving quickly to do the right thing and to always put people first.
Before August 2016, dimethylpolysiloxane and TBHQ were listed as ingredients in the McNuggets cooking process. According to Lisa McComb, a media relations representative for McDonald's, dimethylpolysiloxane is used as a matter of safety to keep the frying oil from foaming.
The cooked Fries will therefore end up being approximately 86% potato - the remaining 14% being vegetable oil.
The healthiest things at McDonald's include apple slices, oatmeal, and a grilled McChicken sandwich. You can still indulge in your favorite burger, but just be conscious of both portion control and your sides.
The countries with the most saturated fat
1. Processed Meats Like Bacon, Hot Dogs, and Cold Cuts. Processed meats like bologna, ham, and bacon are high in calories and salt and are linked to increased risk of heart disease due to their impact on cholesterol and blood pressure, says Julia Zumpano, RD, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Several milk brands are 100% Australian owned, including Norco, an Australian farmer-owned co-operative; Riverina Fresh, a long-standing Australian dairy company; and Procal, a family-owned dairy in Victoria, plus brands like aPLUS milk, Little Big Dairy Co, and Great Ocean Road Dairy, all emphasizing local ownership and production to support Australian farmers and communities.
Yes, Bulla Dairy Foods is still proudly Australian-owned and operated by the same three founding families (Sloan, Anderson, and another related family) since 1910, making it one of Australia's oldest family-owned dairy businesses, producing all its products in Victoria using local milk.
The Discovery
The VEGEMITE brand has a history spanning over 100 years and is proudly owned by the great Australian food company – Bega Cheese Limited. Bega Cheese Limited purchased the VEGEMITE brand in 2017, returning VEGEMITE to Australian ownership for the first time in over 90 years.