The Mystery of McDonald's Burger Cheese: What Makes Up the Other 40%?

Skylar Hawthorne

Updated Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

McDonald's, a global fast-food giant, has always been under the microscope when it comes to the ingredients used in its menu items. One intriguing topic that has surfaced is the composition of the cheese used in its popular burgers like the Big Mac®, Cheeseburger, and Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese. A recent post on Reddit titled "I love how they don’t specify what the 40% is" has sparked widespread curiosity and debate.

The image in question features a section from a McDonald's webpage dated May 21, 2018. The highlighted text reads: “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).” The remaining 40% has become a topic of speculation and humor among Reddit users.

One user humorously broke down the mysterious 40% with a twist on the lyrics from Fort Minor's song "Remember the Name":

- "Ten percent luck

- Twenty percent skill

- Fifteen percent concentrated power of will

- Five percent pleasure

- And the legal limit of spiders"

Another user provided a more serious take, explaining that the other 40% is likely water content. This is because American cheese, commonly used in burgers, is mixed with emulsifying salts and sodium citrate in boiling water to ensure it melts seamlessly over a hot surface.

Diving deeper, a user linked to the McDonald's nutritional calculator tool, which offers a complete ingredient list for their cheese. According to this source, the cheese in McDonald's burgers includes:

- Vegetarian Cheddar (51%)

- Water

- Vegetarian Cheese (9%)

- Whey Powder

- Butter

- Emulsifying Salts (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate, Citric Acid)

- Milk Protein

- Natural Cheese Flavouring

- Salt

- Colours (Carotene, Paprika Extract)

- Anti-Caking Agent (Lecithins)

This detailed breakdown reveals that the cheese is a blend of real cheese, water, and various other ingredients that help achieve the desired texture and meltability. One insightful comment noted that American cheese is a culinary invention designed to be shelf-stable, super melty, and creamy, often made by solidifying a thick cheese sauce.

Despite the jokes and speculations, it's clear that the additional ingredients serve to enhance the cheese's functionality in a fast-food setting, making it perfectly safe and delicious. As one user aptly put it, "There is nothing wrong with 'non-cheese' cheese. If it is creamy, salty, melty, and compliments the food, then why not?"

For those interested in more detailed nutritional information, McDonald's provides resources like their online nutritional calculator and Allergen Booklet, accessible through the provided links.

So, the next time someone wonders what makes up the remaining 40% of McDonald's burger cheese, the answer lies in a careful blend of ingredients designed to deliver that perfect melty goodness we all enjoy.

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View source: Reddit

Top Comments from Reddit

greg1916

If you follow the link where it says "You can find a full ingredient declaration for all food (including our burgers) served in the U.K. by visiting our online nutritional calculator tool [here](https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/good-to-know/nutrition-calculator.html) " you can find the complete ingredient list for their cheese: Chedder Cheese: Ingredients: EITHER: Vegetarian Cheddar (51%) (Allergen Ingredient:**MILK**), Water, Vegetarian Cheese (9%) (Allergen Ingredient:**MILK**), Whey Powder (Allergen Ingredient:**MILK**), Butter (Allergen Ingredient:**MILK**), Emulsifying Salts (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate, Citric Acid), Allergen Ingredient:**MILK** Protein, Natural Cheese Flavouring (Allergen Ingredient:**MILK**), Salt, Colours (Carotene, Paprika Extract), Anti-Caking Agent (Lecithins). OR: Vegetarian Cheddar Cheese (51%) (**MILK**), Water, Vegetarian Cheese (9%) (**MILK**), Butter (**MILK**), Skimmed **MILK** Powder, Emulsifying Salts (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate), Natural Cheese Flavouring (**MILK**), **MILK** Proteins, Salt, Colours (Beta-Carotene, Paprika Extract), Acid (Citric Acid), Anti-Caking Agent (Lecithins).

machobiscuit

The remainder is : ten percent luck Twenty percent skill Fifteen percent concentrated power of will Five percent pleasure And the legal limit of spiders

Actual_Dinner_5977

If I am being honest, that is 60% more cheese than I thought that it was made of...

Zero_Burn

American/burger cheese is basically a cheese sauce that's been solidified and sliced, which is why it melts so well. It's mostly cheese (Yes, real cheese. It's made with real cheese, at least most of them, some are made with vegetable oil, but we're talking about the \*good\* American Cheese), along with water and an emulsifier to make it into a thick cheese sauce, then it's put into long square molds, cooled and dried to make it set, then sliced and packaged into plastic sleeves. The thing is that the definition of cheese for a food product has a specific fat/water ratio, which American cheese doesn't have since its higher water content, so it has to be labeled as a cheese product.

s9oons

American cheese product is actually a pretty amazing culinary invention. It’s basically shelf stable, and the sodium citrate makes it super melty and creamy. Try making a bechemel and then throw a slice of american cheese in. Creamiest gooeyist sauce you can make.

GenitalPatton

There is nothing wrong with “non-cheese” cheese. If it is creamy, salty, melty, and compliments the food then why not?

jffr363

Here you go. [https://youtu.be/0aGNAxN5Z-o](https://youtu.be/0aGNAxN5Z-o) Nothing crazy. Just american cheese.

XxRocky88xX

Whey powder, milk, butter, a couple citrus derived ingredients. It’s just American cheese, which, yes, is only about 60-70% actually cheese. This type of cheese is specifically designed to melt over heat to coat whatever it’s being placed on. You can’t get the cheese to really fuse to the burger if you’re using 100% pure cheese.

Xenocide_X

r/facepalm all you had to do is look a little deeper there OP. See here is the problem with the internet and everyone having a voice without any evidence to support their accusations of some sinister ingredients in Burger King cheese. You know we actually don't live on a globe.. it's flat, we actually live on a massive BK vegan burger patty. Source: trust me bro

Dutchsnake5

I know it’s r/funny but the serious answer is water. Cheese used in burgers, such as American Cheese, is commonly mixed with emulsifying salts and sodium citrate (both safe to consume) in boiling water. That other 40% is more than likely water content. This is all done to make it so that the cheese more easily melts on a hot surface, such as a burger patty