
Hmmm, some of those ingredients definitely look a bit questionable. Lets break it down even further:
- Yeast extract=MSG - Depression, irritability, mood changes, mutagenic teratogenic subacute and reproductive affects
- Modified cornstarch – chemically modified starch for thickening and jelling. Could cause digestive issues in babies due to their low resistance to chemicals. Propylene oxide, succinic anhydride, 1-octenyl succinic anhydride, aluminum sulfate and sodium hydroxide. FDA ordered to reevaluate safety in 1980, still waiting….
- Palm oil – not environmentally friendly
- Corn maltodextrin – sugar from hydrolysis of starch. Used as a tenderizer and flavor enhancer.
- Natural flavor – distillation and solvent extraction, or enzyme action to obtain materials from plants and animals. Process can change the chemical structure of the components.
- 5 more types of sugar: sugar, dextrose, cane molasses, orange juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate
- Xanthan gum – gum made from pure culture fermentation of carbs with Xanthomonas campestris. Also called corn sugar gum. Used as thickener, suspend, emulsify, stabilize water-based foods (Dairy and salad dressings). Used as a pseudo plasticizer in salad dressing to help them pour. Used in animal feed as stabilizer, thickener, suspending additives.
Wow! So grilled chicken at Chic Fil A is definitely not what it's cracked up to be. It is important to keep in mind that convenience and price don't always match up to or are better than quality. Personally, I would much rather have to walk into a restaurant and wait a few extra minutes for food than eat fake grilled chicken! Even better, prepping ahead of time and using a cooler for long days out and about would be ideal.
Resources:
Chic Fil A
Winter, R. (2009). A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, 7th Edition: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods (Revised, Updated edition). New York: Harmony.