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Black-bun Whopper, green poop, big mess

Many restaurants have been ditching artificial colors, including Panera, Noodles & Company and Starbucks, so it’s surprising that Burger King would actually be adding them.

October 8, 2015 by Travis Wagoner — Editor, Networld Media Group

It doesn’t seem to go "bump" in the night, but it's causing quite a stir for Burger King. The chain’s new Halloween-themed Whopper is causing a lot of commentary on the Internet, as thousands of customers have claimed to be shocked that their stool has turned green after eating the black bun. Some food experts, however, aren't surprised.

"There are so many colors and flavors in the ingredients list that the amount of dyes alone should make anyone nervous," said Betsy Craig, founder of MenuTrinfo, a menu nutritional labeling company. "That means consumers and restaurant operators. I don't find it strange at all that this is altering people's body chemistry. It's not just the volume of ingredients but the ingredients they are actually using. The entire food industry is moving in the direction toward the removal of additives. This is a complete reversal of that movement. From a nutrition standpoint this is crazy and I am just scratching my head in regard to why people think this is a good idea."

Many restaurants have been ditching artificial colors, including Panera, Noodles & Company and Starbucks, so it’s surprising that Burger King would actually be adding them.

Noodles & Company, for example, has removed all artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and sweeteners from its core menu. The company will also advance its commitment this month by introducing bacon that is free of antibiotics or hormones, as well as steak and meatball options never given antibiotics or hormones by mid to late 2016, according to a company announcement.

According to Burger King’s website, the Whopper bun gets its dark look with the help of the popular A.1. steak sauce, as well as food colorings including D&C Red #40, Molasses Powder and FD&C Blue #1.

Also according to Burger King’s website, "The sandwich is a one-fourth pound of flame-grilled beef topped with melted American cheese, ripe tomatoes, crisp iceberg lettuce, creamy mayonnaise, A.1. Thick and Hearty Sauce, crunchy pickles, and sliced white onions on a soft sesame seed bun with A.1.flavor baked into the bun."

Although Burger King did not respond to my inquiry, the most commonspeculation is that the green stool is caused by green or blue food coloring in the bun.

Looking at all the possibilities, the Washington Post deems the dye explanation to be the simplest and most likely one. The Post reported that the only ingredient of the bun that Burger King has mentioned publicly is A.1. steak sauce. A.1. seems innocent of causing green poop since it’s — well — black.  

The Post also reported that purple or blue food coloring has also been known to cause bright green stools. Additionally, The Post says that green poop can be caused by "the presence of bile, which can show up if bowel movements move a little more quickly than usual through the intestinal tract" and by an excess of iron. Iron supplements are also known to cause a green tint in stools on occasion, but that would be a lot of iron for a hamburger bun, the Post reported.

Regardless, there was no shortage of comments about the black Whopper on social media. Burger King’s Facebook page has more than 1,260 comments from people who ate the burger, pooped green and lived to tell their own scary Halloween story. Some people have even posted photos of the results of eating the black Whopper.

It's not The Hulk or the Green Lantern, but it sure is green.

About Travis Wagoner

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Travis Wagoner spent nearly 18 years in education as an alumni relations and communications director, coordinating numerous annual events and writing, editing and producing a quarterly, 72-plus-page magazine. Travis also was a ghostwriter for an insurance firm, writing about the Affordable Care Act. He holds a BA degree in communications/public relations from Xavier University.