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McDonald's Canada takes on 'pink goop' rumors

February 5, 2014

McDonald's Canada launched its "your questions" website in 2012, using it to answer a range of consumers' submitted questions from how the brand makes its signature fries to why the food doesn't look like it does in marketing materials.

Earlier this week, in response to a recently-submitted question, the company attempted to put to rest the subject of many social media conspiracy theorists — "What is legitimately in McNuggets? Is there pink goop?"

Nicoletta Stefou, McDonald's Canada's supply chain manager, even showed a photo of the infamous pink goop that made its rounds on Facebook and Twitter and everywhere in between.

"This pink goop often gets associated with McDonald's. We don't know what it is or where it came from but it has nothing to do with Chicken McNuggets," Stefou said in the video.

She then took viewers to the supplier — Cargill Limited in London, Ontario — where product development scientist Jennifer Rabideau led a tour of the Chicken McNugget creation process. It includes:

• Dividing whole chickens and separating the breast meat for the McNuggets;
• Grinding the meat and adding seasonings and skin, for flavor and binding;
• Portioning that blended meat into one of four McNugget shapes — the ball, bell, boot or bow tie;
• Covering the meat with a light batter and then a second, thicker batter;
• Power frying and then freezing the nuggets, which are then fully cooked in each restaurant;
• Bagging, boxing and preparing for shipment.

Check out the full video below:

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