Chicken Nuggets Contents Revealed: Will You Still Eat Them?

Chicken nuggets are a family favorite and are consumed in their millions by hungry Americans.

A recent study has found that actually there is only 50 percent chicken in chicken nuggets; most of it is veins and bones. The recent Mississippi study focused on nuggets from two well known fast food chains.

The researchers carried out a thorough microscopic investigation of the nuggets they purchased. What they found was quite shocking and may put you off eating chicken nuggets for life!

One of the nuggets turned out to consist of half muscle and the rest an unhealthy but tasty mix of fat, nerves and blood vessels. the second specimen tested contained only 40 percent muscle, the rest was fat, small pieces of bone and cartilage.

The lead author of the study, which was published in the American Journal of Medicine, spoke about the research: “We all know white chicken meat to be one of the best sources of lean protein available and encourage our patients to eat it.” Said Dr. Richard D. deShazo from the University of Mississippi.

He continued: “What has happened is that some companies have chosen to use an artificial mixture of chicken parts rather than low-fat chicken white meat, batter it up and fry it and still call it chicken.”

Dr. deShazo didn’t exactly extol the virtues of one of America’s favorite fast foods: “It is really a chicken by-product high in calories, salt, sugar and fat that is a very unhealthy choice. Even worse, it tastes great and kids love it and it is marketed to them.”

It must be noted that the samples taken were only from two fast food outlets and don’t necessarily represent the majority of chicken nuggets on the market.

Nevertheless, the mere fact that they contain the things that the Mississippi study highlighted may make hungry consumers think twice before ordering them.