Look, we all eat it. Even after we've heard about the less than healthy ingredients in the food or the shady preparation methods. Fast food is an American addiction, one that's built on salt, sugar, and oil. No one is immune. And sometimes, the employees of the most popular fast food chains decide that they've had enough and that unsuspecting consumers need to know about what really goes on behind the scenes. Read on for eight times workers exposed big secrets about fast food chains.
An employee was fired for showing just how Panera makes its delicious Mac n' Cheese, which is more cafeteria-style than freshly made pasta. The pasta arrives frozen in a plastic bag, which is then dropped into boiling water to heat. While this surprised many of Panera's fans, the company said they are avoiding using preservatives with the method and the cheesy dish is made fresh, just off-site.
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In over 20 minutes of truly disgusting video, Popeyes employee Shakita Jones walked through the Detroit location where she worked to expose the revolting lack of sanitation. She exposed bugs, trash, old food, and just general yuck everywhere she walked. Her video caused Popeyes to close the restaurant and the Health Department to investigate.
Bryan Johnston worked at Dunkin' Donuts and exposed the piles of wasted food that the shop threw away on Tik Tok. With all that food waste, it was a major scandal and the management decided to fire him as a response. According to Yahoo News, the teen wanted to give the extra food to the homeless but the company had concerns over lawsuits that could arise.
On another Tik Tok exposé, an employee revealed the lump of pressed meat that eventually is prepared to be Subway's roast beef. To say it was unappetizing would be an understatement. The Tik Tok account goes on to show a couple more unappetizing meats with the promise of more to come.
On Twitter, an employee named Nick showed some pictures of nasty mold inside a McDonald's ice cream machine. Business Insider reports that the teen was fired and even banned from the LaPlace, Louisiana, franchise, but perhaps he doesn't mind.
You've heard the Papa John's tagline: "Better ingredients, better pizza, Papa John's." But one Reddit user who worked at the chain said, not so fast, per Food & Wine. In a post, the user reported on the spoilage and bevy of fat and sugar in the products to make them taste good. He recommended avoiding unpopular flavors, like Spinach Alfredo, which spoils before being used but is often served on pizzas anyway.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Eater reports that another Reddit user tells the true story of Olive Garden's Tuscan Cooking School. There was very little cooking and not a lot of school at the off-season hotel; more sightseeing and a tiny amount of discussion on spices and herbs to give barely a taste of continuing education. It was located in Italy but it amounted to more of a marketing opportunity and photo op for those involved.
RELATED: 10 Controversial Secrets About Olive Garden's Food, According To an Employee
One Reddit user said working at Culver's made him aware that ordering a veggie burger might not mean you're getting a meatless meal. Since the burgers of all types are frozen, workers pull them out and cook them all on the same grill. It isn't cleaned in between, so traces of a beef burger can find their way onto your veggie patty.
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