Science says: McDonald’s fries really are addictive

This might fall a little into the category of ‘what did you expect?’, but it’s been proven: McDonald’s fries are addictive. And yes, we already knew that. You knew it, I knew it. These days I always order a medium meal and never a large, because even when I’m no longer hungry: those fries always get finished – no matter how big the portion is. Because they’re addictive.

And it’s not because of the kilo of salt that goes on them. It’s also not because they’re simply so wonderfully fresh (because they’re always limp, but that’s okay). No, it’s unrelated to the American fries sauce either. So what is the secret?

And the secret ingredient is…

The fries at McDonald’s also contain something they call ‘natural beef flavor‘. Don’t panic: it’s not actually the case that there’s meat in them, but this beef flavor consists mainly of hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk. This produces MSG (also known as ve-tsin).

Studies with rats have proven that they eat as much as 40% more when there’s MSG in their food. In addition, MSG also makes you feel full less quickly, so you keep eating. Which is always the case with me when I go to McDonald’s.

And the stupid thing is, now that I know they deliberately make those fries so addictive, I still crave them. Damn you, Maccie.

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Source: EatThis