# Who here has eaten at McDonald's the most? The least? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987 "2008-03-11T17:07:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/1 "2008-03-11T17:07:04Z")
By my rough estimation, I’ve eaten at McDonald’s between 300 and 500 times in my 42 years of life. That seems like a lot, and yet if the McDonald’s corporation had to rely on people like me, they’d have gone under a long time ago. So who here is keeping them afloat? And who, conversely, is their Enemy Number One, the person who has never eaten there? There must be at least one of you! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/2 "2008-03-11T17:21:48Z")
As far as I know, I’ve only had one McDonalds meal and I wasn’t real happy about that. Don’t get me wrong… I love fast food, especially burgers. But for some reason McDonalds has always seemed way too plasticized to even contemplate. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/3 "2008-03-11T17:27:20Z")
Whose eaten there the most- [this](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/9434/) kid. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/4 "2008-03-11T17:33:35Z")
I wouldn’t even know how to go about estimating something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/5 "2008-03-11T17:35:21Z")
When I worked there, of course I ate it every day…are we only counting food we _paid_ for? Now I eat there once a week, because I go out with my daughter and let her choose the restaurant. But I usually bring a sandwich left over from my lunch and just order fries and a Coke. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/6 "2008-03-11T17:39:14Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Whose eaten there the most- [this](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/9434/) kid. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Of course that should be who’s, not whose. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/7 "2008-03-11T17:40:52Z")
I used to eat at McD’s all the time as a teenager, but in the last, oh, five years? I’ve been gradually cutting back. I think I’m down to once a year and probably less. I used to give them a lot of business during the Monopoly game each year, but even that’s lost its fun. Of course, I still go to the other burger joints something like twice a week. But McD’s is a heart failure waiting to happen in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/8 "2008-03-11T17:44:46Z")
38 years-old. Probably like the OP somewhere between 300-400 times. Especially from ages 15-21 where it could be as often as once a week or more. It trailed off quite a bit after that to only a few times a year. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/9 "2008-03-11T17:47:09Z")
Since I started keeping kosher in 1999, I have only been there for sundaes, and you could probably count the number of times I’ve done that since then on the fingers of one hand. The fries aren’t OK because of the beef extract, and what’s the point of fast food without fries? ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/10 "2008-03-11T17:48:51Z")
As a kid, I ate there a few times per year. Now, I never go in unless there’s really nothing else and I have to eat. I’m hardly a food snob, but the thing is, there’s almost _always_ something else that looks better. If I only have ten minutes… well, it doesn’t happen too often, and I’m usually prepared. I rarely have to resort to Harvey’s, McD’s or any other squat n’ gobble. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/11 "2008-03-11T18:12:42Z")
I went there once but they didn’t have any real Scottish food. They should change their name. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/12 "2008-03-11T18:18:16Z")
I’ve met the guy who’s eaten over 20,000 Big Macs. > **[Don Gorske](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Gorske)** > > Donald A. Gorske (born November 28, 1953) is an American world record holder known as the "ultimate Big Mac fan," having eaten over 32,672 such hamburgers from the U.S. fast food chain McDonald's in his lifetime, earning him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. A resident of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Gorske claims the Big Mac constitutes 90–95% of his total solid food intake. He is featured in the documentaries Super Size Me (2004) and Don Gorske: Mac Daddy (2005), and is the author of 22 Gorsk... ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/13 "2008-03-11T18:24:12Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] Since I started keeping kosher in 1999, I have only been there for sundaes, and you could probably count the number of times I’ve done that since then on the fingers of one hand. The fries aren’t OK because of the beef extract, and what’s the point of fast food without fries? [/QUOTE] McDonalds stopped putting actual beef extract in their FF some years ago: French Fries: Potatoes, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor (wheat and milk derivatives)\*, citric acid (preservative), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming agent)), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated corn oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent). \*CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK (Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients.) This makes them (obviously) not gluten free - which isn’t good for people like me, but wheat in FFs isn’t uncommon (and I’m not strictly GF). Now, I’m not sure I’d eat at McDonalds if I were staying kosher anyway, but the beef extract isn’t the reason to avoid the fries. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/14 "2008-03-11T18:29:58Z")
Over 100, but 0 in the last 5 years, I bet. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/15 "2008-03-11T19:00:24Z")
I don’t think I’ve EVER eaten at McDonalds. I don’t like fast food hamburgers anyway (I hate driving a long way with my dad, cuz he always wants to eat at Carls and just ICK) and the smell of french fries makes me ill. I know they have other stuff, but I’d rather go to Subway or Baja Fresh or even Taco Bell. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/16 "2008-03-11T19:08:27Z")
44 years old; I’d say about 2500 times, mostly for breakfast. I don’t like anything they have for lunch/dinner. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/17 "2008-03-11T19:23:00Z")
I’ve eaten there quite a bit, more so in high school and college. Now I make a conscious effort not to go more than once a month or so, but I do have a serious weakness for quarter pounders. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/18 "2008-03-11T19:29:31Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] McDonalds stopped putting actual beef extract in their FF some years ago: French Fries: Potatoes, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor (wheat and milk derivatives)\*, citric acid (preservative), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming agent)), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated corn oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent). \*CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK (Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients.) [/QUOTE] That doesn’t necessarily say there are no beef/meat products in it, just that it contains the potential allergens wheat and milk. The last sentence even says that the wheat and milk are “starting ingredients” and not the sole components. If you look at food labels, only allergens tend to be picked out like that with the “CONTAINS:” warning at the end - unless you’re eating food made by a “vegetarian-friendly” company. You’ll see seafood/shellfish listed but that’s because of food allergies; meats like chicken or beef don’t get listed in that spot. As a vegetarian who got burned by the french fries thing, I wouldn’t trust them on this to be using a no-meat flavoring, especially when it’s called “natural beef flavoring”; I’d think it’d have to be “artificial beef flavoring” if it contained no actual beef. Dunno how often I went as a kid, but I probably went once a month or so as an adult, and pretty much stopped going after a combination of the french fry problem, then crummy salad choices for vegetarians, and a serving of broccoli-cheese soup that turned out to be half clam chowder really killed any appeal that place ever held. It’s been at least a few years now. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/19 "2008-03-11T20:20:14Z")
Less than a hundred. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was eleven, and my parents frowned upon fast-food to begin with. I’ll stop in for fries if the mood strikes me, but for the most part my fast food of choice is Taco Bell or Wendy’s (mmm…baked potato with a side order of fries. All the starch you need!) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987/20 "2008-03-11T21:14:39Z")
[QUOTE=Ferret Herder] That doesn’t necessarily say there are no beef/meat products in it, just that it contains the potential allergens wheat and milk. The last sentence even says that the wheat and milk are “starting ingredients” and not the sole components. If you look at food labels, only allergens tend to be picked out like that with the “CONTAINS:” warning at the end - unless you’re eating food made by a “vegetarian-friendly” company. You’ll see seafood/shellfish listed but that’s because of food allergies; meats like chicken or beef don’t get listed in that spot. As a vegetarian who got burned by the french fries thing, I wouldn’t trust them on this to be using a no-meat flavoring, especially when it’s called “natural beef flavoring”; I’d think it’d have to be “artificial beef flavoring” if it contained no actual beef. Dunno how often I went as a kid, but I probably went once a month or so as an adult, and pretty much stopped going after a combination of the french fry problem, then crummy salad choices for vegetarians, and a serving of broccoli-cheese soup that turned out to be half clam chowder really killed any appeal that place ever held. It’s been at least a few years now. [/QUOTE] That’s the McDonalds ingrediant list - you can do your own googling to find the press release where they said they took meat products out of their FF so they are now vegetarian - maybe - it was years ago (my brief google didn’t find it). They replaced the beef extract with beef flavoring that made with wheat and milk (its basically vegetarian “beef bullion”) to address concerns of vegetarians who assumed french fries would be vegetarian. (Me, I think the air at McDonald’s isn’t vegetarian - you don’t have to eat there to violate the not ingesting meat part, breathing is enough). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-here-has-eaten-at-mcdonalds-the-most-the-least/440987.md?page=2)