Fast Food Chains That Serve Low-Quality Beef

If we're honest, no one walks into a fast food joint expecting a health-food experience. We're often willing to turn a blind eye to satisfy a craving — up to a point. But how low is too low? Sure, no one expects beef from cows that live in luxury, but there's still a line. 

What makes a fast food chain fall into the "low quality" category is more than just mediocre flavor — it's murky antibiotic policies, loads of customer complaints (Reddit is practically a support group), the occasional lawsuit, and worst of all, beef that's not always 100% beef. Here are 7 fast-food chains that fit the bill. 

(In case you're curious, here are the fast-food restaurants that use high-quality beef.)

As far as fast food chains go, Taco Bell has faced enough scrutiny about its beef to make you think twice before ordering a burrito from the Tex-Mex giant. In 2011, the chain faced a class-action lawsuit that claimed its "seasoned beef" contained only 36% real beef. While Taco Bell countered the allegations, stating that their beef was 88% USDA-approved meat with the rest made up of seasonings and binders, and the lawsuit was ultimately dropped, it didn't stop the flood of skepticism for a while. 

The chain put in the work, removed all kinds of nasties from its beef, like artificial coloring and fillers, and even pledged to reduce antibiotics by 25% by 2025. Still, many customers aren't sold, as Taco Bell hasn't committed to being 100% antibiotic-free. A 2022 investigation byThe Guardian found that some of Taco Bell's suppliers still use antibiotics in the beef. 

Whataburger is hyped as a regional favorite to the point of annoyance, but when it comes to its beef, the Texas-born chain seems to be losing some points lately. While the company claims it uses 100% USDA-certified beef, in 2018, it was given a big, fat"F" on the Chain Reaction IV scorecard for its lack of a transparent antibiotics policy.  

Loyal fans also complain that the quality of the beef patties has gone downhill since 2019, when Whataburger sold a majority stake to BDT Capital Partners, a Chicago-based investment firm. Fans have taken to Reddit to vent about the once-beloved burgers coming out thinner and drier.  

Dairy Queen is a safe bet if you're after a Blizzard, but their burgers? Less so. DQ seems to check a lot of boxes when it comes to iffy beef. While the chain claims the burgers are made with 100% ground beef without any fillers or additives, they're very hush-hush about welfare standards and antibiotic use.  

Burger aficionados don't have much nice to say about DQ burgers either, with many pointing to the strange texture and odd taste as the culprits. It also doesn't help that the chain was once sued for selling a moldy burger that allegedly caused a customer to suffer food poisoning. So, probably best to stick to the ice cream. 

Del Taco's "seasoned beef" is…well, let's just say beef adjacent. The chain's recipe has a bit more filler than most, with wheat protein, textured vegetable protein, oats padding, and a long, long list of ingredients that really don't belong in beef — like silicon dioxide, autolyzed yeast extract, sugar, citric acid, sodium diacetate, malic acid, and more. And when it comes to animal welfare or their stance on antibiotics in beef, the Tex-Mex chain stays silent.

Domino's is barely an okay choice for pizza, as long as you don't go for their Double Bacon Cheeseburger. Customers and Domino's employees alike agree that Domino's beef is "gross," "feels like 70% soy," and is, all in all, "the worst."

The pizza chain has also not disclosed whether their beef is antibiotic-free, so that's another point.

Nearly 30 years ago, Jack in the Box was at the center of what's still remembered as one of the worst foodborne illness outbreaks in American dining history. Four people died, and 730 fell ill after E. coli-contaminated meat was served across 70 of its restaurants. The fallout nearly bankrupted the chain, and you'd think they'd make sweeping improvements to recover. Maybe they did, but they still cut corners serving "beef" in their tacos, which is more of a figure of speech, given it's actually a blend of ground dark chicken and textured vegetable protein. 

The "King" of burgers may hold the crown, but it's for some eyebrow-raising beef practices. Even the most loyal Whopper fans were shocked in 2013 when DNA tests revealed horsemeat in Burger King patties — a PR disaster the chain bounced back from, but with a lingering asterisk over their meat quality. They've promised to cut antibiotics by 2030, which means, yes, they're still using them. Unlike top competitors like Wendy's, Shake Shack, and In-N-Out, which serve fresh beef, Burger King sticks to frozen patties.  

For more smart fast-food coverage, please sign up for our free newsletters.