Fast Food Urban Legends

Burger King

Burger King started selling sweet potato fries long before almost every other fast-food chain. What’s their secret? As it turns out, their sweet potato fries aren’t actually made with the starchy vegetable — they’re just regular fries with added sugar and a spot of orange food coloring. Sweet, potato fries. Surprisingly no customers have yet complained about the lack of vegetables or surplus of sugar in their fast food.

Starbucks

The first Starbucks opened on March 30th, 1971. To commemorate this day, every 30th drink prepared by baristas in every location is a secret free drink — first come first serve. The drink is usually the seasonal favorite, a Pumpkin Spice or Red Velvet latte, so grab it and go before someone else does — never mind the name they call, nor the man chasing you. The only thing more delicious than a seasonal latte is a free latte!

Taco Bell

People often joke that every item at Taco Bell is just a different combination of the same ingredients. In no case is this more true than with their Chalupa and Gordita items, which are, in fact, one in the same. Taco Bell denies this allegation, but a blind taste test demonstrated that both items result in an identical amount of gastrointestinal distress.

McDonald’s

There is an urban legend that the company’s first Ronald McDonald, George Voorhis, died from choking on the company’s new “Arch Deluxe” sandwich. McDonald’s refutes this story, and in 1996, the company terminated several employees for discussing it with the press. One of these employees, however, was the first cousin of Paul Thomas, the man who would later compose McDonald’s iconic “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle. The notes of the song, CDE AD, are said to tell the real story: “Clown Died Eating Arch Deluxe.”

Subway

Subway is the largest restaurant chain in the world — even bigger than McDonald’s — with more than 37,000 locations and counting in 100 countries and territories. The company has accomplished this by opening franchises in a variety of unusual locations, including gas stations, churches, an offshore oil rig, the International Space Station, a Quiznos, Chernobyl Reactor 4, an elephant graveyard, and the alley between two other Subway restaurants.

In-N-Out Burger

It’s a well known “secret” that California-based In-N-Out hides Bible verses on its packaging. The most noticeable example is the “JOHN 3:16” written on the bottom of every cup. However, there are some lesser known verses that aren’t quite as innocuous. For example, if you hold a Double-Double wrapper in front of a light, you’ll see a watermark directing you to 1 TIMOTHY 2:12: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.” Check the tag on officially-licensed In-N-Out t-shirts to find “1 PETER 2:18.” This verse reads: “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters.” Disturbing messages, surely, but you can’t argue with deliciousness!