The Autopsy of Chicken Nuggets Reads “Chicken Little”
- Richard D. deShazo, MD
- Steven Bigler, MD
- Leigh Baldwin Skipworth, BA
,
,
Abstract
Purpose
To determine the contents of chicken nuggets from 2 national food chains.
Background
Chicken nuggets have become a major component of the American diet. We sought to determine the current composition of this highly processed food.
Methods
Randomly selected nuggets from 2 different national fast food chains were fixed in formalin, sectioned and stained for microscopic analysis.
Results
Striated muscle (chicken meat) was not the predominate component in either nugget. Fat was present in equal or greater quantities along with epithelium, bone, nerve, and connective tissue.
Conclusion
Chicken nuggets are mostly fat, and their name is a misnomer.