Sonic Drive-In is one of America’s most popular fast food chains, known for its burgers, hot dogs, and signature slushy drinks. But in recent years, questions have emerged about the actual beef content in Sonic’s burgers. Are they really 100% beef like the company claims? Let’s take a closer look at the facts.
A Brief History of Sonic Burgers
Sonic has been serving up burgers and other fast food favorites since its first drive-in opened in Oklahoma in 1953. The chain steadily expanded across the Southern and Midwestern U.S. over the following decades. By the 2000s, Sonic had over 3,000 locations nationwide.
Sonic has always advertised its burgers as being 100% pure beef with no fillers or additives. The chain is also known for allowing customers to customize their burgers with a variety of toppings and condiments. Their traditional burger patties are relatively small, usually weighing in around 1/4 pound before cooking.
In 2018 Sonic introduced a new burger blend called the Signature Slinger that contained 75% beef and 25% mushrooms. This was part of an effort to provide a slightly more eco-friendly burger option with reduced calories and fat compared to their traditional all-beef patties. However Sonic continued to serve their classic 100% beef burgers as well.
Consumer Reports’ Beef Report Card
In 2019 Consumer Reports and other advocacy groups released a report grading the beef policies of major fast food chains. This report looked at each company’s use of beef raised with antibiotics as well as their transparency around beef suppliers.
Sonic did not formally participate in the study but received a “D” grade based on publicly available information The report stated that 30% of Sonic’s beef still comes from suppliers using the antibiotic tylosin This indicates that not all of Sonic’s beef supply fully meets the “Never Ever” program standards of being antibiotic-free.
While not conclusive, the lukewarm grade from Consumer Reports raised some questions around whether Sonic’s beef supply may contain fillers, extenders, or beef raised with antibiotics. This cast doubt on the 100% beef claims for some customers.
Recent Lawsuits Over Beef Content
Over the past few years, Sonic has faced several lawsuits alleging that their burgers contain non-beef additives and do not meet the 100% beef advertising standard.
One 2018 lawsuit used independent lab testing of Sonic burger patties, which apparently found the presence of non-meat ingredients like starch, plant materials, and other additives. However, Sonic disputed the accuracy of this testing and the lawsuit was later dropped.
In 2021, a new false advertising lawsuit made similar claims against Sonic’s beef purity based on the Consumer Reports data. That lawsuit is still ongoing, so there has been no legal ruling yet on the validity of the allegations. Sonic continues to insist that its burgers are “made with 100 percent pure beef, no fillers or additives.”
The Rise of Plant-Based Beef Blends
Within the past decade, many fast food restaurants have started blending plant-based ingredients like mushrooms into their beef patties as a way to reduce environmental impact. Sonic tested this approach with their Signature Slinger, though it didn’t become a permanent menu item.
Consumer interest in plant-based meat alternatives has risen rapidly. Major brands like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger create veggie burgers and meat blends designed to mimic the flavor and texture of real beef.
While the plant-based trend has shaken up the beef industry, most fast food chains like Sonic still use primarily real beef in their burgers. But the growing popularity of blended beef+produce options could force some menu changes industry-wide in the future.
What Percentage of Beef is in a Sonic Burger?
This remains a tricky question to answer definitively. Sonic insists its burgers are 100% pure American beef with no fillers or additives. The company says each burger is made from “premium cuts of Real American Beef with No Additives, No Fillers, No Paste.”
However, based on the 2019 Consumer Reports data showing 30% of Sonic’s beef still comes from cows treated with antibiotics, their supply chain likely isn’t 100% additive-free. Lawsuits have also alleged the presence of non-beef ingredients, though without conclusive lab results.
It’s unclear whether Sonic burgers contain any blended plant-based meat substitutes like mushrooms. Their specialty Signature Slinger burger did feature a 75/25 beef/mushroom blend, but this was advertised openly. There is no hard evidence that their regular burgers contain mushroom or other fillers along with beef.
How Sonic Burgers Compare to Other Chains
Most major fast food chains now use 100% beef without fillers in their burgers. Wendy’s directly challenged competitors in a 2011 “Where’s the Beef?” marketing campaign tout
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Does Sonic have a cheeseburger?
In a news release, Sonic says it “revamped the traditional American cheeseburger” to offer “all the flavor with none of the guilt.” The new burger debuted on the menu Monday and starts at under 350 calories. The recipe includes three ingredients, the company says: 100 percent pure beef, mushrooms and seasonings.
Does Sonic have a Mushroom Burger?
The chain’s new Signature Slingers will contain 25 percent mushrooms, NPR reports. In a news release, Sonic says it “revamped the traditional American cheeseburger” to offer “all the flavor with none of the guilt.” The new burger debuted on the menu Monday and starts at under 350 calories.
Are burger patties 100% ground beef?
A refreshingly large number of the fast-food chains we researched genuinely use nothing but 100% pure ground beef for their burger patties. Many didn’t always use pure beef, but here in 2023, the picture is a better one.
Are Fatburger burgers made from ground beef?
Like the Whopper, an In-n-Out burger, and many more, the burger patties from Fatburger are made with 100% pure, fresh ground beef. And ironically, given the chain’s name, the burgers are made with lean ground beef.