My boyfriend thinks it’s insane that despite my healthy love of meat, I almost always pick vegetarian meals over chicken ones when we eat out unless I 110% know that what I’m eating is not mechanically separated chicken. This aversion stems from the days when I use to work in a coffee shop that served pita wraps, and I spent far, far too much time staring at how disgusting the bags of frozen chicken strips looked without all kinds of toppings and sauce to cover them up. Chicken nuggets are pretty much the only thing I haven’t been able to give up, buuuuuut I think this picture has helped me move past that.

early-onset-of-night:

Say hello to mechanically separated chicken. It’s what all fast-food chicken is made from—things like chicken nuggets and patties. Also, the processed frozen chicken in the stores is made from it.

Basically, the entire chicken is smashed and pressed through a sieve—bones, eyes, guts, and all. it comes out looking like this.

There’s more: because it’s crawling with bacteria, it will be washed with ammonia, soaked in it, actually. Then, because it tastes gross, it will be reflavored artificially. Then, because it is weirdly pink, it will be dyed with artificial color.

But, hey, at least it tastes good, right?

High five, America!

*smack*