America’s 5th worst fast food chain, Sonic Drive-In
Sonic Drive-In is an American fast-food chain specializing in burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. The biggest complaints about Sonic are that the food is overpriced and not very good. In fact, many customers have said they would go to McDonald's or Burger King instead of Sonic because the food is better and cheaper. Others have said that the service is slow and the employees are unprofessional. Another common complaint is that the restaurants are often dirty. In fact, in 2016, one family's experience went viral when they caught a mouse exploring the soda fountain machine on video at the drive-up window.
And if that's not enough to gross you out, a location in Florida was shut down due to 21 violations, including the health inspector finding cockroaches near the soft-serve ice cream machine and in a box of food wrappers. Needless to say, these reports of unsanitary conditions are not doing Sonic any favors.
But one of the most high-profile scandals involving Sonic happened in 2018 when three employees were arrested after an ecstasy pill was found in the hamburger wrapper for a kid's meal. Thankfully, no one was harmed, but this story damaged Sonic's reputation.
RATING: It’ll do in a pinch.
America’s 4th worst fast food chain, Chipotle
Chipotle is often lauded as one of the healthier fast food options. And while it's true that their food is made with fresh ingredients and doesn't contain any artificial flavors or preservatives, that doesn't make it immune to criticism. In fact, there are several reasons why Chipotle is one of the worst fast food restaurants in America. The chain has been embroiled in multiple food safety scandals in recent years. First, in 2015, they were linked to an E. coli outbreak that sickened dozens of people in 11 states. Then, in 2017, they had to close several restaurants after a norovirus outbreak where some workers reported being forced to work despite being ill.
And most recently, they were linked to a Clostridium perfringens outbreak in 2018, most likely caused by food being left out at unsafe temperatures. These incidents, coupled with reports of rodents falling from the ceiling, have seriously damaged Chipotle's reputation and caused many customers to lose faith in the brand.
In addition to food safety issues, Chipotle has also been accused of wage theft and discrimination. In 2012, they were hit with a lawsuit alleging that they failed to pay their employees for overtime work, resulting in the class-action plaintiffs being awarded $8M.
In 2014, another lawsuit was filed alleging that the chain discriminated against pregnant workers. The claimant, Doris Garcia Hernandez, was awarded $550,000 in compensatory and punitive damages for being terminated due to her pregnancy. These legal problems paint a picture of a company that is not always fair or ethical in its treatment of employees. Finally, Chipotle's food is not as healthy as you might think. While their food may be fresh, it's also very high in calories. For example, any meat burrito with popular toppings like rice, beans, cheese, and salsa can easily clock in at over 1,000 calories. In fact, People Magazine also reports that one in ten meals ordered by customers had more than 1,600 calories. So if you're trying to watch your weight, Chipotle is probably not the best choice.
RATING: Have you HAD Chipotle, Kyle? It's really good.
America’s 3rd worst fast food chain, Burger King
Burger King is one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world, with over 12,300 locations. But that doesn't mean that it's immune to criticism. In fact, according to a study conducted on Twitter, Burger King was ranked as the least favorite food chain in the United States. No stranger to scandals over the years, Burger King has been embroiled in several controversies. In 2010, a former Army sergeant claimed to have swallowed a needle in a burger he ordered from a Hawaii Burger King. Two needles were involved – one piercing his tongue while another was stuck in his small intestine. He was hospitalized to treat his injuries and filed a lawsuit for damages.
In 2013, Burger King found themselves in hot water when it was revealed that they had discovered “very small trace levels” of horse DNA in some of their burgers served in the UK. The company claimed that the horse meat was only used in a small percentage of burgers and that it was never distributed to US restaurants. But this story still caused a lot of public outcry and damage to Burger King's reputation.
There was also a massive scandal in 2014, which resulted in the closing of 89 franchise locations in Germany. RTL Television reporters went undercover to reveal various issues like food that was past its sell-by date were being labeled and sold as fresh. They also uncovered that so-called made-to-order burgers had been sitting under warming lights for sometimes up to hours.
If all of those weren't enough, Burger King is also known for serving high-calorie foods full of saturated fats. From the Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich that has 700 calories to the Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese with a mind-blowing 1220 calories, it's no wonder that Burger King has been ranked as one of the unhealthiest fast-food chains.
RATING: Sometimes you've got to break the rules.
America’s 2nd worst fast food chain, Taco Bell
It's no secret that fast food isn't the healthiest cuisine. But some fast-food restaurants are definitely worse than others regarding their nutritional value – or lack thereof. And when it comes to the worst of the worst, Taco Bell is definitely in the running. For starters, Taco Bell has been embroiled in multiple scandals in recent years. In 2011, they were caught using “mystery meat” in their tacos – meat that contained less than 35% beef, according to DNA testing.
In addition, plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit said that Taco Bell's “beef” included not just beef but also oats, seasonings, and other fillers, which under USDA standards, aren't allowed to be considered beef. And as if that wasn't bad enough, they (along with Mcdonald's and Burger King) also admitted to using an ingredient known as “Pink Slime” in their beef.
If that doesn't make your stomach turn, we don't know what will – except perhaps the 71 people sickened by E. coli tainted lettuce served at Taco Bell in 2006. According to the CDC report, most people affected developed stomach cramps, fever, and diarrhea, with 53 getting sick enough to need hospitalization. Eight people also developed a rare kind of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
RATING: Sick off Taco Bell? You weren’t drunk enough.
America’s worst fast food chain, McDonald's
McDonald's is perhaps the most well-known fast-food restaurant in the world. Yet, despite often being touted as America's favorite, McDonald's was ranked as the worst fast-food chain in America by Consumer Reports in 2014. The chain has also been criticized for its use of unhealthy ingredients and its negative impact on the environment. Their number 1 spot should come as no surprise, given their recent string of bad publicity. From reports of employees serving food that had fallen on the floor to moldy McFlurry machines to a McDonald's drink machine crawling with earthworms, it's no wonder McDonald's is at the top of this list. In 2006, a customer in Texas allegedly found a dead rat in a McDonald's salad.
And that's not the only time fast-food customers have found gross things in their meals. In 2000, Katherine Ortega found a fried chicken head in her Box of “Mighty Wings,” In 2015, a McDonald's customer in Japan found a human tooth in their french fries.
Customers have long complained about the quality of the food, the state of the bathrooms, and the slow service. In addition, many people believe McDonald's is responsible for contributing to the obesity epidemic in the US. While McDonald's may be convenient and affordable, it's definitely not the best choice when it comes to fast food.
RATING: Bada bum bum bum, I’m lovin’ it.