On July 16, 2025, the UFC-Que Choisir published a shock study denouncing the persistent vagueness around the composition of products in fast foods. Despite old commitments and increasingly strict legislation, the transparency of information related to allergens, additives or Nutri-Score remains largely insufficient in brands such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC or Quick. In a context of growing awareness of food and public health, these gaps challenge.
A level of transparency disparate In fast-food chains
The UFC-Que investigation reveals that The majority of fast food chains do not provide essential information On their products in an accessible, reliable or exhaustive manner. In eight brands studied, only two – Pokawa and Subway – present a Complete and detailed table of the composition of their recipesavailable easily online or in restaurants. Conversely, McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC et Quick shine with a lack of clarity, laborious web navigation and the absence of available synthetic documents.
The association deplores in particular opacity on additives used in the products served. According to the study, “more than 60 % of the additives detected in the menus of large channels were not explicitly mentioned in the sheets accessible to consumers”. This omission prevents customers from assessing the real nutritional quality of their meal, or even avoiding certain controversial ingredients.
Health: Dcontroversial additives passed over in silence
Among the substances identified in the study, many are pointed for their toxicological or allergen risks : phosphates, nitrites, silicon dioxide or polyphosphates are present in worrying proportions. Quick and KFC are distinguished negativelycombining the greatest number of additives classified “to avoid” by the UFC. In front, Subway et Pokawa appear as the only actors drastically limiting the use of these substances in their recipes. The study also denounces the use ofNux or even misleading marketing arguments : appellations like “natural”, “homemade” or “balanced” are used without tangible justification, even though some products integrate more than ten ultra-transformed ingredients.
Faced with these observations, the UFC-Que Choisir challenges the public authorities : she requests the implementation of a legal obligation of clear and exhaustive publication The composition of food products, in standardized format and easily accessible to the consumer. The association requires in particular that the ingredient sheets:
- include Details of additives, allergens and nutrients ;
- indicate The presence of ultra-transformed ingredients ;
- be displayed in point of sale, not only online.
At the same time, the association invites consumers to show vigilance increasedby consulting the information available when they exist, and by avoiding the least transparent brands. It provides a Interactive comparison table On its site, making it possible to assess the level of nutritional information proposed by each channel.
If the fast-food sector claims to have “made efforts” in recent years, concrete evidence is lacking. Lack of consistency between different supports (website, terminal, display) and lack of standardization of information formats maintain confusion. And yet, theout -of -home feed now represents almost 30 % of meals consumed In France, according to the study.
