1. Sonic Drive-In’s Ice Cream

When you order some fast food soft-serve ice cream, be fully aware that you aren’t exactly getting the kind of quality that you’ll find at your local Cold Stone Creamery. The ice cream is often being pumped out of a machine that’s used and maintained by a bunch of teenagers.

According to Reddit user manjingavin, Sonic Drive-In’s are no exception. While the chain is known for their amazing ice cream selection, this Reddit used found mold in his ice cream. If a fast food ice cream machine isn’t well maintained, you might find yourself slurping up something sweet and rotten.

2. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish

While most fast food chains aren’t going to be serving you up anything particularly healthy, usually your best shot at quality is buying the food that they specialize in. If you go to McDonald’s, for example, you should do yourself a favor and stick to their burgers. One of their least popular items is the Filet-O-Fish.

One former employee assured the masses on Reddit that while the fish sandwich is a favorite amid Catholics on Fridays, you can bet that sales are pretty low throughout the rest of the week. This means that it is almost guaranteed that your precious Filet-O-Fish isn’t exactly going to be Filet-O-Fresh. Yes, it was a fish once upon a time. But when it was originally caught is another story entirely!

3. McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets

One of the most beloved items on the McDonald’s menu is their chicken nuggets. They are easy to pop in your mouth and come with an assortment of tasty sauces. However, the nuggets are absolutely horrific if you look up the process behind making them. It is literally impossible for a nugget to be ‘fresh.’

Reddit user Ouroboros recently stated that these tasty little nuggets are only 50% meat and the rest of them are all fat, blood vessels, nerves, connective tissues, and ground bone. Let’s not forget that they basically start out as a pink sludge. They are also pre-prepared in restaurants, and usually left under McDonald’s heat lamps for hours.

4. Taco Bell’s Beans

When it comes to Mexican cuisine, there is simply no room whatsoever for bad beans. They are an essential part to so many tasty meals. Among the many Mexican-inspired fast food joints, Taco Bell is the most popular. It’s a favorite amid 20-somethings after a night of hard partying. With such a reputation, many would assume their beans are always top-notch.

However, this just isn’t the case. Most might picture a big pot of fresh beans cooking in the kitchen. Sadly, behind the scenes, that isn’t their reality. According to the website Health Alot, Taco Bell’s beans come bagged and require water to get re-hydrated rather than actually being cooked. With that, they turn into the bean mash you see on your taco.

5. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Veggie Club

As you walk into your local Jimmy John’s and order that Veggie Club, you might think that you’re doing your body a huge favor. One can only imagine how good they’d feel after stuffing down plenty of fresh vegetables between two wheat buns. With any normal veggie sandwich that might be the case, but not with Jimmy John’s.

That “healthy” sandwich is 16-inches on 9-grain wheat. That is, in fact, over 2,000 calories as well as being super high in sodium, fat, and sugar. You would be eating less calories and less fat if you just ordered three big macs at McDonald’s. Take that to the bank next time you head to Jimmy John’s for something healthy.

NEXT: We can’t believe chains have gotten away with these methods of fast food preparation.

6. Domino’s Sandwiches

For decades, Domino’s was called Domino’s Pizza, and thanks to some seriously decent slices, they lived up to that name pretty well. In recent years, the chain decided to change their name and expand their menu beyond pizza. With that, they began selling sandwiches and other things.

One Reddit user who used to work at Domino’s stated that their sandwiches are hardly ever fresh. The cheese for the sandwiches is exclusively used on them, and hasn’t had stellar reviews. Reddit user the_mighty_moon_worm stated, “I honestly can’t stand anything but the pizza. Their sandwiches taste really cheap, like it’s all made of fake cheese and meat, and the pasta is very overcooked. Turns to mush in your mouth.”

7. Starbucks’ Secret Menu

The entire world over raves about Starbucks’ secret menu while they sport oddly colored drinks that we aren’t seeing on a regular basis. However, in an interview with NY Magazine, one Starbucks barista said something that would shock lovers of the coffee conglomerate everywhere.

Apparently, that much-referenced Starbucks secret menu doesn’t exist. He said, “It’s stuff that random-ass people made up online, and then people will come in and try to order stuff and expect us to know what it is, and we have no idea. It sounds good, but unless you can tell us what’s in it, we can’t make it for you. And people get kind of mad about that.”

8. Orange Chicken At Panda Express

Of all the Chinese fast food joints out there, Panda Express is a fan favorite. The most popular item on their menu is no doubt the crispy symphony of flavors they call orange chicken. However, if you need a quick Chinese food fix, you might want to go to a family-owned establishment, as Panda Express isn’t exactly fresh.

If you catch the orange chicken during the lunch or dinner rush, you’ll be in for a really good time. However, if you see no line, just walk away slowly. A former employee on Reddit confessed that the chicken would sit out for hours and get really dry. So how to keep the chicken moist? Simple enough: they would just pour uncooked sauce over it.

9. Subway Tuna Sandwiches

While Subway is essentially a glorified fast food joint, it has garnered a reputation for selling healthy sandwiches. We’ve all heard of the Subway diet and how it’s transformed lives. However, one kind of sandwich in particular is known for harboring a nasty secret.

Much beloved among Subway customers are the tuna clubs. However, the tuna in these sandwiches could pose a serious risk. According to a former Subway employee on Reddit, their tuna was always a few days past its expiration date. Also, the tuna is mayo-based, which makes food poisoning even more likely. Next time you eat a Subway tuna sandwich, really pay attention to how you feel afterwards.

10. Sonic’s Chili

Amid the many fast food restaurants, Sonic is often praised for having higher quality by comparison. While they may have those fancy drive-ins and waiters on roller skates, they’re still serving up fast food-quality meals, but in a nicer package. However, turns out that praise might not be warranted.

One former Sonic employee revealed on Reddit that their beloved chili comes pre-packaged in a bag. They simply throw the entire bag into a warmer and heat it up. They then leave it there all day and use it when needed. Sonic have also had problems with cross-contamination in the past, meaning that people with food allergies should avoid eating at the restaurant altogether.

NEXT: Hope you have a strong stomach, because these fast food items have some secrets.

11. McDonald’s Milkshakes

McDonald’s workers aren’t necessarily putting a lot of love into the milkshake you get served up. The quick sugar fix is no culinary treat. In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite of just that. To understand what makes the McDonald’s milkshakes so iffy, you have to look at the machine that makes them.

According to Health Alot, McDonald’s milkshake machines are prone to breaking down. Most of the time, the milk inside the machine is kept inside and left to go bad until it gets repaired. They then use the milk once the machine is back in functioning order. Health Alot also noted that the machine is rarely cleaned, and even then, the cleaning job isn’t usually up to standard.

12. Panera’s Pasta

Panera has successfully created a brand image associated with freshness and elegance. When people sit in a Panera, they usually feel like they’re doing themselves a big favor by nibbling on some of their fresh food. This might be true for their famous bread, but there’s way more than meets the eye when it comes to some of their other selections.

TikTok user Briannaraelenee exposed Panera by taking a video with a ton of pre-packaged frozen macaroni packets. The pasta is taken from those packets and put straight into the microwave. You heard that right: the microwave. Gordon Ramsay would be having an absolute fit — and you should too. There isn’t a fresh noodle amid your plate of pasta.

13. Einstein Bros. Bagels’ Eggs

Few things could sound quite so comforting as a fresh egg between two fresh Einstein Bros’ bagel halves. Shame it’s not something that you can actually buy at Einstein Bros. While they do flaunt their bagel egg sandwich, it’s frozen — and nobody can be too sure how long the sandwich had been in its icy hibernation.

TripAdvisor reviewer Julia T. Sebastian was extremely disappointed by her frozen sandwich, stating, “I thought it was very spongy and had very little cream cheese. When I asked to speak with the manager, a lady named Sarah came to speak with me…she did admit that the bagels come in frozen but they are then thawed and add ingredients, but are baked on location.”

14. McDonald’s McCafé Items

While getting a quick and cheap coffee at McDonald’s may seem tempting, you’ll want to head elsewhere when you hear all about how grimy the McCafé can be. Take note that McDonald’s staff is often super young and not trained to deal with proper coffee production alongside their other many tasks.

Reader’s Digest did an article on the McCafé, and one employee they quoted from Reddit said, “I work for McDonald’s and make sure everyone that matters to me never orders anything that comes out of the McCafé machine, as these are routinely neglected in practically all the McDonald’s. All McCafé beverages run through a horrifically dirty machine — we’re talking 5+ inches of uncleaned, liquid making up its inside parts.”

15. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Donuts

Back in the day, if you wanted a fresh donut, you would take yourself to Dunkin’ Donuts. The revered establishment promised nothing less but quality and freshness. It was a promise they made, but perhaps didn’t keep. A recent story by the New York Post exposed some of the donut shop’s more shady methods.

The article was about a TikTok post by a young employee named Morgan, which revealed that their donuts, bagels, and muffins all arrive to the store frozen in a truck. If you’re looking for some freshly-baked donuts, it’s best to seek them out elsewhere. You’ll be able to taste the difference.

NEXT: Bland, gross, disappointing, or all of the above? You decide.

16. Wendy’s Fries

Wendy’s fries are left under the heat lamps for hours upon hours at a time. Reddit user and Wendy’s employee ZebraHerder stated, “Cooked fries would sit for hours, so would baked potatoes. Nothing unsanitary about this, it just makes for some limp fries and dry potatoes.”

They further stated, “Like others have said, you can ask for fresh fries and we’ll passive-aggressively make you a new batch.” However, according to New York Times article about Wallace McCain, a frozen fry-manufacturing giant, these fries are never exactly fresh, as they are bought frozen. So really, what this person is saying is that you can ask for a new warmed-up batch of frozen fries.

17. KFC’s Original Chicken

As beloved as KFC chicken is, a 2017 article by The Mirror exposed just how foul (get it?) their products can be. The article presents a video of KFC employees demonstrating the restaurant’s bad habits, such as selling old chicken and fries, and even reusing dirty mac-and-cheese cups.

Some of the chicken they show in the video is covered in mildew and mold. One of the employees in the video can be seen smelling the chicken and looking visibly disgusted. He also admitted that much of their food was cross-contaminated. Next time you need a quick chicken fix, perhaps consider some alternatives.

18. Starbucks’ Food

When someone orders food at Starbucks, they are no doubt expecting some quality eats, especially with those eyebrow-raising price tags being sported by every muffin and sandwich. While there’s nothing too surprising about Starbucks’ food, chances are, it certainly isn’t what you think it is.

An article by The Daily Meal recently revealed that the reason why every Starbucks’ items look identical across the world, is that they are all factory-produced, shipped to the store frozen, and eventually heated up and put on your plate. What, did you honestly think a single muffin was ever freshly baked within the confines of a Starbucks?

19. McDonald’s McRib

Every year or so, the McRib makes its triumphant to McDonald’s and the reaction it garners is quite amazing. People flock to their McDonald’s and get as much of this sandwich as they can while it’s still around. Yet if these folks actually knew what was behind the McRib, they’d probably have second thoughts about eating it.

According to CNBC, the McRib has zero rib in it. “The patty, which contains pork, water, salt, dextrose, and preservatives, is then misted with water to keep it from dehydrating during the freezing process.” The parts of the pig that it comes from are delicacy in some places, but not for everyone: guts, heart, and stomach.

20. McDonald’s Sweet Tea

If there is one soft drink that you might want to keep away from your children, it’s McDonald’s sweet tea. The site Caffeine Informer has stated that there are 69 grams of sugar in a 32-ounce sweet tea. That’s as much sugar as you’ll find in a two and a half Snickers bars.

This is one tea that certainly doesn’t hide anything behind its name. If you’re someone who loves McDonald’s sweet tea, but you care about your health in regards to all that sugar intake, then rest assured, you can always find the same refreshing taste with their sugar free sweet tea.

NEXT: These next facts are guaranteed to make you think twice about the fast food items you consume.

21. Soup From Tim Horton’s

While one wouldn’t automatically question the quality of a soup from Canada’s trusted Tim Horton’s, a former employee warned the masses over Reddit to never order their soup. No matter how tempting that warm cup may be on a cold winter’s night, opt for a can of Campbell’s soup at home instead.

The employee stated that the popular café and bakeshop serves up soups that were frozen in ice. Employees have even reported having found maggots inside the soup. While we don’t recommend that anyone order this soup, if you don’t mind it being frozen and having a little extra protein inside, feel free.

22. Chicken Wings At Little Caesars

If one is looking for a five dollar pizza that is at least edible, they can’t go wrong with Little Caesars. That being said, when it comes to buying their chicken wings, think twice. Apparently, employees cook them right alongside the pizza, and once the pizza is done, so are the wings — whether they’re cooked fully or not.

Not only does that sound like a recipe for cross-contamination, but it leaves their customers with a pretty good chance of getting sick with salmonella. One TripAdvisor reviewer named Buabuagirl stated the following about their wings, “Wings were salty, under cooked, and just gross.” Well, we have a hunch as to why.

23. Burger King’s Chicken Fries

If you find yourself driving over to your local Burger King, chances are you’ll be tempted to snatch up one of their famous Whoppers from the delicious burger menu. You’re probably in the clear with those “freshly-grilled” burgers. But not so for their chicken products, especially their chicken fries.

A former worker took to Reddit with the incendiary claim that his restaurant’s chicken fries would usually be kept under the heat lamps for up to six hours before either being purchased or finally tossed out at the end of the day. Another downside about their chicken fries is that they’re usually about 20% chicken and 80% fried breading.

24. Burger King’s Whopper Jr.

If you’re over the age of eight, chances are you aren’t going to be ordering a Whopper Jr. from Burger King. As you can imagine, these little burgers aren’t hitting the Burger King grills often. According to one former employee on Reddit, a Whopper Jr. can spend hours resting under the heat lamps.

If you don’t mind having a dry burger that’s been sitting around all day, order it. One reviewer on Brand Eating described the Whopper Jr. by saying, “It’s not great but it’s decent when you have some change lying around and feel like some BK.” That about perfectly sums up the experience.

25. Burger King’s Decaf Coffee

While Burger King’s decaf coffee doesn’t exactly go through any of the filthy machinery you’ll find at the McDonald’s McCafé, there’s still some shady business going on. One former Burger King employee took to Reddit and exposed how his Burger King branch was undermining their decaf coffee drinkers.

According to them, people would order decaf all the time, but they never once got a decaf coffee. The store didn’t even serve decaf despite having the drink on their menu. Ultimately, their decaf coffee was just watered-down caffeinated coffee. Heaven forbid somebody with a caffeine allergy orders coffee from Burger King.

Sources: So Yummy, Awesome Jelly, Health Alot