Are there “real” whole eggs in your fast food breakfast sandwich?

When you order an egg sandwich at the entree, you can expect that there’s a real egg inside. However, look at the ingredients in popular breakfast products sold in the fast food chains shows that some restaurants are selling products that may not contain what customers consider to be “100% real egg.”

US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) notes that food manufacturers often use pasteurized egg products because of their convenience and ease of handling and storage.

Egg products must also be edible without further preparation to ensure food safety, according to FSIS. This makes egg products processed in sanitary facilities that are inspected by the Department of Agriculture more attractive to fast food chains, restaurants and care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes.

BLUE STATE BAN MOST EGGS UNLESS CAGE FREE BEFORE NEW YEAR

Here’s a look at five fast food chains that have items containing whole eggs on their menus and five chains that don’t.

DU: McDonald’s

McDonald’s breakfast menu all items are made with real whole eggs, but each is prepared differently.

The chain’s signature round egg found on the Egg McMuffin is made from a USDA Grade A egg, broken into an “egg ring.”

However, scrambled and folded eggs — such as those on a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit — are made with runny eggs that are pre-cooked and folded before being flash-frozen by suppliers, according to McDonald’s. Once they arrive at a local kitchen, they are grilled with real butter.

McDonald’s Sausage Egg Burritos are pre-cooked runny eggs with ingredients including: sausage, tomatoes, green chilies, onions and spices, before being flash-frozen to preserve their flavor, according to the company.

NOT: Starbucks

Starbucks lists its breakfast sandwich as containing “whole eggs,” but the long list of toppings that follow sets the item apart from something you might find in a grocery store or home refrigerator.

Some of the additives listed include: water, soybean oilmodified food starch, whey solids and citric acid, according to the nutrition facts.

Other items on the breakfast menu, such as egg nogs, list egg whites along with other additives.

STARBUCKS WORKERS EXTEND STRIKE CLOSING NEARLY 60 STORES IN SEVERAL US CITIES

YES: Taco Bell

After making a commitment to produce real, whole eggs, Taco Bell was able to transition to offering 100% whole, cage-free eggs at all Taco Bell restaurants in the US.

“We are proud that our eggs come from hens raised in an outdoor environment where they can feel comfortable and exhibit their natural behavior,” the company wrote in a statement on its website.

Taco Bell has expanded its commitment by also serving 100 percent cage-free egg ingredients across its entire menu at all restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, including limited-time offerings such as special sauces, according to the company.

NOT: Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A openly admits it doesn’t yet offer 100 percent cage-free eggs, but says it’s working toward the goal.

The eggs it serves are made from whole eggs, water and other additives, according to the nutrition facts.

“We are dedicated to prioritizing ingredient transparency and responsible sourcing partnerships, which is why we have committed to sourcing only 100% cage-free eggs by 2026,” the company wrote in a statement on its website.

DU: Wendy

Wendy’s uses only fresh-cracked Grade A eggs for its breakfast sandwiches, according to his website.

In addition, of the company U.S. egg suppliers are required to conduct independent third-party audits conducted annually by auditors certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO).

“We work closely with our suppliers and industry experts as part of our goal of responsible sourcing and through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards program to drive continuous improvement,” according to Wendy’s.

WENDY’S TO CLOSE 140 RESTAURANTS BY YEAR’S END

Since its creation in 2004. PAACO is the animal welfare auditing body. Prior to its creation, there was no standardization or accreditation for animal welfare auditing.

The organization provides high-quality training and certification credentials for auditors, according to the site.

Some of PAACO’s supporting partners include McDonald’s, Tyson FoodsAmerican Poultry and Egg Association and National Pork Producers Council.

NOT: Dunkin’

Dunkin’ offers egg patties on a variety of breakfast items, but whether they should be classified as “true whole eggs” depends on the eye of the beholder.

Patties include “real” egg, but a number of additives are also mixed in.

Additional ingredients include water, modified corn starch, xanthan gum and citric acid, according to the nutrition facts.

DU: Whataburger

Whataburger has proven that it is “committed to freshness,‘, offering North American fresh tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, eggs, poultry and bacon at its locations.

It also serves 100% fresh American beeffresh vegetables cut daily on site, cheese made with milk sourced from American dairy farms, and clean-label sucrose ketchups.

All of its suppliers comply with local laws and are committed to certified humane practices, according to the company.

NO: Metro

Although Subway uses eggs in its breakfast sandwiches, they contain a number of additives, including dextrose, guay gum, propylene glycol, and glycerin.

The company is committed to switching to eggs from cage-free chickens in North America, but has not yet done so.

“Due to limited supply right now, 10% of eggs served in the US and 6% in Canada are from cage-free hens,” according to Subway. “We will continue to increase our percentage of cage-free eggs annually, with the goal of transitioning North America and Latin America to 100% cage-free eggs by 2025.”

DU: Panera

Panera is offering an egg sandwich made with a fresh-cracked egg, which came around the same time the company petitioned the FDA to clearly define what an “egg” really is.

In 2018 the company said FDA regulations do not establish a definition or standard for eggs, and many chains offer egg products with more than a dozen additives.

However, it appears that not all of Panera’s breakfast products are made with freshly beaten eggs, as some still contain pasteurized egg or runny whole eggs.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS

NOT: Burger King

The eggs used in Burger KingBreakfast sandwiches are a “liquid pasteurized egg mixture” containing a number of additives.

FOX Business noted that the nutrition facts for the breakfast sandwiches were pulled from the company’s website.

Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’, Subway and Burger King did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday from FOX Business.