No matter what your opinion of fast food is, many people can agree on one thing: it’s not the healthiest option in the world for you. Mcdonald’s, the nation’s largest restaurant company, has faced criticism over the years on a wide variety of issues, including childhood obesity, low wages, and harsh animal treatment. However, this very popular fast food chain is in the process of changing public opinion.

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Mcdonald’s has plans to use cage-free eggs by 2025, to remove artificial preservatives from its McNuggets, and announced Wednesday on Twitter that they will remove artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives from its top-selling burgers to improve the quality of its food. “We’re excited to announce our classic burgers have no artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors and no added colors from artificial sources!” the statement reads. “Our pickle contains an artificial preservative, so skip it if you like. Changes you can feel good about!”

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These changes impact everything in the sandwich: the bun, cheese, and even the secret sauce, CNN states. McDonald's (MCD) said: “It stripped components like calcium propionate, an artificial preservative, from its buns and eliminated sorbic acid, a preservative, from its American cheese.” The iconic Big Mac Special Sauce is also being reformulated, removing artificial preservatives including potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and calcium disodium EDTA without "sacrificing that signature taste." Items affected by the change include the hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Big Mac, representing two-thirds of the brand’s menu.

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While phasing out these ingredients, people have become concerned about the affordability of these prices,. GoErie explains that it is unlikely that these changes will affect costs, as franchise owners set their own prices. “This is really meant to serve as another proof point of what we’re doing at McDonald’s to enhance the quality of the food,” said Chris Kempczinski, president of McDonald’s USA. “We hope it’s the cumulative impact of all the changes we’ve been making that will move perception”.

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This does not mean that all items on the menu will be improved, however. Items that will continue to have artificial ingredients include the Egg McMuffin, the Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Bacon Egg & Cheese McGriddles, and the Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Mcdonald's is not just stopping at the food - the chain is moving its way into the current environmental movement.  Currently, just 10% of the company’s stores have recycling programs in place. The chain has announced plans to recycle customer trash at all of its 37,000 restaurants by 2025. In addition, the industry says it will make the packaging for its products more environmentally friendly as well.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and Panera Bread Co. have long touted the healthy ingredients in their products and McDonald's appears to be responding in kind, the Journal reported. Mcdonalds is setting the tone for fast food chains everywhere, hopefully getting other companies to hop on the bandwagon to create a safer and healthier lifestyle for consumers. Fast food might have a bad reputation currently, but these changes may create a better image in the industry overall.