CLAIM: Human meat was reportedly found in the freezers of a McDonald’s meat factory in Oklahoma City, as well as in about 90% of other factories inspected.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: This claim is satire. No human remains have been discovered in McDonald’s factories. The claim is an old hoax originating from the satirical blog Huzlers.com in 2014.
The Facts
On August 23, a Facebook page, known for conspiracy theories, shared a false rumor. It suggested human meat was discovered at a McDonald’s meat factory. The post questioned past controversies around McDonald’s products, mentioning horse meat and ‘pink slime.’ It claimed human remains were found in about 90% of factories inspected. Viewed by over 51,000 users, this misleading post falsely alleged that the remains came from children.
The Facebook page, ‘The Hidden Truth,’ presented this claim as true. However, it linked to Huzlers.com, a satirical blog known for creating fake stories. A search of internet archives shows the story was originally shared in March 2014 without any credible sources or evidence.
McDonald’s Meat Content
McDonald’s clearly states on its website that their patties consist of 100% beef. There is no truth to the claims about human meat.
Efforts to Combat Misinformation
This examination is part of The Associated Press’ ongoing efforts to fact-check widely shared misinformation online. AP collaborates with Facebook to identify and limit the reach of false stories on the platform. For more information on Facebook’s fact-checking program, visit their support page.