You Won't Believe What McDonald's and Burger King Have in Common
There are many differences between McDonald's and Burker King. Both fast-food burger chains have their own distinctive menu items, recipes, and loyal fans. However, the rival food brands do happen to have one key thing in common that's so behind the scenes, you likely have no clue as to what it is… but, yes, some of McDonald's and Burger King's beloved foods are actually made by the same exact company.
Known as OSI, the private company is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. and also happens to be one of McDonald's biggest meat suppliers. Run by billionaire Sheldon Lavin, the company has supplied McDonald's with meat for over 50 years and in more than a dozen countries. And more recently, the company—which is based in Aurora, Illinois—started supplying a popular brand of plant-based meat to none other than Burger King.
What's more, McDonald's and Burger King aren't the only two giant fast-food chains to source food from this company. Here are all of the big-ticket menu items that you had no idea OSI makes. And for more, make sure to check out these 15 classic American desserts that deserve a comeback.
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets
OSI CEO Lavin is responsible for spearheading McDonald's very first Chicken McNuggets concept.
Burger King's Impossible Whopper
OSI made a deal with Impossible Foods in 2019 to make plant-based Whoppers. Impossible Foods was experiencing a shortage of faux meat and turned to OSI for assistance. (Related: Burger King's Impossible Whopper Is Good for a Plant-Based Version, But It Won't Win Over All Carnivores)
Chipotle Carnitas
OSI produces 45 million pounds of steak, barbacoa, carnitas, sofritas, beans, and salsas for Chipotle each year.
Starbucks Impossible Breakfast Sandwich
The manufacturer also supplies the plant-based meat for Starbucks' Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, which comes with a fried egg patty and cheddar cheese on a sesame ciabatta bun.
McDonald's hamburgers
OSI has also been supplying McDonald's with hamburger meat since 1970, just 15 years after the first McDonald's location opened in Des Plaines, Illinois. Fun fact: The first meat supplier for McDonald's was called Otto and Sons, which Lavin took over and changed to the name to OSI.
For more fast-food facts, be sure to check out 20 Surprisingly Healthy Fast Food Orders.
