Have you seen that viral video showing what looks like weird stretchy stuff supposedly being turned into chicken nuggets? It’s been making the rounds on social media with captions claiming it shows McDonald’s making nuggets from rubber or rubber bands from chicken But what’s the real story here? Let’s separate fact from fiction and get to the bottom of this persistent internet myth
The Short Answer: Absolutely Not!
No, rubber bands are definitely not made from chicken This is a complete misconception that has gained traction due to misunderstandings about manufacturing processes and misleading videos shared on social media.
Similarly, chicken nuggets are not made from rubber. The viral video that many people reference when making this claim actually shows something completely different.
The Viral Video: What’s Really Going On?
A video has been circulating on social media platforms like Facebook showing what appears to be a stretchy, light-colored material being processed in a factory. The post captions often claim this is showing either:
- McDonald’s making chicken nuggets from rubber-like material
- The production of fake or artificial chicken meat
- Rubber bands being made from chicken
According to fact-checking organizations like Myth Detector and Soch Fact Check, the video actually shows the manufacturing process of rubber bands in a Japanese factory. Specifically, it was filmed at Kyowa Co., Ltd., a rubber band manufacturing company with over 100 years of history.
The full version of the video (which most viral posts don’t show) reveals the end product – rubber bands branded as “O’Band” – being packaged for sale. This video was originally posted by an account called ProcessX, which shares videos of various manufacturing processes in Japanese factories.
What Are Rubber Bands Actually Made From?
Rubber bands are primarily made from one of two sources:
1. Natural Rubber
Most traditional rubber bands are made from natural rubber harvested as latex from the Hevea brasiliensis tree (commonly known as the rubber tree). The manufacturing process involves:
- Collecting latex sap from rubber trees
- Coagulating the latex with acid to solidify it
- Washing and milling the rubber into sheets
- Vulcanization (heating with sulfur) to increase strength and elasticity
2. Synthetic Rubber
Modern rubber bands are also commonly made from synthetic rubber, which includes polymers created through chemical processes. Common types include:
- Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR)
- Nitrile Rubber (NBR)
Neither natural nor synthetic rubber production has anything to do with chickens or any animal products whatsoever.
What About McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets?
McDonald’s has repeatedly addressed similar rumors about their chicken nuggets, particularly regarding something called “pink slime.” According to multiple fact-checking organizations, McDonald’s stopped using lean beef trimmings (which some called “pink slime”) back in 2011.
As for chicken nuggets specifically, they’re made from actual chicken meat – typically mechanically separated chicken or chicken breast meat – not rubber or synthetic materials. There are numerous authentic videos showing the actual production process of chicken nuggets available online.
Why Do These Myths Persist?
There are several reasons why myths like “rubber bands are made from chicken” or “chicken nuggets are made from rubber” continue to spread:
- Decontextualized media: Videos taken out of context can appear to show something they don’t
- Confirmation bias: People who already distrust fast food companies may be quick to believe negative claims
- Sensationalism: Outrageous claims get more shares and engagement on social media
- Lack of scientific literacy: Many people aren’t familiar with how rubber or processed foods are actually made
Common Questions About Rubber Bands
Since we’re on the topic, let’s address some frequently asked questions about rubber bands:
Are rubber bands biodegradable?
Natural rubber bands are biodegradable, though degradation depends on environmental conditions. Synthetic rubber bands generally are not biodegradable.
Can you recycle rubber bands?
While some recycling programs accept rubber bands, many don’t due to challenges in sorting and processing small, flexible items. Check with your local recycling center.
How long do rubber bands last?
The shelf life depends on material and storage conditions. Natural rubber bands degrade over time, especially when exposed to sunlight, heat, and oxygen. Store them in a cool, dark, dry place to extend their lifespan.
Are there eco-friendly alternatives?
Yes! You can find natural rubber bands from sustainable plantations, biodegradable bands made from plant-based materials, or reusable silicone bands.
The Chicken Nugget Reality
If you’re curious about what actually goes into making chicken nuggets, here’s the general process used by most fast food restaurants:
- Chicken deboning: Separating meat from bones
- Grinding: The meat is ground to a specific consistency
- Mixing: Seasonings and binding ingredients are added
- Forming: The mixture is shaped into nugget forms
- Battering/breading: Nuggets are coated in batter and/or breadcrumbs
- Par-frying: Partially cooking to set the coating
- Freezing: For preservation during transport
- Final cooking: At the restaurant before serving
While this process creates a heavily processed food product that many nutritionists recommend consuming in moderation, it definitely doesn’t involve rubber or synthetic materials.
The Dangers of Food Misinformation
Food misinformation can be harmful in several ways:
- It creates unnecessary fear about everyday products
- It can lead to distrust in legitimate food safety systems
- It distracts from real food safety and nutrition issues
- It can cause people to make dietary choices based on false information
We should always approach viral claims about food with healthy skepticism and look to verified sources for information.
Conclusion: Critical Thinking Is Essential
The next time you see a shocking video about food production on social media, take a moment to:
- Consider the source
- Look for the complete context
- Check if reputable fact-checkers have investigated the claim
- Ask yourself if the claim makes logical and economic sense
The rubber band/chicken nugget video is a perfect example of how easily misinformation can spread when we don’t apply critical thinking. Rubber bands come from rubber trees or synthetic materials, and chicken nuggets come from chickens – not the other way around!
This article was researched using information from Myth Detector, Soch Fact Check, and Chef’s Resource, all of which have thoroughly debunked the claim that rubber bands are made from chicken or that chicken nuggets are made from rubber.
Mixing and milling
- 4 The rubber is then shipped to a rubber factory. Here, the slabs are machine cut (or chopped) into small pieces. Next, many manufacturers use a Banbury Mixer, invented in 1916 by Femely H. Banbury. This machine mixes the rubber with other ingredients—sulfur to vulcanize it, pigments to color it, and other chemicals to increase or diminish the elasticity of the resulting rubber bands. Although some companies dont add these ingredients until the next stage (milling), the Banbury machine integrates them more thoroughly, producing a more uniform product.
- 5 Milling, the next phase of production, entails heating the rubber (a blended mass if it has been mixed, discrete pieces if it has not) and squeezing it flat in a milling machine.
- 6 After the heated, flattened rubber leaves the milling machine, it is cut into strips. Still hot from the milling, the strips are then fed into an extruding machine which forces the rubber out in long, hollow tubes (much as a meat grinder produces long strings of meat). Excess rubber regularly builds up around the head of each extruding machine, and this rubber is cut off, collected, and placed back with the rubber going into the milling machine.
- 7 The tubes of rubber are then forced over aluminum poles called mandrels, which have been covered with talcum powder to keep the rubber from sticking. Although the rubber has already been vulcanized, its rather brittle at this point, and needs to be “cured” before it is elastic and usable. To accomplish this, the poles are loaded onto racks that are steamed and heated in large machines.
- 8 Removed from the poles and washed to remove the talcum powder, the tubes of rubber are fed into another machine that slices them into finished rubber bands. Rubber bands are sold by weight, and, because they tend to clump together, only small quantities can be weighed accurately by machines. Generally, any package over 5 pounds (2.2 kilograms) can be loaded by machine but will still require manual weighing and adjusting.
Sample rubber bands from each batch are subjected to a variety of quality tests. One such test measures modulus, or how hard a band snaps back: a tight band should snap back forcefully when pulled, while a band made to secure fragile objects should snap back more gently. Another test, for elongation, determines how far a band will stretch, which depends upon the percentage of rubber in a band: the more rubber, the further it should stretch. A third trait commonly tested is break strength, or whether a rubber band is strong enough to withstand normal strain. If 90 percent of the sample bands in a batch pass a particular test, the batch moves on to the next test; if 90 percent pass all of the tests, the batch is considered market-ready.
Rubber bands are a “mature product,” for which the market is not growing as quickly as it did several years ago. Nevertheless, the demand for rubber bands is steady, and not at all likely to fall off dramatically in the predictable future.
Processing the natural latex
- 1 The initial stage of manufacturing the harvested latex usually takes place on the rubber plantation, prior to packing and shipping. The first step in processing the latex is purification, which entails straining it to remove the other constituent elements apart from rubber and to filter out impurities such as tree sap and debris.
- 2 The purified rubber is now collected in large vats. Combined with acetic or formic acid, the rubber particles cling together to form slabs.
- 3 Next, the slabs are squeezed between rollers to remove excess water and pressed into bales or blocks, usually 2 or 3 square feet (.6 or .9 square meter), ready for shipping to factories. The size of the blocks depends on what the individual plantation can accommodate.