This Popular Fast Food Chain Might Not Be Using High-Quality Beef

When you pay for a burger at a restaurant, you expect that you're getting a high-quality product, made with beef at least as good as you'd buy at the grocery store — if not better. Sadly, this might not be the case if you're ordering from Dairy Queen. Its website is pretty elusive when it comes to information about the beef patties it uses for its burgers. 

Typically, burger chains that pride themselves on offering high-grade beef make a point to share what sets them apart. Elevation Burger, for example, clearly states that its beef is 100% organic and grass-fed, making its burgers the opposite of mystery meat. Shake Shack is another transparent burger joint, sharing that it only purchases Angus beef butchered from humanely raised cattle. Dairy Queen, on the other hand, only states that its burgers feature "100% seasoned real beef patties," which, naturally, leaves us to wonder about the grade of the chain's beef.

Unfortunately, the lack of transparency leaves room for questions about Dairy Queen's beef sourcing. Dairy Queen currently has no policy regarding beef from cattle raised with unnecessary antibiotics, according to Consumer Reports. Low standards for food suppliers can help chains save money, which may allow them to keep prices low in a time when food costs are rising for many. The bottom line: If you want a burger with higher-quality beef, you'll want to head to a restaurant that proudly shares a plethora of meat sourcing information with customers.

Dairy Queen's website is notably vague when it comes to the beef, and we're wondering (pure speculation, just to be clear) whether all Dairy Queens use the same suppliers. The chain operates under a franchise model, meaning some decisions are left to individual location owners. That being said, brand uniformity from one restaurant to the next is a requirement, so it's unlikely that you'll find a ton of variation between Dairy Queens.

There are, however, a handful of exceptions. According to Reddit, there are a few locations — including one in Murray, Kentucky — that predate the establishment of the chain's franchise model. As a result, owners of these vintage Dairy Queen locations may have more flexibility over their food sourcing. So, while that doesn't guarantee higher-quality food, it does suggest that not every Dairy Queen operates under the same menu constraints.