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Burger King touts ingredients with celeb ‘Keep It Real Meals’Burger King touts ingredients with celeb ‘Keep It Real Meals’

Burger brand will use actual names of A-list singers — Anitta, Lil Huddy and Nelly — for trio of combos starting Sept. 12

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

September 9, 2021

2 Min Read
Burger King Real Meal Larissa Machado Anitta
Burger King

Burger King Corp. is highlighting its ban on 120 artificial ingredients with a trio of celebrity-backed meals, all using their actual rather than their stage names.

Brazilian singer Anitta, American performer Lil Huddy and rapper Nelly all get their own “Keep It Real Meals” combo deals starting Sept. 12, the division of Restaurant Brands International Inc. said Thursday.

The Real Meals use the performers’ real names:

- Anitta gets the Larissa Machado Meal, which includes the Impossible Whopper with lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup and mustard, small fries and a small Sprite.

- Lil Huddy is behind the Chase Hudson Meal, which features breaded Spicy Ch’King with cheese, four-piece mozzarella sticks and a 16-ounce chocolate shake.

- Nelly touts the Cornell Haynes Jr Meal, which is a Whopper with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise and ketchup, small fries and a small Sprite.

Customers signing up for Burger King’s new “Royal Perks” loyalty program, which was introduced last week, can get the three meals for $6 each when using the app-based platform.

“We know our guests’ expectations are changing, and they want to make choices they can feel good about,” said Ellie Doty, chief marketing officer for Burger King North America, said in a statement.

“By banning these 120 ingredients from our food, we’re offering guests an easy choice – delicious food made with quality ingredients,” she said. “We’re confident that our ongoing commitment to real food will not only provide guests with the food they’re looking for, but also set a standard for the industry overall.”

Doty, through a spokesperson, said Burger King has already barred 120 artificial ingredients and more are expected.

“Part of this change is through our sauces and condiments,” Doty said. “As an example, we’ve switched to Simply Heinz Ketchup and removed preservatives from our mayonnaise, and it’s also core menu item ingredients like American Cheese. That was one of the more challenging items, but our team worked diligently to remove all colors, flavors and preservatives from artificial sources.”

Burger King, founded in 1954, has more than 18,700 locations in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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