Human meat found in over 50 McDonalds restaurants?

This is a TikTok video that has caused a stir. “Rat and human DNA found in many fast food chains around the world”, begins the young man in the video. 

It has already been viewed more than 500,000 times. The user who posted it claims that, according to information from the American laboratory ClearLabs, rodent meat and even human meat were discovered in products sold in no fewer than 79 KFC or McDonalds restaurants. The TikToker addresses his audience: “Does this surprise you?”... “personally, not me. […] We’re eating human meat. […] We’d actually be cannibals.” And in the comments, although sceptics make themselves known, many people are convinced that the story is true. 

But hang on

While it's true that the ClearLabs study exists, the reason behind the presence of "human meat" in fast food is far less shocking than suggested. Published in 2016, the study revealed that three cases of rat DNA and one case of human DNA were found among a total of 258 burger samples. It concluded that “although unpleasant, the presence of human or rat DNA is unlikely to be harmful to human health”... “But in general, the presence of human and rat DNA is a potential indicator of poor quality and inconsistency in hygiene protocols.”

Furthermore, ClearLabs points out that “although our tests can detect human DNA, they cannot tell us the exact source. The most likely cause is a hair, skin, or fingernail accidentally mixed in [with the meat] during production.” There's a big difference between an actual steak of human meat and a tiny trace of human residue lost in a burger.

(MH with Raphaël Liset – Source: 20 Minutes – Illustration: ©Unsplash)