Don't.
http://smallnotebook.org/2008/06/10/mcdonalds-iced-coffee-just-say-no/
"Ok, I feel compelled to speak up.
People, McDonald’s is not your friend. When they created an iced coffee drink and marketed it to you for a sweet $1.79, they were not doing you any favors. Do not try to convince yourself that they are selling you a quality product for a low price.
I first noticed what goes in one when Amy at MomAdvice listed the ingredients for us. From the McDonald’s website, these are the ingredients for McDonald’s Vanilla Iced Coffee:
Premium Roast Coffee. Light Cream: Milk, cream, sodium phosphate, sodium polyphosphate, DATEM, sodium stearoyl lactylate, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium citrate, carrageenan. CONTAINS: MILK. Vanilla Syrup: Sugar, water, fructose, natural (plant source) and artificial flavor, caramel color (with sulfites), potassium sorbate (preservative), citric acid, malic acid. Ice.
I’ll spare us from checking the list for the sugar-free version. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients for a Vanilla Iced Coffee, shall we? (The information sources are linked to the chemical name.)
sodium phosphate - it is “used to treat constipation and to clean the bowel before surgery, x-rays, endoscopy, or other intestinal procedures. Sodium biphosphate and sodium phosphate enemas are also used for general care after surgery and to help relieve impacted bowels.”
Doesn’t it make sense now why so many people are complaining that McDonald’s Iced Coffee gives them diarrhea? People are getting sick left and right, but they tell themselves it’s due to extra caffeine, and continue drinking it since they like the taste. It is not the caffeine! Don’t let this happen to you!
sodium polyphosphate - adds texture and used as an emulsifier to prevent ingredients from clumping together.
DATEM - an acronym for Diacetyl tartaric acid ester of monoglyceride, and it is used for emulsification and foaming.
sodium stearoyl lactylate - a solid powder irritating to eyes and skin, and hazardous in case of inhalation.
tetra sodium pyrophosphate - when ingested it can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
sodium hexametaphosphate - the Material Safety Data Sheet warns “do not ingest.” Synonym of Sodium Polyphosphate (above).
sodium citrate - includes diarrhea as an adverse reaction. It should also be “used with caution in patients with cardiac failure, hypertension, impaired renal function, peripheral and pulmonary edema, and toxemia of pregnancy.”
Look, I’ve only gone through about half the list, but I just cannot bear this anymore. The reason these chemicals are in the “Light Cream” is because they cost less than real cream, and people instinctively think that real cream is bad for them because of the fat and calories. The truth is McDonald’s Iced Coffee is not a drink with simply coffee, milk, and sugar.
Let’s stay out of the drive through, all right?"
http://smallnotebook.org/2008/06/10/mcdonalds-iced-coffee-just-say-no/
"Ok, I feel compelled to speak up.
People, McDonald’s is not your friend. When they created an iced coffee drink and marketed it to you for a sweet $1.79, they were not doing you any favors. Do not try to convince yourself that they are selling you a quality product for a low price.
I first noticed what goes in one when Amy at MomAdvice listed the ingredients for us. From the McDonald’s website, these are the ingredients for McDonald’s Vanilla Iced Coffee:
Premium Roast Coffee. Light Cream: Milk, cream, sodium phosphate, sodium polyphosphate, DATEM, sodium stearoyl lactylate, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium citrate, carrageenan. CONTAINS: MILK. Vanilla Syrup: Sugar, water, fructose, natural (plant source) and artificial flavor, caramel color (with sulfites), potassium sorbate (preservative), citric acid, malic acid. Ice.
I’ll spare us from checking the list for the sugar-free version. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients for a Vanilla Iced Coffee, shall we? (The information sources are linked to the chemical name.)
sodium phosphate - it is “used to treat constipation and to clean the bowel before surgery, x-rays, endoscopy, or other intestinal procedures. Sodium biphosphate and sodium phosphate enemas are also used for general care after surgery and to help relieve impacted bowels.”
Doesn’t it make sense now why so many people are complaining that McDonald’s Iced Coffee gives them diarrhea? People are getting sick left and right, but they tell themselves it’s due to extra caffeine, and continue drinking it since they like the taste. It is not the caffeine! Don’t let this happen to you!
sodium polyphosphate - adds texture and used as an emulsifier to prevent ingredients from clumping together.
DATEM - an acronym for Diacetyl tartaric acid ester of monoglyceride, and it is used for emulsification and foaming.
sodium stearoyl lactylate - a solid powder irritating to eyes and skin, and hazardous in case of inhalation.
tetra sodium pyrophosphate - when ingested it can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
sodium hexametaphosphate - the Material Safety Data Sheet warns “do not ingest.” Synonym of Sodium Polyphosphate (above).
sodium citrate - includes diarrhea as an adverse reaction. It should also be “used with caution in patients with cardiac failure, hypertension, impaired renal function, peripheral and pulmonary edema, and toxemia of pregnancy.”
Look, I’ve only gone through about half the list, but I just cannot bear this anymore. The reason these chemicals are in the “Light Cream” is because they cost less than real cream, and people instinctively think that real cream is bad for them because of the fat and calories. The truth is McDonald’s Iced Coffee is not a drink with simply coffee, milk, and sugar.
Let’s stay out of the drive through, all right?"
