When you’re craving a juicy, meaty sandwich, Arby’s is probably one of the first places that comes to mind. This fast food restaurant boasts a large menu and is best known for its signature roast beef sandwich.
However, upon biting into one of Arby’s signature sandwiches, you might notice it doesn’t taste like the roast beef you purchase at the grocery store. The reason is that the meat between those buns is not traditionally-made roast beef. According to Delish, authentic roast beef is prepared by seasoning a large cut of beef, roasting it until tender, and then slicing it into thin, tender pieces.
Arby’s follows a slightly different process. As shared by an Arby’s employee on a 2021 Reddit thread about fast food items to avoid, the chain’s sandwiches are made with “a compressed block of beef scraps.” This block of scraps is placed in a bag of beef broth and warmed until ready to serve.
Jim Lowder, a Quality Assurance representative for Arby’s, stated to Snopes in 2005 that the roast beef “consists entirely of Beef and a Self-Basting solution, which contains just enough water to keep the product juicy throughout our restaurants’ 3-hour roasting process and during slicing.” Whether that bothers you or not, it’s essential to know where your food comes from.
Arby’s roast beef is ultra-processed
Some people might choose Arby’s thinking it’s a healthier alternative to hamburger joints. However, the roast beef is ultra-processed, which is linked to a higher risk of early mortality from various health concerns (via Nutrition Journal).
Although Arby’s does offer some healthier options like salads, these choices are limited. Willow Jarosh, MS, R.D., mentioned to Very Well Fit that most offerings “don’t fulfill a full veggie portion and are very high in sodium — some with more than a day’s recommended sodium.”
The classic roast beef sandwich contains 970 milligrams of sodium, which is over half of the recommended daily intake for adults. The half-pound roast beef sandwich contains a staggering 2,040 milligrams of sodium, with other menu items even higher. While it’s fine to enjoy Arby’s occasionally, ensure you limit your visits and balance your diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Arby’s roast beef isn’t antibiotic-free
In addition to being ultra-processed, Arby’s roast beef may be loaded with antibiotics. Of the 25 largest fast-food chains in the U.S., only 14 have implemented policies to limit or eliminate the use of antibiotics in meat products and received a passing grade on a scorecard created by groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Center for Food Safety (via Consumer Reports). Meanwhile, 11 fast-food chains, including Arby’s, received a failing grade.
While antibiotics have long been administered to livestock to prevent disease spread, this can lead to antibiotic resistance, which occurs when disease-causing germs and bacteria evolve and fail to respond to drugs. This can contribute to illnesses that antibiotics can’t treat or cure.
Lena Brook, a food policy advocate at NRDC, stated that over 70% of antibiotics intended for human use are sold and given to animals, many of which are not sick. “When you use antibiotics in this routine way, resistance happens,” Brook told Consumer Reports, “and that resistant bacteria can then escape from farms and find their way into communities.”
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