Papa John’s founder, John Schnatter, faced controversy after using a racial slur during a conference call. His anger over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem led to backlash, resulting in his removal as CEO—a move he later blamed on the media. Schnatter later claimed he was attempting to remove the offensive word from his vocabulary.
Beyond corporate scandals, Papa John’s food quality has also been questioned. Their ranch and blue cheese dipping sauces contain MSG, while their pizzas are packed with processed meats, added sugars, and saturated fats. Despite their slogan, “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza,” the reality is far from the myth of fresh and healthy food. Papa John’s keeps many of its ingredients a secret, making it difficult for consumers to know exactly what they’re eating. Their pizza dough is produced in a central facility, then frozen before use. Even their signature garlic sauce contains numerous additives, including partially hydrogenated soybean oil, mono- and diglycerides, and calcium disodium.
Similarly, Domino’s Pizza isn’t much better in terms of health. Their pizzas are high in calories, saturated fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates. Processed meat toppings and white flour crusts contribute to unhealthy eating habits, leading to potential cholesterol spikes and weight gain. The refined flour can also cause rapid blood sugar spikes, posing risks to overall health.
Many processed foods may taste good, but they often come at the expense of nutrition. In my upcoming blogs, I will reveal more about the use of GMO ingredients and other hidden aspects of fast food.