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Sonic Cheeseburger

Common questions

Is Sonic Cheeseburger healthy?

Sonic Cheeseburger scores 24/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. Sonic Cheeseburger tested at 56.69 ppb glyphosate in Moms Across America's 2024 fast-food investigation — a moderate residue for chain-restaurant food.

Has Sonic Cheeseburger been lab-tested?

Yes. Sonic Cheeseburger carries an independent laboratory panel from Independent third-party laboratory testing covering 1 contaminant (including Glyphosate) — the full results are on this page.

How processed is Sonic Cheeseburger?

Sonic Cheeseburger is NOVA Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods.

How does Sonic Cheeseburger compare to other restaurant items?

Sonic Cheeseburger ranks #11 of 23 restaurant items in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is In-N-Out Cheeseburger at 35/100.

Which ingredients drive Sonic Cheeseburger's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Sesame flour, Beef, American cheese slice count in its favor; Unbleached enriched wheat flour, Sugar, Soybean oil are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

Healthy alternatives

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Pizza Hut Vegetable Topped Pizza
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Little Caesar's Sausage Pizza
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Little Caesar's Pepperoni Pizza
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See more

Sonic Cheeseburger

Sonic
Lab tested
24 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 7
Harmful ingredients 21
Owned by Inspire Brands
Category Restaurant Items
Summary

Sonic Cheeseburger tested at 56.69 ppb glyphosate in Moms Across America's 2024 fast-food investigation — a moderate residue for chain-restaurant food. Glyphosate (Roundup's active ingredient) is a WHO IARC Group 2A probable human carcinogen linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, endocrine disruption, kidney and liver impairment, and microbiome disturbance. Likely sources: conventional wheat bun plus seed oils and grain-fed beef from glyphosate-treated U.S. crops.

Contaminants 1

Source: Independent third-party laboratory testing

Glyphosate
56.69 ppb
Moderate

Detected at a moderate level — a meaningful fraction of health-based exposure limits. Worth factoring in if this product is used regularly. Glyphosate is classified by the WHO IARC as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A) and is linked in observational research to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, endocrine disruption, and microbiome disturbance. Entry route is most likely pre-harvest glyphosate desiccation of the wheat or grain ingredient.

Tested at 56.69 ppb glyphosate residue — moderate for a chain-restaurant prepared food.

Key ingredients 35

Soybean oil
Very Bad

Industrial seed oil; high in linoleic acid (omega-6) and solvent-extracted.

See more about Soybean oil →
Yellow #5
Very Bad

Synthetic petroleum dye; behavioral effects in sensitive children.

See more about Yellow #5 →
High fructose corn syrup
Very Bad

Industrial sweetener linked to metabolic dysfunction and fatty liver.

See more about High fructose corn syrup →
Unbleached enriched wheat flour
Bad

Refined flour stripped of bran and germ.

See more about Unbleached enriched wheat flour →
Sugar
Bad

Added refined sugar.

See more about Sugar →
Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Bad

Synthetic dough conditioner / emulsifier.

See more about Sodium stearoyl lactylate →
Calcium stearoyl lactylate
Bad

Synthetic dough conditioner.

Mono and diglycerides
Bad

Emulsifier; may carry trans-fat residue from production.

See more about Mono and diglycerides →
Calcium peroxide
Bad

Oxidizing dough conditioner / bleaching agent.

Calcium iodate
Bad

Oxidizing dough conditioner.

DATEM
Bad

Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides; emulsifier with possible trans-fat residue.

See more about DATEM →
Calcium propionate
Bad

Mold-inhibiting preservative; behavioral concerns in some pediatric studies.

See more about Calcium propionate →
Encapsulated salt
Bad

Salt coated in fully-hydrogenated soybean oil for slow release.

Yeast extract
Bad

Free-glutamate flavor enhancer (functions like MSG).

See more about Yeast extract →
Maltodextrin
Bad

Processed corn-derived sugar that spikes blood glucose.

See more about Maltodextrin →
Sorbic acid
Bad

Preservative.

See more about Sorbic acid →
Soy lecithin
Bad

Soy-derived emulsifier — a refined, industrially processed additive tied to seed-oil production. Not a seed oil itself, but Scout classifies lecithin emulsifiers as bad.

See more about Soy lecithin →
Polysorbate 80
Bad

Synthetic emulsifier; gut-microbiome disruption in animal studies.

See more about Polysorbate 80 →
Sodium benzoate
Bad

Preservative; can form benzene with vitamin C.

See more about Sodium benzoate →
Calcium disodium EDTA
Bad

Synthetic chelating preservative.

See more about Calcium disodium EDTA →
Corn syrup
Bad

Refined sweetener / processed sugar.

See more about Corn syrup →
Water
Neutral

Pure water.

See more about Water →
Yeast
Neutral

Leavening organism.

See more about Yeast →
Wheat gluten
Neutral

Concentrated wheat protein for dough strength.

See more about Wheat gluten →
Salt
Neutral

Sodium contributor; tolerable in moderation.

See more about Salt →
Sodium citrate
Neutral

Emulsifying and buffering salt — benign at food-use levels.

See more about Sodium citrate →
Mayonnaise
Neutral

Common food ingredient.

Ketchup
Neutral

Common food ingredient.

Sesame flour
Good

Whole-grain, seed, or fresh produce ingredient.

Beef
Good

Whole muscle meat.

See more about Beef →
American cheese slice
Good

Real-cheese / dairy ingredient.

Crinkle-cut pickles
Good

Whole-grain, seed, or fresh produce ingredient.

Diced onions
Good

Fresh allium; quercetin and prebiotic fiber.

Shredded lettuce
Good

Fresh whole vegetable; fiber and micronutrients.

Tomatoes
Good

Fresh tomato; lycopene and vitamin C.

See more about Tomatoes →

Processing

Group 4 · Ultra-processed

Ultra-Processed Foods

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