Dairy Queen (DQ) is a soft-serve ice cream chain and a fast-food restaurant company in the United States of America owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota (north-central America). Dairy Queen has been in business for more than 80 years now and is loved by all. They also own Orange Julius and Karmelkorn. Let us know more detail about ‘Is Dairy Queen natural Ice cream?’.
Is Dairy Queen natural Ice cream?
Dairy Queen ice cream or soft serve is not natural ice cream because its recipe does not meet the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ice cream regulations. However, dairy Queen soft-serve fits into the ‘reduced-fat’ ice cream, and their shake mix fits into the ‘low-fat’ ice cream category, respectively, as per the FDA.
Consumers often complain that DQ soft serve melts faster, which is due to the air content present in it. Regular ice cream does not have air added to it, which makes the consistency dense, and it melts at a slower rate. On the contrary, DQ blizzards are thick and remain in the cup even if flipped upside down. The reason is that emulsifiers give blizzards high viscosity and low melting rates.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations for Frozen Desserts
Dairy Queen treats do not contain enough milkfats and non-fat milk solids to be considered ice creams. Therefore, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration code for federal regulations for frozen desserts, It should meet the following requirements to categorize a dessert like ice cream:
- Ice cream should contain a minimum of 1.6 pounds of total solids per gallon and weigh not less than 4.5 pounds to the gallon.
- Ice cream should contain a minimum of 10% milkfat and 10% non-fat milk solids, except that when it contains milkfat at 1% increments above 10% minimum, it may contain the following milkfat to non-fat milk solids levels as shown below-
Percent milkfat and Minimum percent non-fat milk solids:
10 – 10
11 – 9
12 – 8
13 – 7
14 – 6
Source: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=135.110
Different Types of Dairy Queen Ice Creams
There are two main categories of treats available at Dairy Queen – Blizzard treats and Classic treats. The classic treats contain Soft Serve Cones, Sundaes, Royal treats, and Novelties.
The Dairy Queen treats are available in 4 sizes – mini, small, medium, and large. There are about 25 flavors available for blizzard treats, five flavors for cones, six flavors for Sundaes, and three flavors for Novelties. They also serve non-dairy, gluten-free, plant-based ice cream and a dilly bar made with coconut milk.
Ingredients of Dairy Queen Soft Serve
Dairy Queen soft serve is made from whole milk. It is a reduced fat ice cream containing the ingredients: Milkfat and non-fat milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Whey, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Guar Gum, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan, and Vitamin A Palmitate.
Soft Serve Making Machine
For making its soft serve, Dairy Queen uses the ice cream-making equipment manufactured by a brand called Stoelting.
Nutritional Facts of Dairy Queen Treats
The range of calories, fats, and protein per serve for different Dairy Queen treats varying in different sizes and various flavors available is as shown in the table below:
Dairy Queen Treats : Calories – Fats – Protein
- Blizzard: 350 – 2380 kcal, 9 – 136 g, 4 – 58 g
- Cone: 160 – 650 kcal, 4.5 – 30 g, 4 – 13 g
- Sundaes: 240 – 780 kcal, 8 – 44 g, 6 – 18 g
- Novelties: 1100 – 2800 kcal, 31 – 177 g, 19 – 63 g
In greater detail, other nutritional facts and figures are available on the Dairy Queen website. They have also mentioned detailed information on their website regarding the additives, artificial flavors, substitutes, etc., used in the treats.
Conclusion
America’s favorite Dairy Queen ice cream is not natural, and if the nutritional facts and figures are considered, it is not healthy either. If an average American consumes 2000 kcal per day, then having some of these DQ treats means consuming about as high as 75% of the daily requirement of calories. In addition, just because their treats have a lower percentage of milkfats and non-fat milk solids does not mean they are sugar-free or a healthier option than natural ice creams. So, the next time you celebrate or have a cheat meal at your favorite Dairy Queen soft-serve joint, keep in mind the calories you are consuming and make a healthier choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Dairy Queen Restaurants exist?
There are more than 7000 Dairy Queen restaurants spread across the US, Canada, and more than 20 other countries worldwide.
- What other food & beverage options are available at Dairy Queen?
Dairy Queen serves burgers and sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken baskets, meal deals, snacks, sides & salads, shakes, slush, smoothies, Orange Julius, cakes and dressing, dips & sauces.
- Does Dairy Queen deliver?
Dairy Queen delivers your favorite food and treats in selected areas which One can find out by entering the area’s pin code on their website and mobile application. Different locations have different delivery fees, booking fees, and minimum order requirements.
