Why Some People Skip In-N-Out—And It Has Nothing to Do with the Food

In-N-Out may be known for its “Double-Double” and cult following, but not every burger fan is biting.

Some customers are skipping the drive-thru, and it has nothing to do with the food. From animal welfare controversies to supply-chain scrutiny, the chain’s clean image has been challenged by issues that go far beyond fries and milkshakes.

A Beloved Brand Under Scrutiny

Few fast-food chains inspire loyalty like In-N-Out. Founded in 1948, the company’s commitment to freshness and family ownership has made it a California icon. But with fame comes greater accountability, especially as consumers demand transparency about where their food comes from and how it’s produced.

The Antibiotics Backlash

In 2016, consumer and environmental groups began urging the company to stop using beef from cattle raised with routine antibiotics. The campaign, driven by groups like Friends of the Earth and CALPIRG, warned of antibiotic overuse contributing to “superbugs.”

In-N-Out eventually committed to serving beef “not raised with antibiotics important to human medicine,” though advocates pressed for a timeline and public verification.

Public Pressure and Policy Shifts

Following growing scrutiny, In-N-Out began working with suppliers to transition away from beef raised with medically important antibiotics. The move aligned it with other national brands, but consumer groups still demanded more transparency, urging third-party audits and clear progress reporting to ensure long-term accountability.

The Central Valley Controversy

In 2012, animal-rights activists released undercover footage from California’s Central Valley Meat Company, one of In-N-Out’s suppliers, showing cows being shocked, kicked, and mistreated. The USDA shut down the facility for multiple humane handling violations. In-N-Out, which sourced about 20% of its beef from the plant, immediately cut ties.

Beyond One Scandal

The fallout from Central Valley Meat reignited public debate about the fast-food industry’s supply chain. Reports resurfaced years later about animal mistreatment at other suppliers, including overcrowded pens and poor living conditions.

Although In-N-Out maintains that it enforces strict animal welfare standards and conducts surprise inspections, activists continue to question whether those policies are fully enforced.

Why Some Consumers Are Walking Away

For a growing number of ethically minded diners, the issue isn’t taste or service but trust. The perception that In-N-Out has been slow to act on animal welfare and antibiotic reduction has pushed some customers toward competitors like Shake Shack or Chipotle, whose supply chain practices are more publicly documented.

Price of Tradition

Part of In-N-Out’s enduring charm is its old-school approach: a tight menu, family ownership, and ingredients that feel more “real” than most fast-food competitors. But that same nostalgia can make the brand seem reluctant to evolve.

Consumers today want transparency, humane sourcing, and corporate accountability — all without losing the simplicity they love. It’s a tension between past and present that In-N-Out, like much of the industry, is still navigating.

A Modern Appetite for Accountability

For many, skipping In-N-Out isn’t a protest against its burgers — it’s a statement about values. The brand’s controversies have become part of a larger reckoning over how animals are treated, what ethical slaughter truly entails, and who gets to afford a cleaner conscience.

In a world where eating well isn’t always accessible, diners aren’t just voting with their wallets anymore; they’re wrestling with what their choices say about who they want to be.