Blasphemy. Until recently I never realized the ice cream I was treating myself to from, say, Dairy Queen and McDonald's was not even REAL ice cream. And what I'm about to reveal to you means I've probably had my last Shamrock Shake. If I'm going to indulge in ice cream I at least want it to be authentic and not some phony taste-a-like filled with a laundry list of ingredients, most of which are preservatives.

The folks at eatthis.com have pulled back the curtain on five fast-food chains that have been fooling us into thinking they serve legit ice cream all along.

Eat This, Not That! informs us that in accordance with USDA guidelines, REAL ice cream contains "not less than 1.6 pounds of total solids to the gallon, and weighs not less than 4.5 pounds to the gallon." It also has "not less than 10 percent milkfat, nor less than 10 percent nonfat milk solids, except that when it contains milkfat at 1 percent increments above the 10 percent minimum."

So, who's been pulling the wool over our eyes with substitutes like ice and water, artificial flavors, mono and diglycerides, guar gum, a thickening agent called carrageenan, a thickener? Check out the list below.

Chick-Fil-A

(courtesy Gary Cameron/REUTERS)

Eatthis.com points out, 'There's a reason why Chick-fil-A calls their most popular dessert IceDream instead of ice cream – it isn't real ice cream.'

Dairy Queen 

This revelations surprised me the most, but if you looks closely at the FAQ's section of the official Dairy Queen website, even it admits, "Technically, our soft serve does not qualify to be called ice cream."

(courtesy Mario Anzioni/REUTERS)

McDonald's

(courtesy Google Maps)

That cone of McD's soft serve you love? The famous Shamrock Shake? A total sham. But if you don't mind a bit of corn syrup, mono and diglycerides, cellulose gum, and vitamin A palmitate to go with your milk and sugar, go for it.

Sonic

(courtesy Mike Blake/REUTERS)

While Sonic's menu may feature the Frozen Zone, the 'ice cream' and 'milkshakes' they serve simply don't qualify as the real thing.

Wendy's

(courtesy Mario Anzioni/REUTERS)

Love a Frostee? I hope you don't think it's made with real milk or ice cream. It contains blended up corn syrup, whey, and nonfat dry milk.

Isn't it so disappointing when fast-food restaurants offer frozen desserts instead of real ice cream? You crave that rich, creamy texture, but instead, you get a bland, icy substitute. It’s a letdown when a simple treat doesn’t meet expectations — sometimes, the best things should just be simple and real.