McDonald's French fries are not gluten-free. They are fried in a shared fryer and may contain add-ons from previous items, such as wheat.
According to the McDonald’s website, their French Fries are gluten-free as they are cooked in dedicated fryers using a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil, but McDonald’s does acknowledge that due to their kitchen set up, the company cannot guarantee that cross-contamination will not occur.
Most French fries are made without gluten-containing ingredients, including potatoes, oil, and salt. Some restaurants, though, use a fryer that is also used for foods that contain gluten to cook their fries. Fast food fries could cross-contaminate with gluten, so they pose a risk for those with the allergy.
French fries must be made in a special deep fryer that is only used for foods that are free of the allergy causing substance. It is important to check with the restaurant to see if their french fries are made without wheat or in a designated fryer.
Are McDonald's fries vegan?
According to WorldOfVegan, McDonald's french fries are not vegan in the U.S. and, surprisingly, they are not even vegetarian. The vegan website mentions that McDonald's french fries are made with natural beef flavor, wheat and milk products, and are fried in beef fat. Hash browns are also not vegan, as they contain milk and are fried in beef fat.
Previously, it was suggested that the fries be cooked in animal fat to maintain their iconic taste. The fast food chain eventually switched to using vegetable oil instead, but then changed back to adding a beef flavor to the fries.
People complained that the french fries didn't taste the same after McDonald's switched from animal fat to vegetable oil. That's why they use a beef flavor, which makes McDonald's best-selling item neither vegan nor vegetarian.
The fries are made with superior potatoes like the Russet Burbank and the Shepody, according to the official McDonald's website. The fries are crisp and golden on the outside and soft on the inside because they contain zero grams of trans fat.
What are McDonald’s fries made of?
McDonald’s fries are made of potatoes, vegetable oils such as canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor with wheat and milk derivatives, dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate to maintain color, and salt. The natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients.
What items are gluten-free in McDonald’s?
According to their website, the items on the McDonald’s menu that do not have gluten in their ingredients include French Fries, Hash Browns, Fruit Bags, Carrot Sticks, and Shaker Side Salad with Balsamic Dressing; as well as some McFlurry desserts, such as the Crunchie and Dairy Milk McFlurry. All of the permanent menu drinks are also free from ingredients containing gluten.
FAQs
Q. How much does a McDonald’s large fries cost?
A. A McDonald’s large fries costs $1.89.
Q. How many calories are in a large McDonald's fries?
A. A large McDonald’s fries has about 480 calories according to the McDonald’s website.
Q. How many calories does McDonald's small fries have?
A. A small McDonald’s fries has about 230 calories according to the McDonald’s website.
Q. How much does a McDonald’s small fries cost?
A. A McDonald’s small fries costs $1.39.
