Whether or not McDonald’s fries are gluten-free is a common question for those following a gluten-free diet. McDonald’s states that their fries are made without wheat or wheat derivatives, which would make them gluten-free. However, there are some important factors to consider when determining if McDonald’s fries are truly gluten-free.
What makes something gluten-free?
For a food to be considered gluten-free, it must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It causes an autoimmune reaction in those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Therefore, for McDonald’s fries to be gluten-free, they would need to contain less than 20 ppm of gluten. This would mean that both the potatoes and the oil used for frying would need to be free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Are the potatoes used by McDonald’s gluten-free?
The potatoes used by McDonald’s are likely to be gluten-free. Potatoes themselves do not naturally contain gluten. However, cross-contamination during processing and transportation could potentially introduce small amounts of gluten.
McDonald’s states that their suppliers must adhere to quality standards and government regulations. It’s likely that supplier protocols are in place to prevent cross-contamination of the potatoes, but McDonald’s does not provide details on this process.
Is the oil used for frying gluten-free?
The oil used for frying McDonald’s fries may be a source of gluten cross-contamination. McDonald’s fries are cooked in vegetable oil. In the past, McDonald’s used wheat-based additives in their oil as an anti-foaming agent.
However, in the last decade, McDonald’s has reportedly removed these wheat-based additives from their oil blend. The current oil ingredients are: canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor, citric acid, dimethylpolysiloxane.
These listed ingredients should all be gluten-free. However, McDonald’s does not provide detailed information on their oil supply chain. Trace amounts of gluten could potentially be introduced during oil harvesting, transport or processing.
Is there risk of cross-contact at McDonald’s restaurants?
Even if the potatoes and oil used for McDonald’s fries are gluten-free, there is still a risk of cross-contact within McDonald’s kitchens. Fries are cooked in shared fryers, which may also be used for gluten-containing menu items like chicken nuggets and fried pies.
Employees may also inadvertently sprinkle a few crumbs of gluten-containing foods, like buns or biscuits, into the fryer oil. It only takes a small amount of gluten to cause issues for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
McDonald’s does not have separate equipment and prep areas for gluten-free menu items. While employees likely change and filter the fryer oil regularly, it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of cross-contact.
Do any ingredients get added to the fries after frying?
After frying, McDonald’s fries do have additional ingredients added. This includes salt, beef flavor and a preservative called sodium acid pyrophosphate.
The added salt and beef flavor should be gluten-free. However, as with the oil, trace amounts of gluten could be introduced if the production process is not rigorously controlled.
What about other menu items cooked in the same oil?
Since McDonald’s fries are cooked in shared fryers, it’s important to consider what other foods are cooked in that oil. McDonald’s uses the same fryers to cook chicken nuggets, fish fillets and pies.
These products often contain gluten ingredients like wheat flour and breadcrumbs. So while the fries themselves may not contain gluten, trace amounts could get transferred via the shared fryer oil.
Does cross-contact make a difference for celiac disease?
For those with celiac disease, even tiny amounts of cross-contact with gluten can trigger symptoms and intestinal damage. The small amount of gluten that may come from shared oil is unlikely to register on a product test as 20 ppm or higher.
However, celiac organizations still consider fried foods prepared in shared fryers to be risky for highly sensitive individuals. Those with celiac disease need to use their best personal judgment on whether cross-contact is a concern for them.
What about people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity?
People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may be able to tolerate small amounts of cross-contact better than those with celiac disease. Some individuals find they can eat McDonald’s fries in moderation without an issue.
However, this tolerance varies quite a bit on an individual basis. Some with gluten sensitivity react strongly even to traces of cross-contact. The only way to know is to try McDonald’s fries and see if any symptoms develop.
Does McDonald’s offer any gluten-free side dishes?
Currently, fries are the only gluten-free side dish option at McDonald’s. Other sides like biscuits, muffins, cookies and cinnamon rolls clearly contain gluten. Salads could be made gluten-free by avoiding croutons and high-risk dressings.
However, McDonald’s does not designate any salad offerings as gluten-free. There is still some risk of cross-contact from ingredients processed at facilities that also handle wheat.
What do celiac disease and gluten sensitivity groups advise?
Most major celiac disease and gluten sensitivity groups consider McDonald’s fries as risky for those following gluten-free diets, especially for those with celiac disease. This includes organizations like Beyond Celiac, Celiac Disease Foundation and Gluten Intolerance Group.
The Celiac Disease Foundation cautions against fries and other foods cooked in shared fryers contaminated with flour. They advise celiacs to avoid such menu items.
Groups recognize that many with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may find they can tolerate McDonald’s fries. However, they recommend being very cautious at first until any reaction can be ruled out.
Does McDonald’s offer any guarantee on gluten-free fries?
No, McDonald’s does not provide any guarantee that their fries or other menu items are 100% gluten-free. On their website FAQ, they state: “We do not make any gluten-free claims about our food.”
They go on to explain that while menu items may not contain wheat or gluten-containing ingredients, cross-contact is still possible within the restaurants. They encourage guests with food sensitivities to consider this risk.
Is cross-contact a risk at other quick service restaurants?
Yes, the same risk of cross-contact with gluten exists at most major quick service chains like Burger King, Wendy’s, Arby’s, KFC, etc. Very few have separate gluten-free prep areas or fryers in their kitchens.
Among the few fast food restaurants considered low-risk are Chipotle, Chick-Fil-A and Five Guys. However, even they do not guarantee 100% gluten-free preparation.
Should people with celiac disease eat McDonald’s fries?
Most experts advise those with celiac disease to avoid McDonald’s fries due to the high risk of cross-contact. The Celiac Disease Foundation, Beyond Celiac and University of Chicago Celiac Center caution against consuming them.
While the fries may not contain any wheat or barley, the trace gluten from the oil is enough to cause issues for those highly sensitive. Individuals need to weigh their own level of risk tolerance.
Can people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity eat McDonald’s fries?
Some individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity find they are able to tolerate McDonald’s fries in moderation. It’s possible the small amount of gluten from cross-contact does not trigger observable symptoms.
However, experts recommend exercising extreme caution at first to see if any negative effects occur. It’s important to listen to your own body’s signals and avoid any foods that cause symptoms.
Should celiacs and gluten-sensitive diners request gluten-free fries?
Asking for “gluten-free fries” at McDonald’s is not likely to significantly change the preparation or risk level. Since fries are cooked in shared fryers, the risk of cross-contact remains.
At best, the request may lead employees to more carefully clean and filter the oil before cooking. But it does not eliminate the trace gluten issue completely.
Can you ask for fries from a fresh batch?
Requesting fries from a fresh batch may slightly minimize the risk for those highly sensitive. A fresh batch means the oil will have been filtered and skimmed more recently.
However, it doesn’t negate the cross-contact issue fully. Plus McDonald’s cannot guarantee a fully fresh batch, as they cook fries in batches all day long.
Does time of day affect the gluten cross-contact risk?
Ordering McDonald’s fries earlier in the day may slightly reduce the risk of gluten cross-contact in the fryer oil. At opening, the oil is likely to be freshest with less buildup from cooking.
However, since cooking fries continuously changes and contaminates the oil, time of day differences only have a minor impact on risk.
Should you order a particular fries size to minimize gluten?
Ordering a smaller fries size does not necessarily reduce gluten risk relative to the amount of fries eaten. A kids’ size order still gets cooked in the same shared fryer oil.
Some opt for a kids’ size just to eat a smaller portion in case of any reaction. But it’s not guaranteed to be lower in gluten than other sizes.
Does ordering without salt help?
Requesting fries without salt does not make them any safer in terms of gluten exposure. The salt applied after frying is gluten-free, so removing it does not change the level of cross-contact.
Some may perceive that salt-free fries come from a “cleaner” batch. But in reality, the prep process is identical regardless.
Conclusion
In summary, while McDonald’s fries contain gluten-free ingredients, the risk of cross-contact makes them questionable for celiacs and some with gluten sensitivity. Those with celiac disease should exercise caution and avoid McDonald’s fries due to the high sensitivity.
Some individuals with gluten sensitivity find they tolerate McDonald’s fries without reactions. However, caution is still advised until a tolerance is confirmed. There are no guarantees that McDonald’s fries or other menu items are 100% gluten-free.
For those who remain unsure about consuming McDonald’s fries, sticking to whole, single-ingredient foods can help further minimize trace gluten exposure. Preparing meals at home using certified gluten-free ingredients is the best way to control for potential cross-contact with gluten.