McDonald’s French fries are considered by many to be the best fast food fries in the world. But what if you are gluten free? Are you not allowed to enjoy them sometimes?
In its simplest form, a traditional French fry made from sliced potatoes is gluten-free. And in many restaurants, fries are considered gluten-free. But once you add other ingredients, as McDonald’s does, and factor in potential contamination from gluten-containing fryers and foods, it’s not always safe.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a naturally occurring protein found in many grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Because gluten is in many grains, it is often found in foods such as bread, pasta, baked goods, and beer made from grains. It can also be used as a thickening and stabilizing agent, so it can be hidden in products you don’t always think have gluten.
What ingredients are in McDonald’s fries?
So what exactly are the ingredients in McDonald’s fries? In the US, at least, the list of ingredients is quite long. Here it is, straight from the McDonald’s website: “Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]*), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (color preservation), salt. *Natural Beef Flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as initial ingredients.”
One of these items is “natural beef flavor”, which consists of “wheat and milk derivatives”. So yes, McDonald’s fries do contain wheat and, unfortunately, are not gluten-free.
Some international McDonald’s locations serve gluten-free fries
Many McDonald’s locations outside the US serve gluten-free fries. That’s why if you do a simple internet search for gluten in McDonald’s fries, it might bring up information about another country. But in the US, McDonald’s does not certify any menu items as gluten-free.
McDonald’s has restaurants around the world with different menus and recipes, so you’ll want to double check the ingredient list. And make sure you’re looking at the correct McDonald’s site for your location.
A 2021 FAQ on McDonald’s US website encourages customers to check the ingredient list for individual menu items. It also reminds them of possible cross-contamination from other gluten-containing foods.
If all else fails, you can always make fries at home. This way, you can manage all the ingredients. We’ve got recipes for the best homemade fries, light air fries, thick steak fries, and oven-baked fries. We also have picks for the best frozen fries if cooking isn’t really your thing. Just be sure to check the recipes and ingredient lists!
And if you’re looking for other gluten-free options, check out these gluten-free breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes.
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