Are McDonald's Salads Gluten-Free?

Celiac.com 10/30/2020 - We get more than a few questions about McDonald's, and one question we get a lot is about salads. That is, are McDonald's salads gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease?

Lettuce and vegetables are gluten-free, and most basic salad ingredients are gluten-free. However, as with so many food that start out gluten-free, the answer lies in the extras, including the dressings. Unless you add wheat or gluten ingredients like croutons, most salads are gluten-free. However, McDonald's salads can include numerous extra ingredients, so are they gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease?

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McDonald's does not label its salads as "gluten-free." However, a glance at the company website shows that the salads contain no wheat or gluten ingredients. According to the company website, McDonald's currently offers two salads, the Premium Southwest Salad, and the Premium Bacon Ranch Salad. For each salad, the company website breaks down ingredients and labels any allergens, including wheat. The ingredients for these salads show no gluten ingredients. 

Here's a breakdown of the descriptions and ingredients in each of the McDonald's salads:

McDonald'sPremium Southwest Salad

Made fresh daily with crisp chopped romaine, baby spinach and baby kale with veggies like fire-roasted corn, savory black beans, oven roasted tomatoes and poblano peppers. Sprinkled with cheddar and jack cheeses, chili-lime tortilla strips, cilantro and a fresh-sliced lime wedge. Made just for you and served with Newman's Own Southwest dressing.

Salad Blend
Ingredients: Romaine Lettuce, Baby Spinach, Carrots, Baby Kale, Lollo Rossa Lettuce, Red Leaf Lettuce, Red Oak Lettuce, Red Tango Lettuce, Red Romaine Lettuce, Red Butter Lettuce. Ingredients May Vary.

Southwest Vegetable Blend
Ingredients: Roasted Corn, Black Beans, Roasted Tomato, Poblano Pepper, Lime Juice (Water, Lime Juice Concentrate, Lime Oil), Cilantro.

Shredded Cheddar/Jack Cheese
Ingredients: Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto ), Monterey Jack Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Potato Starch, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Powdered Cellulose (Prevent Caking), Calcium Sulfate, Natamycin (Natural Mold Inhibitor), Enzyme.

Contains: Milk
Lime
Ingredients: Lime.

Chili Lime Tortilla Strips
Ingredients: Corn, Vegetable Oil (Corn, Soybean and Sunflower Oil), Salt, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Dried Tomato, Dextrose, Spices, Onion Powder, Green Bell Pepper Powder, Citric Acid, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Malic Acid, Paprika Extract (Color), Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Natural Flavor, Lemon Extract, Spice Extractive.

Premium Bacon Ranch Salad

Made fresh daily with savory ingredients including approximately two and a half cups of veggies including crisp chopped romaine, baby spinach and baby kale plus tasty grape tomatoes. Topped with jack and cheddar cheeses, thick cut Applewood smoked bacon. Made just for you and served with Newman's Own Ranch dressing.

Salad Blend
Ingredients: Romaine Lettuce, Baby Spinach, Carrots, Baby Kale, Lollo Rossa Lettuce, Red Leaf Lettuce, Red Oak Lettuce, Red Tango Lettuce, Red Romaine Lettuce, Red Butter Lettuce. Ingredients May Vary.

Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon
Ingredients: Pork Bellies Cured with Water, Salt, Sugar, Natural Smoke Flavor, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.

Roma Tomato
Ingredients: Tomato.

Shredded Cheddar/Jack Cheese
Ingredients: Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto ), Monterey Jack Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Potato Starch, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Powdered Cellulose (Prevent Caking), Calcium Sulfate, Natamycin (Natural Mold Inhibitor), Enzyme.
Contains: Milk

Remember, even though these salads contain no gluten ingredients, and clearly label known allergens, they should be regarded at best as gluten-safe, but not gluten-free for people with celiac disease. That's partly because the possibility of cross contamination is likely higher for things like salads than for things like frappes and coffee drinks. Choose with care! 

LINKS:

• Premium Southwest Salad
• Premium Bacon Ranch Salad