French Fries

[fetchfelix]

Im barely 2 weeks into my diagnosis and I;ve read a couple of times that you should avoid french fries, or at least restaurant french fries. Why is this & is there any fast food place that has gluten free fries? Im not so bothered for me but for my 7yr old with Down Syndrome who barely eats & one of the few things he loves in McDs FF, & I know they are now off limits........is this true of every FF place?

 

Felix

[kareng]

The problem with fries is the shared fryer.  Haven't you ever gotten some fries with the pieces of onion ring in them?  Or the fried mozzarella with a stray french fry?  Red Robin has a fries only fryer for people with Celiac.

 

McDonalds fries are considered gluten-free.  You just need to watch that you have a careful McD's that is following company policy all the time.

[fetchfelix]

Ok thats what I thought although not familiar with Red Robin and I thought I read that McDs were not gluten free, so thats good to hear. We ate out last night at Pizzeria Uno because I read  it was one of the better places, although their gluten free selection was very limited.........and you couldn't have fries so its difficult to explain to an autistic child why he can't have fries but his siblings can. Learning curve. I read   someone said they took their own buns to Five Guys and had burgers there, but wouldnt transferring the meat from their bun still have cross contamination? We will clearly be eating our a lot less...........

 

Felix

[kareng]

Five guys is good. You tell them you have celiac/ allergy and they make you a burger without a bun. They usually put it on lettuce or just wrap it up. I order mine separate from the rest of the family so mine comes in a bag separate from thier buns. Taking a burger off a bun is not safe.

[kareng]

Also, you may find some local places that make soooooo many fries, they fry nothing else in the fryer. Also, there are places that, if you don't mind eating at 10:30 in the morning, will make you the first burger and fries in the fresh oil. A kid might be ready for lunch at 10:30 so that might be a nice special thing for him.

Does he like frozen yogurt? The soft serve kinds are usually gluten-free. I know TCBY and Peachwave have almost all flavors gluten-free and label them at some stores. You would need to bring your own sprinkles. Also, I have good luck with soft serve at Dairy Queen & Frosties at Wendy's. Some Wendy's might be Ok on the fries - you would want to talk to the manager.

If you have In and Out Burgers - thier fries are gluten-free and many people get the burgers without a bun and the ice cream shakes. chick Fila waffles fries are gluten-free last I looked - check thier website and then explain gluten-free when you order.

[SMRI]

Five Guys is mostly good.  I ate at 5 guys the other week...all was well because I was only getting french fries, until I saw the fry gal walk over to the hamburger assembly line, handle hamburger buns, moved several hamburgers from one piece of foil to another, then walk back over to the fry station and start to load up bags of fries.  I caught her in time and asked her to wash her hands and change gloves......

 

Ore Ida fries you make at home are gluten-free.

[fetchfelix]

Thanks y'all, most appreciate it. 

[cyclinglady]

Five Guys is mostly good. I ate at 5 guys the other week...all was well because I was only getting french fries, until I saw the fry gal walk over to the hamburger assembly line, handle hamburger buns, moved several hamburgers from one piece of foil to another, then walk back over to the fry station and start to load up bags of fries. I caught her in time and asked her to wash her hands and change gloves......

Ore Ida fries you make at home are gluten-free.

Ha! You have to watch employees like a hawk! I once ordered a burger from In-N-Out and they even have gluten allergy note/key that appears on their paper order. The fry cook was lazy and cooked my burger in the same grille and did not change out gloves. I called them on it. The manager was very apologetic and they remade my burger. I now just make a huge plea when I order and I watch the order-taker walk over to the fry cook to reemphasize the need for my order to be gluten free. I still stand and watch them prepare my food. That was my only negative experience at In-N-Out. It is one of the few places that I really trust....but all comes down to one person who prepares your food and follows procedures.

[BoJonJovi]

Take some potatoes, slice them up thin, Oil them up and lay them out on a cookie sheet. Broil them for just a few minutes on each side. Kaboom french fries. If you are eating out and not getting sick, you may not be celiac. Eating out is a crap shoot at best. Save you french fry money and go to Las Vegas. At least you wont get sick. 

[LauraTX]

Take some potatoes, slice them up thin, Oil them up and lay them out on a cookie sheet. Broil them for just a few minutes on each side. Kaboom french fries. If you are eating out and not getting sick, you may not be celiac. Eating out is a crap shoot at best. Save you french fry money and go to Las Vegas. At least you wont get sick. 

 

Without delving into the medical history of the OP, people can have Celiac disease with no symptoms with exposure to gluten.  The intestinal damage is still happening. I am one of them, and it is commonly referred to as a "Silent Celiac"... Open Original Shared Link.   That is why proper testing is so important to have when there are inconclusive symptoms.

[Serielda]

I wish I could do  five guys sometimes, but I had a friend who worked at one in my town and warned me that at the one where I live and he had worked at did not have such great housekeeping on seperating food stuffs. Which makes me cry as I would love some things that I can eat from there. As for  Red Robin they are building one across the st from me, and I hope they endorse that stict policy. Its quite peculiar as I know other locations do  infact enforce the seperate fryer deal but down here in my town its never really observed wich irks me to no end. It's really sad, I mean gluten free standards is hit or miss with understanding but where I am its 90% miss or higher.  For instance I tried a buffalo wild wings since I was taken off my vegan diet with their gluten free  Naked (no breading or such)tenders, granted the food did not make me sick , but i felt like a jerk asking the server who did not understand what I was saying to please get their mgr so I could explain to him my condition. After Pf changs here I do not take chances with servers who say oh, yea I get it but non verbal signs state they don't. I guess I feel bad because I was a server for a long while, but still the minute I heard allergy or intolerance I was on high alert. One time a grill cook upset me so badly I took myself off the floor and cooked the tables food myself because the  grill cook would not clean the grill where it had just seconds before had the very item the couple's girlfriend was allergic to and this was before I found out I had celiac's. Outside of the gluten cc issue, my last trip to the hospital made it clear no more fries ever.(major frowny face)

[notme]

 For instance I tried a buffalo wild wings since I was taken off my vegan diet with their gluten free  Naked (no breading or such)tenders, granted the food did not make me sick , but i felt like a jerk asking the server who did not understand what I was saying to please get their mgr so I could explain to him my condition. 

my daughter was a server at 'b dubs' <buffalo wild wings) and when i went up to visit her, i asked about eating gluten-free there.  she was like:  "mooommmm!  NOOOOOO!"  lolz 

 

she worked at ruby tuesday, too, and i have eaten there safely <but, man, i dogged them!!)   no dedicated fryer there, either  

[marisaloca]

Ugh I was out shopping yesterday and starving and stopped for "safe fry's" at red robin and bam swollen lip and hives. They are good about my food issues, but it is too much of a risk for me.... I can't do it anymoe

[BethM55]

A restaurant called "The Counter"  is very gluten free and other dietary needs friendly.  it's not exactly fast food, but it IS burgers and fries.  I've eaten at two of their stores, one in Meridian, Idaho, and one in San Mateo, California.  Both were excellent in terms of food and service.  They offer both regular and sweet potato fries.  There are locations for this store all over the world, so maybe there is one close to you.  

[gilligan]

Five Guys is mostly good.  I ate at 5 guys the other week...all was well because I was only getting french fries, until I saw the fry gal walk over to the hamburger assembly line, handle hamburger buns, moved several hamburgers from one piece of foil to another, then walk back over to the fry station and start to load up bags of fries.  I caught her in time and asked her to wash her hands and change gloves......

 

Ore Ida fries you make at home are gluten-free.

This is why I thought I was probably glutened at Five Guys - no changing of the gloves after handling buns.

[Serielda]

That is why when I reallizes the server when she copped an attitude I requested a mgr. who saw the whole thing thru.. He even showed me the naked tender was not even on the same side of the walk in as the fried and gluten containing items. . I was shocked at first at how much he cared, until he explained he had a child who ca not have gluten non celiacs but autism. It is I agree how peculiar store to store varies. I find it sad until something hits the fan only then people care because it's personal. I'm just happy I was able to enjoy a Saturday lunch and watch football with a sense of normalcy. I'm not pushing my luck . For this visit was one and done, sadly , because next time I may get not such a good experience. Like Tallahassee in zombie land said enjoy the little things.

my daughter was a server at 'b dubs' <buffalo wild wings) and when i went up to visit her, i asked about eating gluten-free there.  she was like:  "mooommmm!  NOOOOOO!"  lolz 

 

she worked at ruby tuesday, too, and i have eaten there safely <but, man, i dogged them!!)   no dedicated fryer there, either  

This is why I thought I was probably glutened at Five Guys - no changing of the gloves after handling buns.

[Serielda]

This is why I thought I was probably glutened at Five Guys - no changing of the gloves after handling buns.

From what my acquaintance said, you really do not wanna know at their store, he wouldn't eat that stuff himself and he has a titanium gut. So I'm walking away from that location whistling with no questions.

[JodyM75]

Without delving into the medical history of the OP, people can have Celiac disease with no symptoms with exposure to gluten.  The intestinal damage is still happening. I am one of them, and it is commonly referred to as a "Silent Celiac"... Open Original Shared Link.   That is why proper testing is so important to have when there are inconclusive symptoms.

 

Me, too!  I feel very lucky, but it is also incredibly frustrating because I have no idea if I'm being strict enough or not.  I guess I won't know for sure until I get another endoscopy.  My bloodwork was normal.