Mcdonald's French Fries Not Safe?

[Canadian Karen]

I don't think I have ever seen a thread reach 200 posts in less then 24 hours!! I think we have broken a record!!

Karen

[VydorScope]

Full disclosure here: I have worked for McDonald's for 30 years (and have no influence on what has gluten and what does not). I can state with 99.99% certainty that the fries have NOT had gluten now or in the past and that webpage was simply incorrect.

The Bacon Ranch Salad was always my favotie and I am trying to find out where the gluten is coming from.

Sorry, but I dont buy that. THREE seprate pages on McDondals own web site, and countless calls from ppl in this thread all disagree with you, not to mention my family's personal experence says otherwise.

McDonalds fries have always contianed gluten and they simply LIED about it, knowingly too. I'll am happy to assume that you personaly did not know about it, or were lied to also, so I do nto want you think this is agsint you personally in any way.

According to Mcdonald's website last night, the bacon contains wheat.....unless that was a misprint too.

I know that all companies, just like all people, make mistakes. The true test will be how they recover from this. (And I do not work for McDs)

Nothing short of a press release stating exaclty HOW this major mistake happened, including some reasonable attempt to prevent it from ever happening again, with a reasonable appology would make me think any differently about this company.

[chawk310]

Sorry, but I dont buy that. THREE seprate pages on McDondals own web site, and countless calls from ppl in this thread all disagree with you, not to mention my family's personal experence says otherwise.

McDonalds fries have always contianed gluten and they simply LIED about it, knowingly too. I'll am happy to assume that you personaly did not know about it, or were lied to also, so I do nto want you think this is agsint you personally in any way.

Perhaps McDonald's were not told or did NOT ask about gluten ingredients. Now that it is a law, the supplier is letting them know that there could be wheat in the products used to make the fries. As I stated above in my post, NOTHING has changed with their ingredients..... McDonald's now has to report if there could be wheat in a product due to the law that took effect last month. My son has NEVER had a problem with their fries, so I am not worried. Perhaps he is not as sensitive as others... lucky him.

[Canadian Karen]

Perhaps McDonald's were not told or did NOT ask about gluten ingredients. Now that it is a law, the supplier is letting them know that there could be wheat in the products used to make the fries. As I stated above in my post, NOTHING has changed with their ingredients..... McDonald's now has to report if there could be wheat in a product due to the law that took effect last month. My son has NEVER had a problem with their fries, so I am not worried. Perhaps he is not as sensitive as others... lucky him.

It doesn't negate the fact though that if McDonald's was going to guarantee their french fries to be safe, the onus was on them to investigate every single step from farm to cashier to make sure their claim was accurate. They failed to do that. A corporation as large as McDonalds should have enough money to do their own testing of the oil, irregardless of what the cooking oil company told them......

JMHO.

Karen

[cgilsing]

WOW! I leave for a day and look what happens!! All I have to say is I KNEW IT!! I have only eaten McD FF a couple of times since going gluten-free and I got sick each and every time! Wow that really pisses me off! Does anyone know if there are any Celiac Organizations that could put some pressure on McD executives better than we could as individuals? I want to know what their motivation to put FF on the gluten-free menu was. Someone at that company knew! They chose to put it there anyway....was it for sales?

[chawk310]

It doesn't negate the fact though that if McDonald's was going to guarantee their french fries to be safe, the onus was on them to investigate every single step from farm to cashier to make sure their claim was accurate. They failed to do that. A corporation as large as McDonalds should have enough money to do their own testing of the oil, irregardless of what the cooking oil company told them......

JMHO.

Karen

You are so right, Karen. I never thought about what you said before I posted. I will now take a stance and get on the phone with them tomorrow and tell them that I will boycott them (I have two boys who love McDonald's - one who is gluten-free) until they change things to make the ingredients to make the fries gluten-free. I know that everyone has different symptoms if they digest gluten, but my son has never had a problem with their fries. I guess that's why I didn't feel so concerned. Perhaps, I should be. Thanks.

[Guest nini]

when I told my daughter about the fries, she broke down in tears, sobbing for quite a while, said it was really unfair yada yada yada... this is why I'm pissed.

I asked her if she remembered getting any weird stomach aches after eating fries there and she said yes... she was VERY upset to think that she had been eating anything with gluten. She is only five but so wise. She asked if the milkshakes and the hamburgers were still safe, and I told her probably, but at this point I don't trust them, do you? "no" she said.

[hlm34]

You are so right, Karen. I never thought about what you said before I posted. I will now take a stance and get on the phone with them tomorrow and tell them that I will boycott them (I have two boys who love McDonald's - one who is gluten-free) until they change things to make the ingredients to make the fries gluten-free. I know that everyone has different symptoms if they digest gluten, but my son has never had a problem with their fries. I guess that's why I didn't feel so concerned. Perhaps, I should be. Thanks.

I agree. I have never had noticeable symptoms with their fries. never had any sort of stomach problems. I am not super sensitive - but maybe that is why i am concerned the most. just because i dont notice any problems doesnt mean its not destroying my intestines. Gluten was apparently destroying my intestines for years and blocking calcium absorption- but i only started having noticeable symptoms about 3 months ago. so are these fries damaging me and i dont even know it?? maybe. I've also noticed that I've been having lots of tingling in my hands and feet lately. People say that is a symptom of celiac/being glutened. is it the fries? it just worries me that now i have no idea.

[Canadian Karen]

A vanilla milkshake is one of my "pampering luxuries" that I allow myself. Now I'm not sure I can trust those "suits" in Corporate to tell us the truth ......

Karen

[Canadian Karen]

This makes me wonder have they properly investigated the "caramel colouring" in their vanilla milkshakes?

Karen

[teebs in WV]

I think our first step is to report this issue to the FDA. They are the ones regulating the new food labeling laws. Here is the link for the #s to call for each region. Apparently you can't log a complaint online (or at least I couldnt' find that this can be done).

Open Original Shared Link

I wonder if this isn't just a CYA - one of our fears of this new law? What is the US government's standards for declaring something as 'gluten-free'? Is some quantity acceptable?

Any other ideas?

[VydorScope]

I think our first step is to report this issue to the FDA. They are the ones regulating the new food labeling laws. Here is the link for the #s to call for each region. Apparently you can't log a complaint online (or at least I couldnt' find that this can be done).

Open Original Shared Link

I wonder if this isn't just a CYA - one of our fears of this new law? What is the US government's standards for declaring something as 'gluten-free'? Is some quantity acceptable?

Any other ideas?

US gov does NOT have a defintiion of gluten-free yet, thats comming 2008 I think? I forget....

[Lisa]

I think that french fries will be the tip of the iceberg. With the new lableing laws, I believe that we will find that we have been misguided by alot of manufacturers/products. I truely hope not, but, my gut feels that it's comming.

[VydorScope]

I think that french fries will be the tip of the iceberg. With the new lableing laws, I believe that we will find that we have been misguided by alot of manufacturers/products. I truely hope not, but, my gut feels that it's comming.

no pun intended?

[teebs in WV]

Vincent - you beat me to it!

[Lisa]

You got it! Excuse the typo's. (It's the thought that counts, right?)

[Mango04]

[celiac3270]

Oh Jeez...

[jaten]

I think that french fries will be the tip of the iceberg. With the new lableing laws, I believe that we will find that we have been misguided by alot of manufacturers/products. I truely hope not, but, my gut feels that it's coming.

This is my fear and also my firm belief.

Case in point: McCormick's (in the delphi list) states that they will clearly list all gluten-containing ingredients. I have seen recipes for gluten-free chili, etc. using McCormick's Chili seasoning packet. Reading the ingredients on these pkgs, no gluten grains have been listed, so according to McCormick's policy they could be assumed to be safe. Guess what? The new packages (just found a few at our Wal-Mart but not yet in our Kroger) of McCormick's Chili seasonings list wheat in the ingredients list.

I'm a newly-diagnosed Celiac; my disease was discovered by drs. only after I began suffering from severe malabsorption. The pain and the sickness are so fresh in my mind, that I am a natural skeptic of the "Oh, we'll tell you if there's any gluten in our product." So, I haven't trusted McCormick's and most other companies that claim the same.

Unfortunately, I think the McD fiasco is proof that we have to trust ourselves first and foremost. I can tell others what gluten does to me. My husband witnesses (and truly understands as much as I could possibly hope) what gluten does to me. But no one outside of our Celiac selves REALLY knows the full ramifications of what gluten does to us. I don't know exactly what I'm trying to voice. Just we need to trust our bodies. If something doesn't feel right, it is NOT right.

[bluelotus]

Full disclosure here: I have worked for McDonald's for 30 years (and have no influence on what has gluten and what does not). I can state with 99.99% certainty that the fries have NOT had gluten now or in the past and that webpage was simply incorrect.

In regards to the cancer causing ingredients, there is some additive (acrylamide, I think) that is quite common in many foods. My understanding is that the jusry is still very out on the risk. I really believe our management is very socailly repsonsible and if concered would act (I was floored by some of the things we did for our people in the wake of Hurricana Katrina that were never "published," but done just because it was right).

The Bacon Ranch Salad was always my favotie and I am trying to find out where the gluten is coming from.

McD's, like Walmart, is a contraversial company. Though they both do some good for communities, I also know a lot of bad on both (particularly Walmart, though it has nothing to do with their food) - Sorry to compare walmart to McD's for any of you Walmart fans. I am also sorry that people are dogging a company that you worked for. However, you are incorrect. The gluten was not a mistake. I spoke with a rep myself and the ingrediants have not changed (I think I have said this 2 or 3 times now in the thread) and yes, there is gluten in them.

Also, acrylamides aren't additives, they develop on food during intense heating as a part of the cooking process.

[sspitzer5]

Yes, I tossed and turned all night -- didn't sleep AT ALL. I am so furious. I agree with (can't remember who it was) about being typical Americans -- she's right -- sue their asses -- get a class action suit going, and they'll have to answer to what did you say, 7,000 people? I also posted a thread about Kroger Golden Korn Nuggets discreetly adding CONTAINS: WHEAT now at the bottom of their box -- and am wondering how long they contained wheat before getting nailed and having to list it. I think these companies need to be made examples and need to be held responsible for making a LOT of people very sick. I'm usually not either litigious nor this angry, but this crap has to stop. We need to know that our food is safe -- and that the companies can't change ingredients on a whim without informing us. Anyway, I'm finished. Sorry for venting so much . . . I'll be less aggressive some other time . . . Lynne

I'm in. Where do I sign up!

I don't eat at McDonald's.

I am extremely thankful to have In-and-Out Burgers near me in California. They are an amazingly great fast food restaurant. They pay their employees well and don't use a bunch of additives and crap in their food. The food is cheap too.

I urge everyone who can to support In-and-Out and let McDonald's get what they deserve from the market. It's long overdue.

If you've ever read the book, "Fast Food Nation", you would never want to eat at McDonald's again.

Susan

[VydorScope]

I'm in. Where do I sign up!

I don't eat at McDonald's.

I am extremely thankful to have In-and-Out Burgers near me in California. They are an amazingly great fast food restaurant. They pay their employees well and don't use a bunch of additives and crap in their food. The food is cheap too.

I urge everyone who can to support In-and-Out and let McDonald's get what they deserve from the market. It's long overdue.

If you've ever read the book, "Fast Food Nation", you would never want to eat at McDonald's again.

Susan

When I lived in NV I used to eat at IN-n-Out all the time. But sadly they are a realtivily small chain and limited to a small section of the country.

[key]

I knew their fries were contaminated! I asked about this here awhile ago when my son was sick after eating their fries. HE rolled around on the floor for a whole evening crying and miserable in pain. Haven't ever given them to him again, because I just knew there was something wrong with them. HE hadn't eaten anything else. Sad to say, that I now don't trust alot of things. There has been something else making us sick recently and I don't know for sure what it is ,but I am wondering about S&W chilli beans? Does anybody eat these? This is the part that is SO Frustrating about this disease. You can try so hard, but fail still. UGH!

Ok, I am done, but this is very nice to know.

Monica

[ryebaby0]

I am McUpset, McFurious, McSad and McCrying

Like nini, this was my child's last and most favorite treat. Thru the hospital ("can I still have Mcdonald's fries") thru the scopes ("at least there are always fries") thru the vacations burdened with a bazillion coolers of food, at least we could still have FRIES together!

I sent them a THANK YOU LETTER once!!!!!!! ARG! What we need now is some MEDIA attention on this, besides an avalanche of emails.

This really, really sucks.

joanna

[celiac3270]

I propose another letter-writing campaign. I already outline all of my ideas, and I will create two and post them when I'm done. One that is scathing, nasty, etc.--get out my anger. The other will try to play on sympathy and be respectful, but dissatisfied (the rational letter that's not as fun to write).

RALLY THE TROOPS--WHIP OUT THE PENS AND PAPER OR PULL UP YOUR E-MAIL ACCOUNT. This is intolerable: did they deceive us all along while I defended that they weren't cc(ing) us, or did they make a stupid ingredient change for no reason?