New Mcd Statement -- Fries Are gluten-free

[lovegrov]

This is on the corporate McD site. They've also changed their ingredients statement to reflect this. You can believe it or not, but McD has said all along and GIG and other agreed that any proteins were processed out, much like the distilling process.

McDonald's Media Statement - 02/20/2006

McDonald's Fries are "Gluten and Allergen Free," According to Expert

We understand the concern that individuals in the Celiac community and others with food allergies may have regarding foods that meet their individual needs. That is why we are eager to provide them with the most factual information we can.

Scientific evaluation by one of the world's leading experts on gluten sensitivity and allergenicity, Dr. Steven Taylor of the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program of the University of Nebraska, has confirmed again that our fries are gluten free and allergen free.

Based on this analysis, we believe the lawsuits filed are without legal merit.�

Jack Daly, Senior Vice President, McDonald�s Corporation

richard

[VydorScope]

I have not heard of this Doctor, is he a legit source?

[lovegrov]

"Scientific evaluation by one of the world's leading experts on gluten sensitivity and allergenicity, Dr. Steven Taylor of the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program of the University of Nebraska,..."

I'm sure you can look up his credentials. I can't iamgine McD would consult with and then promote the opinion of someone who's bogus. They'd be caught is a second.

richard

[Rusla]

Here is the problem. All these so called wishy washy experts feeding them misinformation. Now the ones who should be sued are the experts. Do we see people suing them or doctors for giving out the truly stupid and wrong information that they do? No, we don't by the same token no one is suing the people who were feeding their children stuff that makes them sick or is bad for them.

I had a doctor once who told me that there was no such thing in his eyes as hypoglycemia or Celiac disease and that Thyroid disesase can't kill anyone. Needless to say he almost killed me. The problems are arising from so called experts etc., who put their own twists into things, not scientific evidence.

[lovegrov]

From everything I've read and heard, the main problem is that McD didn't adequately anticipate the reaction they'd get because of the ingredient listing change. Even though the new allergen law doesn't actually apply to them, they read it and decided they'd comply. And they decided that complying meant they needed to list the wheat and dairy, even though they knew it had been processed out. Before they changed the ingredients listing, though, they should have retested the fries (I'm pretty sure they had tested gluten-free before) and then had a better explanation of what was going on.

I could be wrong, but this is how it looks to me.

richard

[penguin]

Open Original Shared Link

"Dr. Taylor is a Professor of Food Science & Technology in the Institute of Agriculture & Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. A native of the Willamette Valley of Oregon, he graduated from Cascade Union High School in rural Turner, Oregon, received his B.S. and M.S. from Oregon State University in food science and technology, and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California at Davis. His postdoctoral research training in environmental toxicology and nutrition was also at the University of California-Davis. In 1978, after 3 years at an Army research laboratory at the Presidio-San Francisco, he joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1987 he transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he is now Professor and Head of the Dept. of Food Science & Technology and Director of the Food Processing Center."

Open Original Shared Link

I think he's more than likely legit, and was chosen to make the statement based on his prestige...

[blueeyedmanda]

Contains derivatives of wheat and dairy, but has been verified by the University of Nebraska to be allergen and gluten free.

This was listed on their nutritonal info for their french fries...Is it just me or does that seem like a red flag. Derivative of wheat and Gluten free, something doesn't seem right there? Or am I way off. I just don't think I can trust that statement. If I am wrong, by all means let me know. I just want to know what everyone else thinks.

[Rusla]

I guess the question we should be asking is what kind of gluten-free. It could be corn gluten-free, fish gluten-free etc. It said it has wheat and dairy derivatives and that in itself is enough of a red flag to get me to avoid it, not that I ever went to McD's before.

[jams]

Seeing as they have now stated that the fries are gluten free, I think it is now a personal opinion. It, in my eyes, is not different than those that choose to drink grain liquors. You know that they were once grain, but are assuming that the distillation process has removed the grain substance. I think that you need to give credit to this professor that tested the fries that they are indeed gluten free. Then, just make a personal opinion if you will eat them or not.

[Dietcokehead]

I just went to the McDonalds website to see what it said there. On their allergen/sensitivites list they didnt have anything indicated for the fries. But, the fries are not on their "gluten free" list. What gives???

[Rusla]

I just went to the McDonalds website to see what it said there. On their allergen/sensitivites list they didnt have anything indicated for the fries. But, the fries are not on their "gluten free" list. What gives???

I suggest that is question you would want to ask McD's

[mmaccartney]

OK, so the batch that was tested was allergen free. Are they going to continue to test every single batch of fries to ensure that they will continue to be allergen free???

I cite Amy's kitchen who states that their products are gluten free, but once in a while a supplier can change something and guess what, someone gets sick!!!

HOW, HOW do they do this??? Why won't they tell anyone their methods?? The ONLY method of deriving a safe gluten free substance is distillation, eg: distilled white vinegar. This as been scientifically proven to be a valid way to remove gluten. Nothing else to my knowledge can do so!

My Personal Choice about McDonalds was made in November when I ate 2 large fries before getting on a plane from the US to England. I spent 6 hours on a plane puking my guts out and writhing in pain, and lost 1.5 days of my vacation. I'm done with that, that's my choice.

[ryebaby0]

As always Richard, thanks for finding this so the rest of us don't have to hunt it down. I'm glad to hear that the fries were always gluten-free, as McD's said. I appreciate them being responsive enough to test them again, and give a statement to that effect. If people are still willing to believe the worst, then I guess that's their perogative.

joanna

[VydorScope]

From everything I've read and heard, the main problem is that McD didn't adequately anticipate the reaction they'd get because of the ingredient listing change. Even though the new allergen law doesn't actually apply to them, they read it and decided they'd comply. And they decided that complying meant they needed to list the wheat and dairy, even though they knew it had been processed out. Before they changed the ingredients listing, though, they should have retested the fries (I'm pretty sure they had tested gluten-free before) and then had a better explanation of what was going on.

I could be wrong, but this is how it looks to me.

richard

The more this comes out , the more my postion is changing on this matter, from "HA! I KNEW THEY LIED!" (after all intial reactions are often wrong) to, "THEY WERE LIED TO" and now to "MAN WHO EVER IS IN CHARGE OF THIER RELEASES HANDLED THIS IN ABOUT THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE"

My only problem currently has to do with the lack of info on "how" the gluten is removed, and can we be sure this process will always remove the gluten? Somthing like distilling is a repeatable procedure that will have the same results each time, its also fairly well understood. With out knowing what their gluten removal method is, its hard to trust that its a stable, and repeatable process.

[penguin]

My Personal Choice about McDonalds was made in November when I ate 2 large fries before getting on a plane from the US to England. I spent 6 hours on a plane puking my guts out and writhing in pain, and lost 1.5 days of my vacation. I'm done with that, that's my choice.

No offense, but I think that eating 2 large fries immediately before boarding a transatlantic flight would make *anyone* sick...

Other than that, all I can say is that McDonald's is trying, and they're making more of an effort than many other restaurants (or psuedo-restaurants) in trying to accommodate. No one is perfect, least of all a multinational corporation.

[lovegrov]

"OK, so the batch that was tested was allergen free. Are they going to continue to test every single batch of fries to ensure that they will continue to be allergen free???"

Of course not. Do you demand that every restaurant or every manufacturer test every batch of everything they serve? I don't know of anybody who tests everything.

"My Personal Choice about McDonalds was made in November when I ate 2 large fries before getting on a plane from the US to England. I spent 6 hours on a plane puking my guts out and writhing in pain, and lost 1.5 days of my vacation. I'm done with that, that's my choice."

TWO LARGE FRIES!!! That's enough grease and chemicals to make anybody puke. And the flying on top of that!!!

PS -- I don't eat their fries, either, because I've never liked their stuff.

richard

[mouse]

Thank you Richard for getting this information for us. I personally am going to let this rest now. There are no guarantees in life about anything - least of all food. It is up to the inidividual what chances they are willing to take. Well, I eat at McD's again. Yes. not as often as before (which was not that often), but they are a life saver when on a driving trip. You can always find a McD's and I will have less chance of getting gluten there then some dingy hole in the wall. I usually bring food for me to eat, but sometimes I am really hungry into the trip and that nesessitates a stop for food.

[jams]

Other than that, all I can say is that McDonald's is trying, and they're making more of an effort than many other restaurants (or psuedo-restaurants) in trying to accommodate. No one is perfect, least of all a multinational corporation.

[jen3899]

I want to know why they waited so long to release this info? And why are they trying so hard to cover their butts....look at any other company....you ask them about their food and the majority of them just tell you to eat it at your own risk! I think McD's is taking a big risk in saying it contains these things...but dont worry....they wont hurt you....ha...I think I will just trust them and when this backfires in their faces and they find out they were wrong I will get to be part of a big class action law suit! And hell, if they are right...then Im not missing out on the fries. I dont know...just my feelings....but hey I havent got sick from the fries before....that I know of, I have been sick from eating there, just dont think it was the fries.

I love it when I order a big n tasty w/no bun and they put it on a bun before they read the screen right...then they peel it off the bun and put it in a salad thing instead of just making a new one, and I dont find out until about an hour or two later when my stomach freaks!....Or even better....they leave it on the bun and just tell you to peel it off assuming you are just on the adkins diet and just being difficult. Bastards!

[Guest gliX]

My Personal Choice about McDonalds was made in November when I ate 2 large fries before getting on a plane from the US to England. I spent 6 hours on a plane puking my guts out and writhing in pain, and lost 1.5 days of my vacation. I'm done with that, that's my choice.

Maybe she literally ate two fries that were large, not two large fries.

I love it when I order a big n tasty w/no bun and they put it on a bun before they read the screen right...then they peel it off the bun and put it in a salad thing instead of just making a new one, and I dont find out until about an hour or two later when my stomach freaks!....Or even better....they leave it on the bun and just tell you to peel it off assuming you are just on the adkins diet and just being difficult. Bastards!

I know how you feel. That happens all the time. Luckily, I found a restaurant that was used to my type of order, so they rarely messed up.

Anyways, I'm looking into this. I used to work at McDonalds and I ate the fries many, many times, and sometimes had stomach problems, but was not positive why. The bottom line, I'm looking into filing a lawsuit, if I think it is feasible.

[penguin]

Anyways, I'm looking into this. I used to work at McDonalds and I ate the fries many, many times, and sometimes had stomach problems, but was not positive why. The bottom line, I'm looking into filing a lawsuit, if I think it is feasible.

Good luck, you don't have a legal leg to stand on.

First of all, McDonald's broke no law. They are not required to post a gluten-free menu, they made disclaimers. They decided to comply with the new law voluntarily, as a restaurant they are not subject to it.

They also voluntarily tested their products for gluten before and after this fiasco. Gluten was not present before or after, they just got news from their supplier and handled it poorly.

Secondly, if they made you sick, why were you eating them? Someone else on here compared it to suing the cow farmer because you are allergic to milk. Common sense is your friend.

Oh, and be sure to prove they made you sick. You got those hospital records from when you were rushed to the emergency room from your reaction to fries? How about all the tests doctors ran to make sure it was a reaction to fries?

Thirdly, you'll make the rest of us look like money hungry hypochondriacs, and then there will be no safe places to eat.

Try thinking before you try to find an easy way to make money. I don't mean to be mean, but I'm sick of this bs.

[Guest gliX]

Like I said, I'm still looking into the matter. The money is certainly an incentive, but mainly I am upset that I was lied to, as McDonalds has been my favorite place to eat at for several years.

I believe they did break a law. They are just now saying there may be wheat proteins in their fries, after they have claimed they were safe for the past few years. I'm not positive but I think they had to comply wtih the new law, but maybe you're right.

Gluten was not present before or after? There wouldn't be so much media attention on the subject if that statement was true.

Why did I eat them? I had no clue they were making me sick. Obviously, I would be disinclined to do so had I known.

Hospital records? No, but I had some blood tests a few weeks ago, just for a regular checkup, and I'll see how they turn out.

I really haven't thought much on the matter, but I care much more about the moral value of this than the money. Nevertheless, if I have a case, I'll have to think about it. A few years ago, a group of vegans sued McDonalds and won for $12 million, because meat proteins were found in some of the foods, I forgot which.

[hez]

Thank you Richard for posting this! I will be traveling to Disneyland in March and was excited to eat french fries. I will not eat them at McDonald's because I am worried about cross contamination (I do not have a high trust level with the workers at mine). However, in Disneyland park they have McDonald stands that only sell the french fries. Nothing else. Which eliminates my fear of cross contamination. Thank you!

Hez

[tarnalberry]

This is all well and good, but they need to release at least a bit of information about how they process the gluten out. CODEX wheat starch is "gluten free" (as in, less than 200ppm of gluten), due to processing, but not everyone is satisfied that it's safe to eat. They (the oil supplying company) needs to release this information and stop playing 'mommy' to everyone.

[Electra375]

What bothers me the most about all of this is that the Celiac Disease Associations are supporting the McD corp statement and the FAAN has questions that they want answered before stating that kids with food allergies to wheat and dairy should consider them okay. What gives with that?

I think it is a slap in the face to those with Celiac Disease that the FF are okay for celiac disease, but not for wheat allergy! Which makes absolutely no sense what so ever since it only takes a minute particle of gluten to cause unknown damage to the intestines.

Open Original Shared Link

FAAN RESPONDS TO MCDONALDS’ DISCLOSURE OF ALLERGENS IN FRENCH FRIES

This week, McDonald’s quietly released information on their Web site that their fries “contain wheat and milk ingredients”. After the press picked up the story, McDonald’s spokesperson, Cathy Kapica, director of global nutrition, told the Associated Press that the fries include a “natural flavoring” made, in part, from extracts of wheat and dairy products. She went on to say “Technically, there are no allergens in there and those who have eaten the product should be able to continue to do so without incident. If someone is really sensitive, they need to be aware that this product at one point derived from wheat and dairy. ”

This is the type of confusing message The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) works hard to clarify. “Are the fries safe for those with milk and wheat allergy or not?” asks Anne Munoz-Furlong, FAAN Founder and CEO. To say they contain these allergens, but one should continue to eat them is irresponsible. When doctors make a diagnosis, they advise strict avoidance of an allergen. The McDonald’s advice can potentially put children at risk. It promotes behavior that ignores food labels. Further, some FAAN members are now wondering if their child has outgrown their allergies because they can eat these French fries without having a reaction. No company should put consumers in this type of situation where they are second guessing the accuracy of ingredient information.

In the past, McDonald’s has been seen as a responsible corporation interested in “doing the right thing” for its consumers. Decisions like this leave us doubting their commitment to the safety of food-allergic consumers.

Those in the food allergic community need clear, consistent, and reliable ingredient information. If there is a risk, label for it. Don’t put information on an ingredient statement and tell consumers to ignore it. Until there is more information about the real risk from McDonald’s French fries, FAAN advices consumers with milk and wheat allergy to avoid eating this product. If you have any questions, speak to your doctor before making a change to your diet.

To provide your comments to McDonald’s about their allergen policy, go to: Open Original Shared Link

For reporters to request an interview, contact Lauren Lawson at

(703) 563-3052.