Mcdonalds Must Read

[Merika]

Um, hopping on this thread a little late, but if anyone's still reading, lol, I used to work at a McD and there was a dedicated fryer just for fries. BUT if it got really busy and something needed to be fried, it was stuck in any open fry container - so fries went into the chicken nugget bin, pies went into the french fry bin....you get the idea. Mind you, the place i worked at got rated B by the health dept. Maybe at an A-rated one, you'd find better rule compliance, I think it must vary by store.

Merika

(10 years not a teenager, but lurking to see what may await her son if he tests positive for celiac disease)

[pixiegirl]

Yes I think the bottom line in any restaurant is that you have to ask. The McDonalds I go to they say they never use the fry fryer for anything other then fries. The way its set up, its not even close to the other food, its way in the front of the store buy the cash registers not by the rest of the food so that makes it much harder for a mistake to happen. I've eaten their fries many times (yesterday as a matter of fact) and never had a reaction.

susan

[Gables]

I was just thinking, dont they fry the fries in the same oil as the nuggets and chicken sandwitches? lots of cross contamination there.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

No, McDonalds do not fry their nuggets of chicken there (they come fried). The only things they use fryers for are fries-which are glutenfree.

I always like to ask at McDonalds if they have dedicated friers, just to be sure, and have never found one that used them for anything else.

I don't eat anything but their frys though.

[lovegrov]

"I was just thinking, dont they fry the fries in the same oil as the nuggets and chicken sandwitches? lots of cross contamination there."

I realize that we sometimes have to speculate about things because a manufacturer won't tell us, but in the case of McD it's VERY clear and VERY easy to find out that they don't do the fries in the same oil as things with gluten. All you have to do is go to their web site, call them or ask the workers at any restaurant.

richard

[KaitiUSA]

I know here where I live McDonalds fries their french fries by themselves. The hash browns are also done with something separate from other foods

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

At McDonalds, they have separate fryers for the nuggets and McChickens, etc.

[Holly04]

Thats good to know- I used to go to McDolands like all the time.

-Holly

Gluten-free since May 4, 2004 =)

[mcnabbmcnow]

So is it true the Chicken mcnuggets with honey sauce are gluten free at McDonald's? It appears that is what their site says!

[angel-jd1]

It says that the honey FOR the chicken nuggets is gluten free. McD's chicken nuggets themselves are NOT.

You can find the gluten free list here:

Open Original Shared Link

-Jessica

[KaitiUSA]

Yeah even though the nuggets may have a separate fryer they are breaded so are not gluten-free.

[Vyse]

If something is breaded or coated (i.e. chicken nuggets, fried chicken, etc...) should send up a big red flag unless it is designated as gluten-free. I've never had a problem with McDonald's fries, then again i haven't had more than a mild stomach ache from any other fries. As far as burgers go, well lets just say that the Atkins diet made fast food providers acknowledge bun-free burgers. I went gluten-free about 3 years ago, so i vaguely remember the vacant stares that i got when i asked for a big mac with no bun(mildly humorous to see their faces, but annoying to explain). But now, you ask for something without a bun and they press a few buttons on the cash register and your ready to go.

I don't know what relevance that had to the forum, but it had mcdonalds in it

[celiac3270]

Yuck...I rented the DVD "Supersize Me" yesterday and that made me never want to eat at McD's again unless it's the only reasonable option I have. That was so gross.....

[KaitiUSA]

I've never seen it...I guess its a good thing that I didn't see it...I think I would be grossed out 2.

[Rikki Tikki]

I eat at McDonald's and haven't gotten sick. I always have their hamburger without a bun, fries and a coke.

[Guest ajlauer]

As for the McD's issue... it totally depends on the store management. If they are respectable, honest people - they won't allow the employees to cook things in the "wrong" fryer. If they don't care, or don't know any better - the employees can cross-cook. What's worse... is if that's the attitude in the store, they may not even tell you they do it. My first job was at McDonalds'. And like everyone else is saying, when it gets busy - they drop the food in whatever fryer is available. If the fries are certified gluten-free - and management knows this, then they would know that cross-frying is wrong - and probably would not admit to it being done. Use your own best judgement - listen to your instincts - and be careful!

Jack in the box uses one of those mixer things for their milkshakes. Aside from gluten contamination..... they probably don't rinse the machine throughout the day. So by 10pm, you could have nasty milk particles that were there from a shake at 10Am. blech! Sorry, I just don't like JITB shakes. They are *far* from real ice cream, as advertised.

[Guest gliX]

My brother works at a McDonalds, and he says that the fries are dedicated, however are cooked together with hash browns. I'm pretty sure hash browns are gluten-free though.

However, he said that when the employees make burgers, they always use the same gloves, meaning that their gloves could be covered in bread crumbs when making the burgers.

[KaitiUSA]

gliX-yes both the fries and hash browns are gluten free

[Guest gliX]

i was with my brother he stopped at mcdonalds to get his paycheck and i watched them make me a burger without the bun, their gloves looked dirty.

the burger (without bun) probably has small traces of wheat on them, but maybe not enough to cause a reaction or anything, but i'm going to stay away from them.

the fries are supposed to be gluten-free, but are probably not around 30% of the time because of employees breaking the rules.

it has 2000 calories in 1 meal anyways, that's pretty bad.

[Guest gliX]

i know some mcdonalds are different from others, but i just got a job at one (once a week). feel free to ask any questions...and don't make fun of me for working there haha

[celiac3270]

Oooh...yea. I don't like that about the fries, though (that rules are broken much of the time on those). I'm not making fun--it's good to have an insider's view

[Guest gliX]

the one where i work at the fries and oil are completely kept separate (it's a different machine and station) and im pretty sure most mcdonalds will keep the oil and foods separate.

[Guest LenaS]

After having to watch "Supersize Me" as part of my english class assesment, I have tried to stay clear of McDonald's.

However, if I'm out with my friends I will get the fries and I haven't had any problems. I haven't risked the burger though. Don't think I will be anytime soon either (there is a McD's restaurant next door to my school, and from the things you hear and see... I don't even want to go there!)

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

I was under the impression that MCD's quarter pounders were gluten-free (no bun of course), but the regular burgers were not gluten-free.

Thoughts?

Bronco

p.s. I saw Supersize me too. It was good....but they guy ate there EVERY meal for a month. I have MCD's once or twice a month...its all relative

[Guest gliX]

all burgers (w/o bun) are definitely gluten-free at the one where i work