Mcdonalds Must Read

[Lisa]

  Julie anne said:

im not sure if the fries are gluten-free because they dont have a special place for them, and they usually bake them in with the oils left over from the breaded chicken and other products.

If you are talking about McDonald's, they have dedicated fryers specifically for the French Fries.

Ten pages of this thread is a lot to travel through, but it contains very useful and informative information.

[larry mac]

  princessjessie said:

................

Another thing to point out from McDonalds... I thought I was safe eating the Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad... but, I was wrong:

Chicken Selects

[gintare519]

  On 10/3/2004 at 2:00 PM, gliX said:

McDonalds fries = gluten free

McDonalds burgers = gluten free (without bun)

Soda = gluten free

Value Meal = Fries + Burger + Soda

Therefore, McDonalds is gluten free

But when you think about it, the Mcdonald's itself is just waiting to destroy your intestines more than the gluten haha.

[Lisa]

  On 3/18/2010 at 7:36 AM, gintare519 said:

But when you think about it, the Mcdonald's itself is just waiting to destroy your intestines more than the gluten haha.

I must respond here! McDonald's is not guilty of anything, but catering to 90% of public demand.

What YOU choose to put into YOUR mouth is YOUR responsibility only! No need to blame companies like McD's.

[G-freegal12]

  On 11/11/2004 at 5:16 AM, lovegrov said:

"I don't belive that to be true, Glix. . .are you sure?"

Every ice cream I've ever checked has been gluten-free UNLESS it has obvious stuff like cookies, cookie dough, cake, pie, etc. I've also seen one or two fudge type things that have been dicey. Otherwise, ice cream appears to be gluten-free. If anybody can show otherwise, please let us know.

For me, this is a product I've stopped checking so rigoriously.

richard

I went to a Cold Stone and was informed that most of their ice cream was gluteny....

[Lisa]

  On 3/28/2010 at 4:12 AM, G-freegal12 said:

I went to a Cold Stone and was informed that most of their ice cream was gluteny....

Open Original Shared Link

Sometime, your information is only as good as your customer service representative!

[Molly-F]

  On 10/3/2004 at 2:02 PM, celiac3270 said:

Well......some of McDonalds is gluten-free.......but apple pies aren't gluten-free, chicken nuggets aren't gluten-free, etc.

CHICKEN NUGGETS?

dshfuhauidfaioghfuighi

My life sucks.

[Lisa]

  On 4/5/2010 at 9:43 PM, Molly_F said:

My life sucks.

Yeah, for a few minutes...... then you get over it.

[farmwife67]

  On 10/11/2004 at 8:40 PM, gillian502 said:

I went up to the counter at McD's recently just to see what reaction the workers would give me when I questioned them about gluten. The lady barely understood my question, and looked at me like I was high when I asked if the fries were made seperately, on a dedicated fryer. Then she shook her head and said, "Uhh...noo." There is no way, in my opinion, that a fast food place is going to be gluten-free, with all the nasty cross contamination that occurs there. I know we all have to take a risk sometimes, but eating at a place like this is an awful big one.

My daughter worked at our local McD's and she said the fryer for fries was only used for fries. They have a seperate one for everything else.

[bridgetm]

  On 4/9/2010 at 1:23 AM, farmwife67 said:

My daughter worked at our local McD's and she said the fryer for fries was only used for fries. They have a seperate one for everything else.

I noticed though that one of the ingredients in the fries is natural beef flavor which they say may contain wheat.

[psawyer]

This post by me in this thread about six months ago is worth re-posting, it seems.

  On 10/29/2009 at 9:49 PM, psawyer said:

I would suggest that you investigate *all* the information available, and then make a personal decision that is right for you. There is much in this thread alone.

Also see:

Open Original Shared Link

Regarding the fries, while it is true that wheat is used as a starting ingredient in the United States (but NOT in any other country that I am aware of), the final product has been independently tested and found to contain no detectable gluten.

You decide for yourself what is right for you.

[Heidi S.]

McDonald's no longer maintains a gluten free list of products. Their fries contain wheat (beef flavoring) but not wheat gluten protein. Cross contamination is always a concern with multiple shifts if the managers are not conscience of allergies. I get sick every time even with dedicated fryers due to an additional wheat allergy not just celiac. Red Robin and Chick-fil-a are very careful and do maintain a gluten free list. Just be careful! Burger King and Hardees now have a gluten-sensitivities list on there websites!

[Stylo]

And you have to worry about a new employee using the wrong fryer. Trust me, I've worked at DQ and Starbucks and I've seen so many new employees cross contaminate or break rules about food safe standards.

I've literally stood there, told them what to do, then watched them do the opposite. It depends on whether you feel comfortable with that store.

[Guest doradomiel]

I don't wanna hear nothing about Mcdonalds!! Those Mcdonalds are evil and I have been glutened by those so called gluten-free french fries.

[Guest doradomiel]

:} If your fries are fried in the same fryer as the nuggets, yes you can be glutened.

[Lisa]

  On 4/18/2010 at 1:16 AM, doradomiel said:

:} If your fries are fried in the same fryer as the nuggets, yes you can be glutened.

And, have you read the 164 posts prior to your statement on this thread? If not, you can do a search for the topic of McDonald's here. There is some great information here, with documentary facts.

[Guest doradomiel]

  On 4/18/2010 at 1:28 AM, Lisa said:

And, have you read the 164 posts prior to your statement on this thread? If not, you can do a search for the topic of McDonald's here. There is some great information here, with documentary facts.

No. I just related MY experience with restaurant. We are allowed to relate our experiences and share our opinions. And now I'm finished with this... I don't eat there anymore...

[sandiz]

  On 10/4/2004 at 12:23 AM, astyanax said:

don't forget to make sure the french fries are fried separately from the chicken nuggets

Exactly, just because they don't use flour for a coating on there fries doesn't mean that they don't fry them with the fish and chicken that do have flour. Cross contamination, Watch out for it.

[Lisa]

  On 4/19/2010 at 7:35 PM, sandiz said:

Exactly, just because they don't use flour for a coating on there fries doesn't mean that they don't fry them with the fish and chicken that do have flour. Cross contamination, Watch out for it.

If you are referring to McDonald's, it is their policy to have dedicated fryers just for the french fries and hash browns and they are located in a separate section of the kitchen, to avoid such cross contamination.

Of course, when choosing to order in a fast food restaurant, you are at the hands of unskilled and uninformed employees regarding your dietary needs. And, generally it's a hectic work environment. They cater to 95% or more, who do not have dietary concerns (or at least, don't admit it ).

The risk is yours.

[seezee]

Look here for allergen information on MacDonalds:

Open Original Shared Link

French Fries:

Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK *(Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).

[Lisa]

<SIGH>

[psawyer]

  On 4/20/2010 at 12:55 AM, seezee said:

Look here for allergen information on MacDonalds:

Open Original Shared Link

French Fries:

Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK *(Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).

And that is somewhat true, but quite misleading. Read on.

  On 4/20/2010 at 12:58 AM, Lisa said:

<SIGH>

Lisa, I hear you, my friend.

This post by me in this thread about six months ago is worth re-posting, again, it seems.

  On 10/29/2009 at 9:49 PM, psawyer said:

I would suggest that you investigate *all* the information available, and then make a personal decision that is right for you. There is much in this thread alone.

Also see:

Open Original Shared Link

Regarding the fries, while it is true that wheat is used as a starting ingredient in the United States (but NOT in any other country that I am aware of), the final product has been independently tested and found to contain no detectable gluten.

You decide for yourself what is right for you.

If you are worried about the undetectable residual gluten after all that processing, I have to ask, why on earth are you even thinking about eating in a restaurant--ANY RESTAURANT--due to possible cross-contamination. In every restaurant I have ever been to, the facility has been shared with gluten products, and the dishes, cutlery and dishwashers are shared equipment.

[BonnieS]

Sorry, but I was curious about the fries. I went to the website and this is copied directly from the allergy info page. I am soooooooo disappointed!

French Fries

French Fries:

Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK *(Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).

[psawyer]

BonnieS, please read my post preceding yours. Then, if you still are unsure, please read this entire thread (all 174 posts). The fries have been independently tested and there is no detectable gluten in them. It is possible to start with wheat and end up with a gluten-free result. It is not common, but it is possible.

[Jestgar]

  On 4/20/2010 at 3:47 AM, BonnieS said:

French Fries

French Fries:

Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK *(Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients).

I would skip them just because so many of the ingredients don't resemble food