Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Is Anything Safe At Mcdonalds?

dandelionmom

Recommended Posts

dandelionmom Enthusiast
dandelionmom
Posted

Maybe the ice cream? Milk shake? Anything?!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
Maybe the ice cream? Milk shake? Anything?!

Open Original Shared Link

I thought that they had a gluten free listing, but this is what I found.

ryebaby0 Enthusiast
ryebaby0
Posted

Our experience at McDonald's has always been good, but your mileage may vary.....

My son and husband eat:

blizzards (just the M&M ones, obviously the oreos are out!)

fries

hash browns

plain sausage patties

burgers without the buns

yogurt parfaits (take off the packet of granola)

I think the milkshakes are gluten-free, but we don't eat them, so I don't know!

We never go to a McDonald's at "high lunchtime" i.e. noonish, or go through the drive through of McDonald's we've never been to. (We go through the drivethrough of our local all the time) I will instead go in, and watch the line and the food prep. In 4 years with 2 celiacs, I've only ever had one idiot try to peel a bun off the burger, and the manager was all over him before I was. I have decided against buying food in one or two McD's that were dirty, staffed by clueless people, and/or otherwise giving off a "run away! run away!" vibe.

We've never gotten sick -- but some people do, so you do need to be careful at first. That being said, I've never had any manager or counter person be anything but helpful. Mc D's is a subject of great emotion amongst some celiacs, so make your own choices :) And happy fries!

Owen'sMom Rookie
Owen'sMom
Posted
Our experience at McDonald's has always been good, but your mileage may vary.....

My son and husband eat:

blizzards (just the M&M ones, obviously the oreos are out!)

fries

hash browns

plain sausage patties

burgers without the buns

yogurt parfaits (take off the packet of granola)

I think the milkshakes are gluten-free, but we don't eat them, so I don't know!

We never go to a McDonald's at "high lunchtime" i.e. noonish, or go through the drive through of McDonald's we've never been to. (We go through the drivethrough of our local all the time) I will instead go in, and watch the line and the food prep. In 4 years with 2 celiacs, I've only ever had one idiot try to peel a bun off the burger, and the manager was all over him before I was. I have decided against buying food in one or two McD's that were dirty, staffed by clueless people, and/or otherwise giving off a "run away! run away!" vibe.

We've never gotten sick -- but some people do, so you do need to be careful at first. That being said, I've never had any manager or counter person be anything but helpful. Mc D's is a subject of great emotion amongst some celiacs, so make your own choices :) And happy fries!

The Fries and Hashbrowns are not gluten free at McDonalds. On their website it states that they contain wheat.

JennyC Enthusiast
JennyC
Posted
:o Not this debate again! The french fries have been tested for gluten and they contain less than the amount they test for, so they are considered gluten free. However, they do have WHEAT in them and I don't give my son ANYTHING with wheat, barley, rye or mainstream oats. There is enough risk of cross contamination in processed foods that do not contain gluten grains. Occasionally we will go there for a treat and get a milkshake or ice cream.
Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

I enjoy their fries.

Now, do some reasearch on the VERY EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION regarding McD's fries on this site in the past and come to your own conclusion. :D

Open Original Shared Link

dandelionmom Enthusiast
dandelionmom
Posted
  • Author

Ice cream it is! Thanks everyone! :)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ryebaby0 Enthusiast
ryebaby0
Posted

As I said, great emotion....

Mc Donald's has changed to a cooking oil with no wheat protein (and the original oil tested negative for gluten anyway) and the fries are cooked in dedicated fryers. (yes, I know, you need to check your restaurant) Websites tend to be much less up-to-date than is generally assumed. Also, if you are overseas or in Canada the website info can be different. ClanThompson just reported all this, btw, but my celiacs have been eating fries on a semi-regular basis with no reaction (and they react to everything) and no elevation in their blood testing levels (and my son has a tTg test every 10 weeks to go with his other medical bloodwork).

As I said, make up your own mind, but we're eating fries!

Jodi Mills Apprentice
Jodi Mills
Posted

Hope Ya'll enjoy your MC D's, I personally React to everything at Mcdonalds, I think its just me, so i dont eat there, or any fast food place anymore, they all make me sick, could just be a personal thing and not the celiac, but the feeling i get is the same as when i do get glutened.

Happy Eating!

Belinda Meeker Apprentice
Belinda Meeker
Posted

Hey All....

Just a lil of my own experament with Mc'D's :(

I hadn't cheated in any way and have been super careful not to get Gluttened,

BUT I did try eating at local Mc'D's just a few weeks back and man-o-man they r not safe by no means, even if u r careful wht u order,my son use to work at one and he was passing out cooking the fries and working the grill so go figure <_< Yes he has Celiac Spru!

So if anyone wants to try it's is your own choice, just be careful I aslo got cross contamination at our local Wendy's safe meanu, so it is by our choice if we ever do eat out again we r staying with the only safe eat joint we have never been glutened and it is Chili's :)

Good Luck To All!

Bea

larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted

Not everyone's cut out to work fast food. It's hot, fast paced and greasy. There's a lot of messy cleaning up, it's really hard work for low pay. Quite often, teenagers want to quit working there for a variety of teenage related reasons.

Probably not the best place for Celiac workers anyway, what with all the sandwich buns, biscuits, english muffins, pancakes, breaded fried chicken nuggets/patties, fried fish patties, cookies, big bread pretzels, ice cream cones, burritos, wraps, croutons, etc.

I eat the fries, bunless burgers, eggs, sausage and hash browns. Haven't had a problem yet.

But, I feel safer seeing my food prepared, like at McDonalds. I'm more nervous at Chili's, where you don't know what's going on in the kitchen. I ate there last week, and despite ordering very carefully, my food was served with garlic toast. Our waitress simply said "oh, they forgot to take that off". Made me wonder what else they forgot!

My teenage son also worked at McDonalds. He said they always used a dedicated fryer for the fries. I've been following this issue for over a year. I don't believe there is any wheat in the fries. If I was to get sick eating there however, I would probably be forced to reconsider.

best regards, lm

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

I go to McDonald's (here in Canada) about twice a month. I usually get the warm salad, either the Caesar salad or the ranch salad with the grilled chicken (of course, the crunchy chicken is breaded), and sometimes fries.

In fact, I ate the same thing in Germany! I've never been sick so far eating the salad. And neither has my daughter, who started eating the oriental salad (with the Italian dressing, as the oriental dressing has wheat-containing soy sauce) with the grilled chicken after she tested gluten intolerant with Enterolab. She hasn't had a problem, either.

jenilee Newbie
jenilee
Posted

Check on what is in their modified food starch because lat I checked it wasd in their ice cream. The ONLY thing I give my lil guy from there is the fruit n walnut thing. And he only eats the fruit. The walnuts are coated.

ryebaby0 Enthusiast
ryebaby0
Posted

Modified food starch in the US is, by definition, made only with corn starch, and is gluten free. Anything with wheat starch as a base would say so. (Any food product, that is, pharmaceuticals are not included in labelling laws)

mairin Apprentice
mairin
Posted

Here is a list of ingredients, from McD's in Canada:

Open Original Shared Link

Of course, it is prudent to check if the oil for fries/hash browns is dedicated.

We have not eaten at McD's since my daughter was diagnosed, we go to Wendy's instead as they provide a gluten-free menu (on their website) and we always ask about the dedicated fryer.

cruelshoes Enthusiast
cruelshoes
Posted
I go to McDonald's (here in Canada) about twice a month. I usually get the warm salad, either the Caesar salad or the ranch salad with the grilled chicken (of course, the crunchy chicken is breaded), and sometimes fries.

In fact, I ate the same thing in Germany! I've never been sick so far eating the salad. And neither has my daughter, who started eating the oriental salad (with the Italian dressing, as the oriental dressing has wheat-containing soy sauce) with the grilled chicken after she tested gluten intolerant with Enterolab. She hasn't had a problem, either.

I'm so jealous! The grilled chicken in the US McDonald's salads has wheat in it. Yet another stupid place for wheat to be.

  • 2 weeks later...
Katester Enthusiast
Katester
Posted

I went to McDonalds and got the Asian Salad. I put the dressing on and was about to take a bite as I was reading the package. I found out the salad dressing that came with had gluten in it. I brought it back to the counter and told them I have an allergy to wheat. The man gave me a new salad and gluten-free dressings to choose from. He was really great about it. The French dressing is gluten-free and delicious. I forget what the other one was... :)

AliB Enthusiast
AliB
Posted

Oh yuk. How anyone could consider going to McDonalds a treat I really cannot fathom!

What about an afternoon at a zoo or a park with a nice scrummy (healthy) picnic? Eating out is such a minefield. If you can find a great healthy gluten free restaurant, hang on to it like mad!

We went to the cafe at our local Hospital today (after yet another blood test) and I had a slice of ham, some plain salad and chips. I have had a pain in my back all afternoon. The chips were reconstituted potato and unbeknown to me they almost likely had gluten or dairy in them. What ever happened to good ole-fashioned REAL food????

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

cruelshoes, did you say the US mickey D's grilled chicken contain wheat? Now, I knew of course the breaded one has wheat but the plain grilled chicken now has wheat?

I hope that was a typo error! I was going to get a grilled chicken salad this week...... arrrrrgh.

thanks

mamaw

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
cruelshoes, did you say the US mickey D's grilled chicken contain wheat? Now, I knew of course the breaded one has wheat but the plain grilled chicken now has wheat?

I hope that was a typo error! I was going to get a grilled chicken salad this week...... arrrrrgh.

thanks

mamaw

Open Original Shared Link

process=menuitems

Grilled Chicken Breast Filet

Chicken breast filets with rib meat, water, seasoning (salt, sugar, food starch-modified, maltodextrin, spices, dextrose, autolyzed yeast extract, hydrolyzed [corn gluten, soy, wheat gluten] proteins, garlic powder, paprika, chicken fat, chicken broth, natural flavors (plant and animal source), caramel color, polysorbate 80, xanthan gum, onion powder, extractives of paprika), modified potato starch, and sodium phosphates. CONTAINS: SOY AND WHEAT. Prepared with liquid margarine: Liquid soybean oil, water, partially hydrogenated cottonseed and soybean oils, salt, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, soy lecithin, mono- and diglycerides, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservative), artificial flavor, citric acid, vitamin A palmitate, beta carotene (color). CONTAINS: SOY LECITHIN

cruelshoes Enthusiast
cruelshoes
Posted
cruelshoes, did you say the US mickey D's grilled chicken contain wheat? Now, I knew of course the breaded one has wheat but the plain grilled chicken now has wheat?

I hope that was a typo error! I was going to get a grilled chicken salad this week...... arrrrrgh.

thanks

mamaw

Nope not a typo. The grilled chicken has wheat, and has for at least the last few years since I have been diagnosed. Mama Goose posted the ingredients above. Stupid place to find wheat, huh?

dandelionmom Enthusiast
dandelionmom
Posted
  • Author
Oh yuk. How anyone could consider going to McDonalds a treat I really cannot fathom!

What about an afternoon at a zoo or a park with a nice scrummy (healthy) picnic? Eating out is such a minefield. If you can find a great healthy gluten free restaurant, hang on to it like mad!

They're 3 and 6. And the windchill has been in the single digits for the last few weeks.

larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted
hydrolyzed [corn gluten, soy, wheat gluten] proteins

Hey mg,

This is exactly the ingredient that's keeping me from buying some items at our ultra gourmet food store/health food store Central Market. From some of their fresh made soups to their various versions of tamales, there is this abomination.

I wish they'd make up their mind which one it is. Surely, it's not all three. Sounds like a catch-all statement.

best regards, lm

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
Hey mg,

This is exactly the ingredient that's keeping me from buying some items at our ultra gourmet food store/health food store Central Market. From some of their fresh made soups to their various versions of tamales, there is this abomination.

I wish they'd make up their mind which one it is. Surely, it's not all three. Sounds like a catch-all statement.

best regards, lm

I totally agree. Perhaps we should initiate an onslaught of phone calls with this inquiry.

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

Thanks Everyone. I had a phone call from Mickey D's this morning.

I guess we all need to fight back......

mamaw

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free. I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree...
    2. catnapt
      - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      highly unlikely NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean...
    3. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      21

      Insomnia help

      Thank you for your post, @nanny marley It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep. One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem. Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read,...
    4. SilkieFairy
      - SilkieFairy replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      It could be a fructan intolerance? How do you do with dates? https://www.dietvsdisease.org/sorry-your-gluten-sensitivity-is-actually-a-fructan-intolerance/
    5. Lkg5
      - Lkg5 replied to Matthias's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      6

      Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms

      Thank’s for addressing the issue of mushrooms. I was under the impression that only wild mushrooms were gluten-free. Have been avoiding cultivated mushrooms for years. Also, the issue of smoked food was informative. In France last year, where there is hardly any prepared take-out food that is gluten-free, I tried smoked chicken. Major mistake!
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,353
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ace14219
    Newest Member
    ace14219
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Florence Lillian
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      Hi Jane: You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree with me -  I just keep trying and have finally settled on Sports Research. I take NAKA Women's Multi full spectrum, and have not felt sick after taking 2 capsules per day -  it is a Canadian company. I buy both from Amazon. I wish you well in your searching, I know how discouraging it all is. Florence.  
    • catnapt
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By catnapt · Posted

      highly unlikely  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now. It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean ground turkey but not much) I was off dairy for years but recently had to add back plain yogurt to meet calcium needs that I am not allowed to get from supplements (I have not had any problem with the yogurt)   I eat almost no processed foods. I don't eat out. almost everything I eat, I cook myself I am going to keep a food diary but to be honest, I already know that it's wheat products and also barley that are the problem, which is why I gradually stopped eating and buying them. When I was eating them, like back in early 2024, when I was in the middle of moving and ate out (always had bread or toast or rolls or a sub or pizza) I felt terrible but at that time was so busy and exhausted that I never stopped to think it was the food. Once I was in my new place, I continued to have bread from time to time and had such horrible joint pain that I was preparing for 2 total knee replacements as well as one hip! The surgery could not go forward as I was (and still am) actively losing calcium from my bones. That problem has yet to be properly diagnosed and treated   anyway over time I realized that I felt better when I stopped eating bread. Back at least 3 yrs ago I noticed that regular pasta made me sick so I switched to brown rice pasta and even though it costs a lot more, I really like it.   so gradually I just stopped buying and eating foods with gluten. I stopped getting raisin bran when I was constipated because it made me bloated and it didn't help the constipation any more (used to be a sure bet that it would in the past)   I made cookies and brownies using beans and rolled oats and dates and tahini and I LOVE them and have zero issues eating those I eat 1 or more cans of beans per day easily can eat a pound of broccoli - no problem! Brussels sprouts the same thing.   so yeh it's bread and related foods that are clearly the problem  there is zero doubt in my mind    
    • cristiana
      Insomnia help

      By cristiana · Posted

      Thank you for your post, @nanny marley It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep.  One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem.  Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read, do a sudoku or some other small task, and then go back to bed when she felt sleepy again.  I can't think it did her any harm - she lived  well into her nineties. Last week I decided to try a Floradix Magnesium supplement which seems to be helping me to sleep better.  It is a liquid magnesium supplement, so easy to take.  It is gluten free (unlike the Floradix iron supplement).  Might be worth a try.        
    • SilkieFairy
      results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?

      By SilkieFairy · Posted

      It could be a fructan intolerance? How do you do with dates?  https://www.dietvsdisease.org/sorry-your-gluten-sensitivity-is-actually-a-fructan-intolerance/
    • Lkg5
      Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms

      By Lkg5 · Posted

      Thank’s for addressing the issue of mushrooms.  I was under the impression that only wild mushrooms were gluten-free.  Have been avoiding cultivated mushrooms for years. Also, the issue of smoked food was informative.  In France last year, where there is hardly any prepared take-out food that is gluten-free, I tried smoked chicken.  Major mistake!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.