Wanted! Information on McDonald's fries - are they really GF?

[Regalbirdy]

I have a craving for chips! And I've read recently that McDonald's fries have no gluten containing ingredients. Me being the suspicious soul that I am; would like to know more.

Has anyone any experiences? Have you been glutened? Or have you been okay?

All information gratefully received.

[Shonny]

I eat them without problems. Very handy when I'm out and there's nothing else to eat.

[tassie]

I have been glutened by Maccas chips and also their soy milk has gluten and was caught out by that too.

[jh77]

I have eaten a few of my children's fries without problems. When I checked with staff I was told they have a separate fryer just for chips so risk of cross contamination is reduced.

[tassie]

They have dextrose which can be derived from wheat and its enough to gluten me so if you are very sensitive as I am you may have an issue.

[DartmoorGuerrilla]

I am quite sensitive (I can't eat several ingredients that Coeliac UK says are OK) but on the odd occasion that I've had to resort to McDonald's I've never had any issue.

[Hidden]

Hi Regalbirdy, McD's French fries are classed as gluten free because even tho' they are coated with dextrose it is very processed and well within codex if derived from wheat, in Australia where they have 5ppm as gluten free McD's French fries are considered as gf.

They got a lot of bad publicity last year with their transparency policy as their French fries were stated as containing 17 ingredients. We have to be very careful with information like this as in the EU and Australia dextrose is commonly made from wheat but in the US it is derived from corn. So things change from continent to continent.

Many coeliac eat their French fries and take their own gf bun for the burger and have no issues so I'd have a small portion of fries first time round and see how it goes.

Jerry

[Towels in reply to Hidden]

Jerry

Thanks for you knowledge on this gluten free site. I also found your information very useful a few weeks ago about gluten free bread and getting bread on prescription from GPs . I've tried lots go gluten free bread, the Warburtons bread is so good.

[Hidden in reply to Towels]

Thank you Towels, for once I'm lost for words LOL,

Jerry

[Tiggykanga]

To add to this, their veggie patty is also gluten free - taken many emails and phone calls to establish this!

[Hidden in reply to Tiggykanga]

Hi Tiggykanga, this is interesting and good for you for persisting in asking for info, now did they give you a list of ingredients in their email please? I ask because I have read conflicting info re; ingredients of their patties.

Here's a link to McD's web site where they say that wheat is an ingredient and they also state that they are not classed as suitable for vegetarians by the vegetarian society but their French fries are:

mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/poli...

I only ask as we obviously don't want any one being made ill so this question is not questioning your comment but to clarify things.

Thanks,

Jerry

[Tiggykanga in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I queried this too and the wheat is in the bun/wrap. The patty (in the UK) is totally GF so when ordering remember to say GF so it is prepared away from other gluten containing items. Will be served on a plate or in a wrap bun you provide. MsDonald's told me they were sorting out their website to ensure the correct info was out there (some of what we see here is merely US spec supposedly adapted for the UK

[Hidden in reply to Tiggykanga]

Thank you that clarifies things nicely.

[pretender in reply to Tiggykanga]

Please clarify the "GF" for me is it the "GF" that may contain 20ppm or is it naturally free from gluten?

[Tiggykanga in reply to pretender]

I recommend that you contact McDonald's yourself for such precise information. Many things are well below 20ppm but legally no company has to declare that merely that it reaches legal requirements

[Tiggykanga in reply to Hidden]

Gosh, I rarely visit here except when something appears in mail box so very sorry for the delay in replying. I do not know if I have still got the emails - was a long time ago but not only did I check but the Manager of my local branch checked too. I have eaten them with no ill effects (though not for a long time - I am a very occasional visitor to McD's.

[Regalbirdy]

Thanks so much everybody for your help.

On balance it sounds like they might be well worth a try as most of you are reporting that you have been okay. It would certainly make life easier when searching for food in motorway service stations.

I never thought I'd say it but McDonald's may be getting a new customer sometime very soon!

[Linzk425 in reply to Regalbirdy]

My son and I are both coeliac and have eaten at McD's with no trouble for a couple of years now. We order bunless, gluten-free (to make it stand out to the order taker) burgers and fries, they usually remember to serve in a breakfast tray with cutlery, and we've never been glutened.

[ailsamary]

I occasionally eat there and they will give you the burgers which have no gluten containing ingredients, if you look on their website or within the shop the paper which covers the trays on the back it lists the food and it's allergens

[ailsamary]

I agree I've eaten there also with no problem, except in Poland where they thought I was weird. In the UK it doesn't seem to surprise them and their chips don't taste as if they are floured. As others have said they provide the burger (which is also safe) in a tray with a knife and fork.

[Hidden]

Old post but adding to this if anyone visiting still on this thread.

I have eaten McD's fries on basis of being told they were GF. They made me ill.

Possible down to the Dextrose as stated on here, but personally would avoid like the plague.