Comments on: McDonald’s fries: gluten free or not gluten free? http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/ Essential reading for anyone following a gluten free diet Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:23:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ali http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-7074 Ali Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:39:28 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-7074 I went to the Gatwick Mcdonalds whilst picking up a relative from the airport...I have a strict gluten free diet but after hearing they were gluten free, I gave them a try. I ordered a large portion of fries but within a few hours I was violently ill...I know that the gatwick one is very busy...so my concern was that they were using the friers for both fries, onion rings etc due to being so busy??...it has certainly put me off visiting again :( I went to the Gatwick Mcdonalds whilst picking up a relative from the airport…I have a strict gluten free diet but after hearing they were gluten free, I gave them a try. I ordered a large portion of fries but within a few hours I was violently ill…I know that the gatwick one is very busy…so my concern was that they were using the friers for both fries, onion rings etc due to being so busy??…it has certainly put me off visiting again :(

]]> By: Gluten Free Girl http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 Gluten Free Girl Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:00:57 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-1063 Hey Lara I'm sending this off to McDonald's as we speak! Thanks for this. Hey Lara
I’m sending this off to McDonald’s as we speak! Thanks for this.

]]> By: lara buckle http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-1062 lara buckle Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:45:20 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-1062 I just went to McDonalds in Chancery Lane and they said their chips contain wheat. V confusing! I just went to McDonalds in Chancery Lane and they said their chips contain wheat. V confusing!

]]> By: Gluten Free Girl http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-872 Gluten Free Girl Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:45:20 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-872 Hi Paula Hmmm... "hydrolyzed wheat bran is a starting ingredient used in making the natural flavor for our French fries." There's so much wrong with this sentence! Why not have the taste of potatoes for their French fries! Just a thought. Paula, thanks for contacting McDonald's though. I'm sure so many people think that a McDonlald's is a McDonald's no matter where you are in the world. This is not the case. And it's worth checking what's safe to eat and where before you travel. Hi Paula
Hmmm… “hydrolyzed wheat bran is a starting ingredient used in making the natural flavor for our French fries.”
There’s so much wrong with this sentence! Why not have the taste of potatoes for their French fries! Just a thought.

Paula, thanks for contacting McDonald’s though. I’m sure so many people think that a McDonlald’s is a McDonald’s no matter where you are in the world. This is not the case. And it’s worth checking what’s safe to eat and where before you travel.

]]> By: Paula http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-870 Paula Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:56:55 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-870 This is what I got from MD's in US: Hello Paula: Thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's. We always enjoy hearing from our customers and welcome this opportunity to share some information with you about our menu items. You have asked whether our French fries or hash browns contain gluten. As you will see on our website, hydrolyzed wheat bran is a starting ingredient used in making the natural flavor for our French fries. Consistent with what we know about the process for making our flavor, testing and analysis by leading experts have not detected wheat proteins or peptides. However, to comply voluntarily with federal labeling laws, our website lists these products as containing wheat, because of the starting ingredient used to make the flavor. For reference, please visit McDonald's website at www.mcdonalds.com. Once again, thank you for contacting McDonald's. Lisa McDonald's Customer Response Center This is what I got from MD’s in US:

Hello Paula:

Thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald’s. We always enjoy hearing from our customers and welcome this opportunity to share some information with you about our menu items.

You have asked whether our French fries or hash browns contain gluten. As you will see on our website, hydrolyzed wheat bran is a starting ingredient used in making the natural flavor for our French fries. Consistent with what we know about the process for making our flavor, testing and analysis by leading experts have not detected wheat proteins or peptides. However, to comply voluntarily with federal labeling laws, our website lists these products as containing wheat, because of the starting ingredient used to make the flavor.

For reference, please visit McDonald’s website at http://www.mcdonalds.com.

Once again, thank you for contacting McDonald’s.

Lisa
McDonald’s Customer Response Center

]]> By: Gluten Free Girl http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-845 Gluten Free Girl Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:01:38 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-845 Hey Katie and Paula Yes, it is UK only. In our <a href="http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/gluten-free-mcdonalds/" rel="nofollow">first post on McDonald's</a> we said: "French fries (Note: UK only. It seems that US french fries do have gluten.)" So if you're in the US and you're a coeliac or a vegetarian - avoid those fries! But feel free to enjoy them when you come and visit us! Hey Katie and Paula
Yes, it is UK only. In our first post on McDonald’s we said:
“French fries (Note: UK only. It seems that US french fries do have gluten.)”

So if you’re in the US and you’re a coeliac or a vegetarian – avoid those fries! But feel free to enjoy them when you come and visit us!

]]> By: Paula http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-841 Paula Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:23:48 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-841 In the UK it might be GF, but as far as 3-12.2009, in their list of ingredients in the US, their oil contains contains beef flavor, which contains gluten: 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 ((may contain one of the following: 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). In the UK it might be GF, but as far as 3-12.2009, in their list of ingredients in the US, their oil contains contains beef flavor, which contains gluten:

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 ((may contain one of the following: 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).

]]> By: Katie A http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/mcdonald%e2%80%99s-fries-gluten-free/comment-page-1/#comment-839 Katie A Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:34:54 +0000 http://www.gluten-free-blog.com/?p=146#comment-839 That may be the case for McDonalds UK, but the US website says the following about their 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 was recently diagnosed with Celiac but I have taken this to mean that McDonalds fries in the US are not gluten-free and I have avoided them. That may be the case for McDonalds UK, but the US website says the following about their 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 was recently diagnosed with Celiac but I have taken this to mean that McDonalds fries in the US are not gluten-free and I have avoided them.

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