McDonald’s
www.mcdonalds.com
Last verified 12/09
McDonald's provides a list of components in each menu item on their website in the Food Nutrition & Fitness section>Food Allergies. At the end of each list of ingredients, they put in capital letters any allergens that are in that item. You may also call the toll-free phone number printed on McDonald's cups and bags (877)
McD-FOOD."
French Fries controversy: There
was an uproar in the beginning of 2006 about the status of McDonald's French
Fries, which still reverberates to the present. In 2006 McDonald's supplied a gluten-free list of their products on their website, which included their French fries. McDonald's now states that their fries and hash browns "contain wheat". They explain that the natural beef flavor in the vegetable oil uses "hydrolyzed wheat as a starting ingredient". The Gluten Free Living publication reports that "Lizzie Roscoe, a spokeswoman for the McDonald's Corporation, said in an email . . Testing and analysis by leading experts has not detected gluten in our French fries. However, to comply voluntarily with federal labeling laws, our website lists this product as containing wheat".
RMJ's note: From my readings, the potential amount of gluten in from the natural beef flavor component in McDonald's French fries is so miniscule that it wouldn't cause a problem. The larger potential for gluten is through cross-contamination in the oil that the fries are cooked in. Depending on the restaurant, this oil could also be used for gluten-containing menu items. This is a common problem for celiacs when dining in restaurants. Exceptions to this are restaurants such as In-N-Out who only use the oil for their French fries.
"I don't feed my son commercially prepared ground beef, so when we go the McDonald's
he has a yogurt parfait with his Happy Meal instead of a burger. I just look
the cashier straight in the eye and say 'My son has food allergies, please substitute
a yogurt parfait for the hamburger.' Occasionally I need to explain to the manager
that my son can't eat wheat products, but they've never refused to substitute.
Note: The granola that comes with the partfait is not GF - we just throw it away."
Marcia to the SillyYaks site 10/04
There are many McDonald's in the San Diego area. Check their web site or the phone book for locations.
