McDonald's fries are considered by many people to be the best fast food fries in the world. But what if you're gluten free? Are you just not allowed to enjoy them ever?
In its simplest form, a traditional French fry made of sliced potatoes is free of gluten. And at many restaurants, fries are considered gluten free. But once you add other ingredients to them, like McDonald's does, and factor in possible cross-contamination from fryers and foods that contain gluten, it's not always a certainty.
What Is Gluten?
Gluten is a naturally occurring protein found in many grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Because gluten is in lots of grains, it's often found in foods like bread, pasta, baked goods, and beer that are made from grain. It can also be used as a thickening agent and stabilizer, so it might be hiding in products you don't always think of as having gluten.
What Ingredients Are In McDonald's Fries?
So what exactly are the ingredients in McDonald's French fries? In the U.S., at least, the ingredients list is fairly long. Here it is, straight from McDonald's website: "Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]*), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. *natural Beef Flavor Contains Hydrolyzed Wheat And Hydrolyzed Milk As Starting Ingredients."
One of those items is "natural beef flavor," which is comprised of "wheat and milk derivatives." So yes, McDonald's fries contain wheat and are, unfortunately, not gluten free.
Some International McDonald's Locations Serve Gluten-Free Fries
Many McDonald's locations outside of the U.S. serve gluten-free fries. That's why if you do a simple internet search about gluten in McDonald's fries, it might bring up information about a different country. But in the U.S., McDonald's doesn't certify any menu items as gluten free.
McDonald's has restaurants around the world with varying menus and recipes, so you'll aways want to double check the list of ingredients. And make sure you're looking at the correct McDonald's website for the country you're in.
A 2021 FAQ on the McDonald's U.S. website encourages customers to check the ingredients list for individual menu items. It also reminds them of possible cross-contamination from other foods containing gluten.
If all else fails, you can always make your own French fries at home. That way, you can manage all the ingredients. We've got recipes for the best homemade French fries, easy air fryer French fries, thick steak fries, and oven-baked fries. We also have picks for the best frozen French fries, if cooking's not really your thing. Just be sure to check the recipe and ingredient lists!
And if you're looking for other gluten-free options, check out these recipes for gluten-free breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
