However, Mcdonald’s has a huge menu that includes, french fries, chicken nuggets, and many other fast foods.With french fries being the most common side dish, the question here is,

Are Mcdonald’s Fries Gluten-Free?

Unfortunately no. Mcdonald’s fries contain wheat and milk derivatives which are in the natural beef flavors that they use in their fries. This specifically applies to Mcdonald’s in the United States.For Mcdonald’s in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, the french fries may be gluten-free because they do not use wheat. Despite this being the case, the fries may be cross-contaminated.

What we will be discussing Further?

Mcdonald’s French fries ingredients in the United States?

The french fries Ingredients include Premium potatoes, vegetable oil i.e canola oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated oil, natural beef flavor( contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk derivatives),  sodium acid, Dextrose, salt,  and added color (sodium Acid Pyrophosphate).

What is Gluten-Free on Mcdonalds Menu?

Gluten-Free salad dressing

To anyone on a gluten-free diet, you can be confident to find gluten-free salad dressing at McDonald’s

They include:

Newman’s Own Ranch dressing Newman’s own Cob dressingCreamy Ceasar dressing (Newman’s own)Low-fat Balsamic Vinaigrette (Newman’s own)Most salads are also gluten-free. ,Please note that any salads that contain crispy chicken and tortilla strips are not gluten-free.  

You can also choose a sandwich without the bun since all the buns contain high levels of wheat. If you however would like to have the full sandwich experience, you can buy a pack of gluten-free buns as a replacement for the buns that they offer.

McDonald’s offers milkshakes and Mocha frappe, chocolate chip, and caramel that are gluten-free. 

The McDonald’s Burger can also be gluten-free if you leave the bread out,  you can instead request lettuce as a replacement for the bread. For the Big Mac, request the staff to leave the sauce off. However, cross-contamination of the burgers is highly likely.

For sweet tooths, Mcflurry shakes without Oreos, brownies, m&m’s, cookies, hot fudge, and caramel sundaes, are gluten-free. You can also never go wrong with drinks such as smoothies, coffee, and frappuccinos for a gluten-free option.

Lastly, sausage eggs and bacon for breakfast are also gluten-free options. Order them as a side option to avoid cross-contamination. Additionally, you can order apple slices, maple and fruit oatmeal,  yogurt, and fruit parfait exclusive of granola.

Conclusion

As we have discussed McDonald’s fries in the US are not gluten-free. However, some people who are sensitive to gluten have claimed that they did not have side effects from eating Mcdonald’s fries. For people with severe gluten sensitivity, please avoid Mcdonald’s fries since they do contain hydrolyzed milk and wheat.

The good news is despite the McDonald’s fries not being gluten-free there are various options on the menu that are gluten-free. This means if you are gluten sensitive you can enjoy eating at Mcdonald’s as well.

Frequently Asked questions 

Does McDonald’s offer a gluten-free menu in other countries?

Absolutely. If you are wondering if you can find a gluten-free menu in another country, worry no more.  McDonald’s may not offer a gluten-free menu in the United States, but It sure does offer gluten-free menu options in other countries. 

You can start by asking for a gluten-free bun because they exist in these countries. These countries include Hungary, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain,  Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, and Finland. 

Is McDonald’s open after midnight?

Yes, it is. Unfortunately, not all branches are open after midnight or 24/7.  The time differs depending on your region or location and the turnout of customers at Mcdonald’s. For Instance, if more customers buy food during lunch hour and it’s way less busy at night, it’s not cost-effective for that Mcdonald’s to stay open 24 hrs. 

To know which Mcdonald’s is open after midnight, use the restaurant locator on the McDonald’s website to confirm which Mcdonald’s restaurant is open 24hours in your location.

Can I find Information about product nutrition and ingredients at McDonald’s?

Absolutely. You can access McDonald’s product nutrition and ingredients at the Mcdonald’s website as you search for your desired food in the categories provided. Once you’ve selected your food item, select the product tile to give you a short description of the product and the nutrition & ingredient Tab. 

If you are using the McDonald’s app on your phone, select the product title of your preferred food item, and then select the nutrition and ingredients section.