According to the FDA, any food product that is naturally gluten free and has no ingredients that would cause it to be unsafe for consumption by individuals who are highly allergic to gluten is defined as gluten free. Therefore, french fries made of potatoes do not contain and have no ingredients that are unsafe for consumption for people who seek out the gluten free diet.
McDonald’s fries are not gluten-free
McDonald’s does not offer a gluten-free menu, and there is no gluten-free fry option at any of their locations. The fries are cooked in the same oil as the other fried foods on their menu and cross-contamination occurs when they are cooked in the same oil as other items on their menu.
If you have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, it is best to avoid eating McDonald’s french fries altogether because they may cause digestive problems or other problems associated with consuming gluten products.
They are made from a blend of potatoes, including Russet Burbank and Umatilla Russet
McDonalds fries are made from a blend of potatoes, including Russet Burbank and Umatilla Russet. The fries are fried in vegetable oil, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids and contains trans fat.
Trans fats increase the risk of heart disease by raising bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lowering good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Vegetable oils are also high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can cause inflammation in the body and have been linked to various diseases like heart disease and cancer.
The fries also contain dextrose, a natural sugar which comes from corn, as well as canola oil
The french fries are cooked in the same oil as other menu items and have been fried in the same oil, so are not recommended for people with a gluten intolerance or celiac disease. The McDonald’s website lists the ingredients of their fries as being ‘potatoes, vegetable oil, dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate’.
Avoid them if you have gluten allergy
McDonalds fries are not gluten free, they contain wheat flour. However, they do sell french fries that are gluten free in some locations. These fries are made with potato, rice and cornstarch, so they’re safe for people with a gluten allergy. They’re also fried in peanut oil rather than soybean oil which is another plus.
McDonald’s fries contain wheat flour, which contains gluten. If you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, you should avoid them. The reason for this is that McDonald’s fries are cooked in the same oil as other foods that contain gluten, and then they’re stored in the same containers as those foods.
The end result is that there’s a risk of cross-contamination during the cooking process, which can make eating at McDonald’s particularly risky if you have a gluten allergy or intolerance. Cooking fries in the same oil as other foods that contain gluten also increases the risk of cross-contamination with allergens like peanuts or milk products.
Dextrose is extremely common in the food industry, and it is often derived from wheat
Dextrose is often used as a sweetener in McDonald’s fries, so you should avoid those if you are on a gluten-free diet. The same goes for other products that contain dextrose because it may be derived from wheat. If you want to eat at McDonald’s, you should check the ingredient list of their menu items closely before ordering.
There are very few other ingredients in McDonald’s fries that could contain gluten
McDonald’s fries are not gluten-free. The final product contains some wheat and barley ingredients, as well as soybean oil and other food additives. However, there are very few other ingredients in McDonald’s fries that could contain gluten.
- The only other ingredient that contains any gluten is malt vinegar, which is typically made from barley or wheat.
- The amount of malt vinegar used in McDonald’s fries is minimal and should not cause any adverse reactions if you have celiac disease or a severe gluten intolerance. If you are concerned about cross-contamination, be sure to ask your local McDonald’s restaurant if their fryers have been cleaned between batches of potato wedges and if they change the oil in between batches as well.
- Some people with celiac disease report having reactions to hydrolyzed wheat protein even though they don’t react to eating whole wheat breads or other foods containing whole wheat flour.
- This may be because the intestines absorb hydrolyzed wheat protein more quickly than intact proteins like whole wheat flour, which gives them more time to react against it before it reaches their small intestine where most nutrients are absorbed.
Conclusion
You probably know that your favorite fast food chain doesn’t offer many gluten-free options, but you’re probably surprised by just how few gluten-free options there are on the menu. Next time you feel that overwhelming craving for fast food strike, try one of these healthier and gluten-free alternatives instead. Now you can enjoy your French fries without feeling guilty about it.