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TamiCann
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:21 pm Post subject: Confirmed - McDonald's French Fries - Contain wheat |
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I had to see it for myself.. I've eaten these many times thinking they were safe because they are in a separate fryer..
http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.categories.ingredients.index.html
French Fries
French Fries:
Potatoes, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor (wheat and milk derivatives)*, citric acid (preservative), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming agent)), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated corn 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.)
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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 8629
Location: WI, USA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Tami,
Welcome to the board!
Actually, they were pulled from the GF list almost 2 years ago. After the ruckus that was caused when McD's originally announced this, they had their fries tested for gluten content. They tests found 3ppm or less...enough for them to be deemed GF. Would they test the same today? I don't know. I suspect there has not been a change in their formula.
Cross contamination issues still apply...
Info I posted in Sept 2006:
Results of testing of fries and hash browns
| Quote: |
As it relates to the hydrolyzed milk, initial testing was conducted on the French fries and hash browns using a Neogen Veratox test at a 2.5 parts per million level of sensitivity. The Neogen Veratox test found no detectable intact milk proteins. As it relates to the hydrolyzed wheat, initial testing was conducted on the French fries and hash browns using a RIDASCREEN Gliadin ELISA test at a 3 parts per million level of sensitivity. The RIDASCREEN Gliadin ELISA test found no detectable intact gluten proteins. Because partially broken down milk or wheat proteins may be present, and they also may be clinically significant for
an individual with a milk or wheat allergy, these tests are not definitive.
Consequently, we decided that additional allergen testing be done on these ingredients using the Radioallergosorbent Inhibition Test (RAST). The RAST test found virtually no wheat-allergic residues in the hydrolyzed wheat ingredient. The RAST test found some milk-allergic residues in the hydrolyzed milk ingredient. It should also be noted that the hydrolyzed milk and hydrolyzed wheat ingredients are only a portion of the natural flavoring and that the natural flavoring itself represents a small amount of the frying oil.
That said, for people with a milk or wheat allergy, this new and important information should be discussed
with a health care provider. |
Currently USA has not standards as to what it GF. That is being worked out. Canada has 20 ppm as their limit. We all know how much we love KnK Breads & donuts. Fries and Hashbrowns have 7 times less than that. Plus - the gluten gluten proteins were not intact. Of course this does not account for cross contamination issues. That is a whole 'nother subject 
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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cruelshoes
Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 2571
Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:19 am Post subject: |
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According to the CSA, the fries have been tested independently and the gluten level is BLD (below levels of detection). Fries will never be a health food, and CC is always a possibility. I do allow my son to eat them at McDonald's on occasion because the gluten in the end product cannot be detected in the most sensitive testing available. We have never reacted to the fries.
http://www.csaceliacs.org/documents/FinalCSAStatementMcDonalds023006wlh.pdf
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The Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) has examined the commercial manufacturing process of the natural flavoring with wheat as a starting ingredient which is used in connection with the McDonald’s Corporation French fries and hash browns. CSA provides the following statement after knowledgeable, careful evaluation and review of the process and pertinent test results.
French fries and hash browns prepared in oils with this flavoring might be considered,commercially, to “contain no gluten.”
Third party analysis of the wheat ingredient of the natural flavoring revealed detectable levels of gluten. Factors affecting the possibility of there being any residual gluten in the final French fries or hash browns include:
• The quantity of wheat ingredient used in the manufacturing of the
natural flavor represents only a small amount of the overall natural
flavoring formulation.
• The manufacturing of the natural flavor involves processes that
significantly reduce or possibly eliminate the levels of gluten that
existed in the original wheat ingredient. These steps are completed
before the flavor is added to the frying oil.
• The quantity of natural flavoring added to the frying oil represents only
a small amount of the total frying oil.
• The oil frying process increases the final potato product weight by a
small quantity.
All these factors serve to greatly reduce the initial level of gluten from the original wheat ingredient. The calculated level of any residual gluten in the final French fries and hash browns is below the limits of detection (BLD) of the most sensitive commercial gluten test.
For those with celiac disease, the only risk free choice is products with NO WBRO, that is, no Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats and any derivatives or crosses in Product, Processing and Packaging.
The knowledge base, manufacturing processes and detection capabilities are always evolving and subject to re-evaluation and/or revision. This information is intended for people with celiac disease to use in making personal diet choices. |
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Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
10-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters (12 and 2) have neg. bloodwork
A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt |
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The Edifying Conscience
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 2446
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:48 am Post subject: |
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| I'm surprised that the McDonald's fry issue would be a first (or second) post for someone. welcome |
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cardine45
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 150
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| cruelshoes wrote: | | According to the CSA, the fries have been tested independently and the gluten level is BLD (below levels of detection). Fries will never be a health food, and CC is always a possibility. I do allow my son to eat them at McDonald's on occasion because the gluten in the end product cannot be detected in the most sensitive testing available. We have never reacted to the fries. |
I know this whole topic was pretty much beat to death, but I'm curious how many people react to McDonalds french fries. I had remembered reading this post and many others like it, so I decided it I'd take the risk on Saturday. I told myself I didn't want to ever risk any fast food places due to cross contamination, and unless they've just changed the oil, you have to wonder how many crumbs from the buns or something else have fallen into the oil that hasn't been changed for nearly a week. I changed my mind when I got stuck away from home for much longer than expected, and I was absolutely starving. I had some energy bars with me, but I can't easily chew anything hard due to all of my recent dental work, and it took me an hour to eat one earlier in the day, so I wanted something soft. I couldn't figure out anything else that I could get quickly besides a candy bar.
I do have to say, I used to eat at McDonalds a lot. I typically got McNuggets and/or French Fries because their burgers always made me run to the bathroom soon after I ate one. I'd occasionally chance it if I knew I was going to be home the rest of the day because I'd get such cravings for them. I was craving the french fries until I ate them, and I don't know if it was a bad batch or if I'm just used to healthy food now, but they weren't all that good in my opinion. The good news is that I didn't react to them at all, but I fear that I may have gotten lucky, and I don't know how often I'd like to chance it.
Sorry I kind of rambled there. Essentially, I just want to know if anyone else still eats McDonalds french fries and how big of a risk am I taking if I get stuck needing something again and that seems to be my only choice? |
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ostrich
Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 4183
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 6:55 am Post subject: |
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No, I don't eat at McDonald's any more (unless I'm getting something safe, like a soda). Remember: just because you didn't react, doesn't mean you're not doing damage.
Were there any other fast food options in the area?
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The Edifying Conscience
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 2446
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:21 am Post subject: |
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| FWIW using Elisa's EZ Rapid Gluten Test 2 packages of McDs french fries purchased from 2 different McDs both tested negative. |
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aklap
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 8629
Location: WI, USA
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:09 am Post subject: |
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Also for FWIW - on occasion will eat McD's fries.
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Al
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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forinajoy
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 204
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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2 years or so ago, about a month before all the McD ruckus, Ina had a big reaction to mcD fries...she had never had problems before and I always asked about a dedicated fryer and I did this time also, so we got her a large fry and took it for her to snack on at a basketball game.
She was having profuse diarrhea within an hour..her typical celiac diarrhea.....it was about a month later that I heard all of that stuff on the news about McD fries, to me it fit.....I have never risked McD fries since, it is just not worth it to me...it seems like there is always a grocery store around if you are "caught" and in need of food....fresh fruits, chips and salsa, nuts..... and even more possibilities if you are able to eat milk products.....
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nancw
Joined: 04 Oct 2006
Posts: 862
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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Many many moons ago I would eat at McDonald's - and only in times of no alternative. Thankfully these times were few and far between.
The thing I remember most about eating there was that I would taste the fries for days afterwards. Blech.
It's strange to think that when I was a kid in the 70's, McDonald's was the place we went as a treat for our birthdays or last day of school. I've managed to keep it that way for my son, who only eats there if he's on a playdate or Nana takes him.
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Nance
gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free |
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ostrich
Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 4183
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| nancw wrote: | | It's strange to think that when I was a kid in the 70's, McDonald's was the place we went as a treat for our birthdays or last day of school. |
Second this. In my family it was a treat to go there. We mostly ate at home.
I'm not saying the fries do/do not have gluten. I'm just saying I don't eat there because they make me react. Not sure why, but they do.
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digmom1014
Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| I can have the fries with no reaction, that I can detect. When I take my son, he prefers Taco Bell or Burger King, I usually have an iced tea and fries. I just smell the fries and they bring back such positive childhood memories, I have to have them. |
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ostrich
Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 4183
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| digmom1014 wrote: | | When I take my son, he prefers Taco Bell or Burger King, I usually have an iced tea and fries. |
I hope you're still talking about McD's fries. As far as I know McD's is the only place that uses a dedicated fryer for the fries.
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