McDonald’s is one of the world’s largest fast-food chains, with locations in different countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Fans of McDonald’s often wonder if they can enjoy their famous fries while sticking to a vegan or vegetarian diet. So, Are McDonald’s Fries Vegan? In the U.S., don’t treat them as a vegan option. In the UK, McDonald’s says its fries are suitable for vegans. The country matters.
Are McDonald’s Fries Vegan? The Answer May Surprise You
Whether or not McDonald’s Fries are considered vegan depends on the location of where the McDonald’s you are visiting is located.
According to the McDonald’s website, their fries are cooked in a non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil in the UK.
This means that in the UK, the fries are in fact, considered vegan.
In fact, the website says:
McDonald’s UK says its fries have no animal-derived coating and are cooked in dedicated vats using sunflower and rapeseed oil.
The U.S. recipe is different. McDonald’s says suppliers partially fry the potatoes in an oil blend containing beef flavoring before they reach the restaurant. That statement does not identify the flavoring as beef fat, and it should not be generalized to all European countries.
And honestly, you sort of have to hunt for that information.
This means that animal products are used in the cooking process, making the fries unsuitable for vegans.
At first glance, the McDonald’s website describes the fries as:
McDonald’s describes potatoes that are prepared and partially fried by suppliers, then finished in the restaurant.
The supplier’s preparation step matters. The flavoring is not simply a topping someone adds at the counter.
It’s not until you dig into their FAQ or take a look at the actual ingredients that you notice it…
See above how it says “natural beef flavor” in the ingredients?
Right on the McDonald’s website under their FAQ it says:
The company confirms beef flavoring is used during the supplier’s partial-frying step, with the fries then cooked and salted in restaurants.
There is no single worldwide answer. The UK’s vegan statement applies to its UK fries. Don’t use it to certify the U.S. recipe as vegan or vegetarian.
When ordering in another country, check that market’s current official ingredient and dietary information. Recipes can differ, and an old screenshot or another country’s menu isn’t a substitute.
