Are McDonald’s french fries vegetarian? (you will be surprised)
Plant-based alternatives are gaining popularity in restaurants, but at fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s, it can still be difficult to tell which menu options are safe for vegetarians.
If you’re vegan, you’ve probably walked into a McDonald’s, smelled those delicious fries, and wondered if they’re vegan-friendly.
Read on to find out if this is the product for vegetarians to satisfy their craving for fast food chips!
Are McDonald’s french fries vegetarian?
Unfortunately, McDonald’s fries are not vegetarian in the US because the fries are flavored with milk and beef. Previously, McDonald’s did use animal lard when cooking its fries, but the company switched to vegetable oil, which caused the fries to lose their flavor. However, due to complaints from many customers, McDonald’s decided to add beef seasoning.
If you want to learn more about McDonald’s vegan menu and what happened to McDonald’s fries, keep reading!
Does McDonald’s use beef in their fries?
McDonald’s does use natural beef flavor in their french fries. However you would think that McDonald’s fries would be considered vegan, but they are not.
For good measure, this beef flavor is added not at a restaurant, but at a processing plant where the potatoes are half-fried.
In addition to this beef flavor added at the processing plant, the fries also have hydrolyzed milk added, making it an even worse choice for vegans.
Are McDonald’s fries soaked in animal fat?
McDonald’s fries are not soaked in animal fat, and you can find the ingredients list on their website to show you what’s in their world famous fries.
In the U.S., restaurants cook chips in non-hydrogenated blends, including sunflower and soybean oils.
Does McDonald’s do vegetarian food?
In the US, McDonald’s doesn’t have any satisfying vegetarian options other than apple slices.
However, McDonald’s is planning to launch a plant-based burger called the McPlant, which will also offer a meatless breakfast sandwich and a chicken alternative.
Also, in the UK, McDonald’s menu does offer vegetarian options, including chips, McFlurry, vegetable wraps, vegetable dip, red pesto and many other vegetarian menu options.
McDonald’s sparks class action lawsuit over french fries
Interestingly, McDonald’s was hit with a class action lawsuit in 2001, initiated by a Hindu. Eating animal products is against Hinduism, so they were accused of cheating.
Besides that, other vegans joined the lawsuit because they were led to believe that french fries were vegan because animal lard was no longer used.
McDonald’s later admitted adding beef flavoring to its french fries, and the company settled for $10 million, of which more than $6 million went to vegan organizations.
What potatoes does McDonald’s use for french fries?
McDonald’s uses more than one type of potato for its fries and lists Russet Burbank, Russet Ranger, Shepody and Umatilla Russet as the four varieties used for fries.
Besides that, the fries are actually blanched by the supplier to remove the sugar from the potatoes before being shipped to the restaurant.
This blanching gives the fries a more even color, and a glucose solution is then used to keep the fries from graying and discoloring.
How are McDonald’s fries different in India compared to the US?
If you’re in India, you can order french fries and they’re completely vegetarian. This is because the cow is a sacred animal in India and not used for human consumption.
For that matter, not a single McDonald’s branch in India uses any pork or beef products or condiments, and every single ingredient in the fast food chain is plant-based.
Bill Gates owns farmland used to make McDonald’s fries
A fun fact about McDonald’s fries is that Bill Gates owns a significant property in Washington that grows the potatoes that McDonald’s uses to make their fries.
What’s more, Gates has so many farmlands in Washington State that he can even see potato fields from space!
Facts About McDonald’s French Fries
- McDonald’s was founded in 1940 as a BBQ joint when French fries were part of the original menu!
- French fries are fried for about 60 seconds at the processing plant, then frozen, and shipped to restaurants where they are fried and served to customers.
- A machine cuts the potatoes into the signature french-fry shape at the processing plant, so there’s no need to mash or shape the potatoes by hand.
- French fries are the restaurant’s most popular menu item, beating out even Big Macs and other McDonald’s brand staples. The popularity of french fries is one reason the company will never switch to french fries or other toppings.
To learn more, you can also read our related articles on whether McDonald’s fries are gluten-free, when McDonald’s serves lunch, and whether McDonald’s charges EBT.
in conclusion
Sadly, McDonald’s world-famous french fries aren’t vegan in the U.S., and likely never will be, as it could change the flavor we already know and love.
Hopefully more vegan options will appear on the menu to cater for those on a mostly plant-based diet.
