McDonald's Fries Controversy
2/08/06
As of 2/08/06 McDonald's removed the French fries from thier gluten-free list of menu items. In the ingredients section of their website as of 2/08/06 they state "Contains wheat and milk products" for the French fries. McDonald's confirms that they have not changed the ingredients of their French fries, but now label them differently due to the allergen labeling law that came into effect January 2006.
An excellent explanation, summary, and recommendations concerning the controversy has been sent out by Cynthia Kupper on 2/16. Please read this to get a good understanding of the matter. Below are addtional statements/articles on the topic.
Sent 2/15 to the SillyYaks Yahoo site
"I talked with a spokesperson for McDonald's yesterday (2/14/06). The company has made NO CHANGES in the ingredients or the oil used to make their french fries since 1990. Again, nothing has changed.
The best analogy to this situation is the distillation of vinegar. The distillation process removes the allergenic proteins in vinegar. Similarly, the way the oil used by McDonald's in its french fries, is processed removes the allergenic proteins.
We have asked McDonald's whether the supplier has tested the oil for the presence of wheat gluten or dairy, and are currently awaiting their response. As soon as we have an answer, we will pass it along. The spokesperson was very helpful, and clearly wanted to help dispell any misinformation.
There have been a number of individual complaints about becoming ill after eating the fries, and that is very unfortunate. In situations such as this, it is preferable to rely on definitive information rather than anecdotes.
Waiting another day or two for answers about testing from the supplier of the oil, is reasonable before writing off a company that has listened to, and served, our community so well over the years.
Andrea Levario, J.D.
Executive Director, American Celiac Disease Alliance
4331 E. Baseline Road, Ste B105 - # 216
Gilbert, AZ 85234-2961
(703) 622-3331
info@AmericanCeliac.org
www.AmericanCeliac.org
Sent to listserv on 2/8/06 by Michael Thorne
Mr. Thorne states: "Whenever controversies or issues like the one about McD's comes up I try to consult the experts for solid information. I emailed Cynthia Kupper who is a registered dietitian, executive director of the Gluten Intolerance Group and has worked with Outback (along with other companies) to develop gf menus."
From Cynthia Kupper: "This is a case of McDonalds following the letter of the law, but without the FDA having the exceptions in place - it is causing confusion. This is a perfectly safe ingredient. People should not be blasting McD for doing what they are told they have to do, but instead forcing the issue of the pan fry to file an exemption for their product. (notice that thus far the FDA has not made a ruling on any exemptions filed...that doesn't help).
Or of course the pan fry company could certify their product. This would mean they are regularly testing the product to show it's purity. The law is good, but the cart was put before the horse."
Cynthia Kupper, RD, CD
Executive Director
Gluten Intolerance Group of NA
15110 10 Ave SW, Ste A
Seattle WA 98166-1820
206-246-6652; F: 206-246-6531
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2/10/06
"I just got off the phone with McDonald's. According to them, the French Fries haven't been changed and are still the same "recipe" that was in use last year. However, one of the processing agents (called par fry) contains wheat. The manufacturer of par fry told McDonald's that the wheat was removed from the par fry prior to use. However, McDonald's states that the new food regulations require them to state that the French Fries (or anything else processed with par fry) contains wheat if wheat was ever an ingredient of the processing agent - and even if it was "removed."
Best wishes,
Lani K. Thompson
Celiac Food SmartList for Canada
Celiac Food SmartList for USA"
www.clanthompson.com
McDonald's: Fries Contain 'Wheat, Milk Ingredients'
By David P. Hamilton of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)--McDonald's Corp. (MCD) said for the first time that its french fries contain "wheat and milk ingredients" that might cause problems for diners sensitive to these substances.
McDonald's had previously described its fries as free of substances that can cause allergic or other medical reactions in sensitive people. The Oak Brook, Ill., fast-food giant said the change in its ingredient disclosures followed its decision to conform to new federal food-labeling rules, and does not reflect any change in the
ingredients of its fries or the way they are prepared.
Some people with food-sensitivity conditions found the change alarming, largely because they had previously considered McDonald's fries safe based on information supplied by the company. For instance, some individuals with celiac disease - an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley - worried in an online forum whether the McDonald's fries had always contained gluten, despite the company's assertions to the contrary.
(This story and related background material will be available on The Wall Street Journal Web site, WSJ.com.)
Cathy Kapica, McDonald's director of global nutrition, said the company's fries include a "natural flavoring" made, in part, from extracts of wheat and dairy products. Kapica said those extracts are processed in ways designed to remove wheat and dairy proteins, which are the substances generally responsible for triggering allergies or
food-sensitivity problems.
Until earlier this week, McDonald's described the natural flavoring as safe for people with food allergies and other dietary sensitivities. On its Web site, McDonald's listed the fries on a page of menu items "for people with gluten sensitivity." On an "allergies and sensitivities" page, the fries were described as free of gluten and milk or wheat "allergens."
More recently, however, McDonald's voluntarily decided to bring its nutritional information into voluntary compliance with new Food and Drug Administration food-labeling rules that took effect on Jan. 1. Those regulations, which apply to packaged foods but not to restaurant meals, require labels to note the presence of common allergens such as milk, eggs, wheat, fish or peanuts.
Under McDonald's interpretation of the FDA rules, Kapica said, the company decided to note the presence of the wheat and dairy ingredients used to flavor its fries. "If someone is really sensitive, they need to be aware that this product was at one point derived from wheat and dairy," Kapica said.
On the other hand, anyone who has eaten the fries without incident "can continue to do so," Kapica said. "The whole reason the FDA changed the regulations was to err on the side of caution."
By David P. Hamilton, The Wall Street Journal; 415-765-6116
McDonald's director of global nutrition, Cathy Kapica, said its potato suppliers remove all wheat and dairy proteins, such as gluten, which can cause allergic reactions. But the flavoring agent in the cooking oil is a derivative of wheat and dairy ingredients, and the company decided to note their presence because of the FDA's stipulation that potential allergens be disclosed.
"We knew there were always wheat and dairy derivatives in there, but they were not the protein component," she said. "Technically there are no allergens in there. What this is an example of is science evolving" and McDonald's responding as more is learned, she said.
While the company wanted to make consumers aware that fries were derived in part from wheat and dairy sources, she said, those who have eaten the product without problem should be able to continue to do so without incident.
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