beef in french fries??????
By kristenc
@kristenc (107)
United States
December 3, 2010 11:47pm CST
Since my son has severe food allergies to milk, eggs and beef a couple of months ago I went from website to website of fast food places and compiled a list of what he could eat from each place, so we would know in the future and so his grandparents would know where he could and could not go. Now moss places you would think, okay possibly milk or eggs found in the chicken nuggets or tenders(breading). And then of course, he is allergic to beef, so no burgers. And we also have to worry about cross contamination. Some places cook the fries in the same oil they cooked the chicken in so, then that would rule out fries.
Well, every website was real informative, they even specified which ones were good or bad about cross contamination. But the biggest shocker I found was that McDonalds french fries contain beef. Beef?! Yes, beef flavoring. UGH. So the most loved fast food resteraunt by almost every kid everywhere, my child can't eat at anymore because about the only thing he can have is a salad, chicken strips ( not nuggets) and a drink.
But on a positive note...Burger King is safe(r). He CAN eat the fries, he can have the chiken fries (not the kids kind though, those have milk) and there are several more things he can have. So what we normally do is I order a chiken fries meal and a 6 pc. kids meal, and I eat the kids meal, and give him the toy, and he usually has some of his meal left over for later!
But, really, beef?? In fries? Just something random to think about...
2 people like this
5 responses
@MakingCents (743)
•
4 Dec 10
cross contamination is a big deal for people doing a gluten free diet as well. I know it doesn't help your son, but I know that McDonalds promises not to cross contaminate, so as long as your are not sensitive to any of hte foods in the actual french fry recipe you will be ok. I know there are a few places who fry their fries in PEANUT oil. That shocked me with how severe some people's peanut allergies are. How can they do this, and especially how can they do it with out some sort of signage. Having food allergies makes eating out a nervous thing to do because you are trusting others to prepare your food a safe way.
1 person likes this
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
4 Dec 10
I don't know if I would trust their promise of not cross contaminating. A lot of the people who work at mcdonals are young kids who might not quite understand the full implications. As a vegetarian I quite regularily watch people at subway use the same gloves to touch the meat as they do veggies.
@kristenc (107)
• United States
4 Dec 10
We don't do subway either because they don't change their gloves and sometimes they don't clean the knives in between sandwiches! It has really just gotten to where we can't eat out much because I just don't feel as safe about it. I just make his food.
@foofermen (500)
•
4 Dec 10
I have worked at McDonalds and it is true true true. I was the oldest worker on my shift and the kids working there cared but only to an extent. I mean, they had just gotten out of school and now they are at work. It is hard for them to care.
To be honest, I think McDonalds should be illegal. That garbage is poisonous.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
5 Dec 10
This is funny, I read this in my inbox this afternoon, but had to leave before I could reply. Then after we ate, (my youngest son doesn't like steak so he ate McDonalds)then my older son who also read this told him, "But you're eating beef french fries." 
I thought that was amazing that they use beef or even chicken on their potatoes like that, I wonder if it is for flavor or what???
I thought that was amazing that they use beef or even chicken on their potatoes like that, I wonder if it is for flavor or what???@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
5 Dec 10
That is crazy. I wonder if the frozen french fries also have some kind of weird flavoring???
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
4 Dec 10
mcdonalds french fries used to be fried in beef fat. I remember this being a big issue with vegetarians. However, to be healthier and combat this issue mcdonalds started frying there french fries in vegetable oil. I think you probably have old information.
Obviously since its a fast food restaurant and they deal with a lot of beef and the people are not extremely knowledgeable or trained it is very possible to easily cross contaminate.
@kristenc (107)
• United States
4 Dec 10
No it is right there in the ingredients: natural beef flavor. And the beef flavor also contain milk, which my son can't have either. It is not old informtion, it came straight from McDonalds website, and all chain resteraunts are required to list their allergen and nutrition information BECAUSE of all the people out there with allergies, and food sensitivities. They are also required to keep them updated. I got THAT information from one of the Kids with Food Allergies networks I belong to. Believe me, I check and double check everything because of the severity of his allergies.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
10 Sep 11
Hi, kristenc. I am sorry that your son can't eat beef because he is allergic to it. Having beef in french fries, sounds very delicious though. I would love to eat french fries that has beef in it. I wished that your son could eat french fries without, being allergic to it.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
5 Dec 10
As a vegetarian, this concerned me as well.. I just stay away from McDonalds, because from what I heard - from friends who were employees and from their website - they used beef tallow to fry their french fries in. Its kind of unsettling if you ask me. The best bet is probably to make them at home - even though it's a pain and requires work, but at least then you know what exactly is going into it - and have complete control to leave out the bad stuff!
