McDonald's Fries Aren’t Vegetarian-Friendly Due to Hidden Beef Flavoring—Here’s Why

While McDonald’s fries may seem like a safe vegetarian choice, they’re not suitable for those avoiding meat. The fries contain beef flavoring, which was added after the company switched from beef fat to vegetable oils, creating a controversial ingredient that excludes vegetarians.

McDonald's Fries Contain Hidden Beef Flavor, Making Them Unsuitable for Vegetarians

The fast-food world can be challenging for vegetarians, and McDonald's french fries are a surprising example. Although some major fast-food chains offer vegetarian options, the dominant menu items at the largest chains in the U.S. are burgers and fried chicken, leaving vegetarians scrambling to find a quick meal with limited plant-based choices. Fries might seem like an obvious go-to vegetarian option, but that’s not always the case, even at McDonald's.

So, how can fried potatoes not be considered vegetarian? According to Tasting Table, the answer lies in McDonald's french fries, which contain natural beef flavor as one of their ingredients. While the fries are fried in oil, this added beef flavoring alters the dish's status for vegetarians. The ingredient list, often vague, doesn't clarify strictly which beef product is used, but it’s clear that it’s not suitable for those avoiding meat.

McDonald's Fries Contain Wheat and Beef Flavoring, Making Them Not Gluten-Free or Vegetarian-Friendly

Additionally, the beef flavoring contains wheat, meaning McDonald’s fries are not gluten-free either. This leads one to wonder why McDonald's would add this unusual ingredient. The reason stems from the company’s tradition of frying potatoes in beef fat.

For those under 35, it might seem odd that beef tallow was once used to cook fries, but in the 1990s, saturated fat was considered a significant public health concern. Before that time, McDonald's fries were cooked in beef fat. Still, due to concerns over saturated fat, many fast-food chains switched to vegetable oils like corn and soy, which are lower in saturated fat but contain higher amounts of trans fat. At the time, these changes were thought to be healthier, though today, we understand that the science around fats in food is ever-evolving.

McDonald's Shift to Vegetable Oils Retained Flavor, But Beef Flavoring Excludes Vegetarians

McDonald's switched from beef tallow to vegetable oils to respond to the health movement. However, this change significantly affected the flavor of the fries, which upset many customers. To retain the beloved taste, McDonald's added beef flavor to the cooking oil used in the factories where the fries are par-cooked and frozen before being shipped to restaurants. While this solution satisfied most customers, it inadvertently excluded vegetarians who needed to be aware of the beef flavoring.

Ultimately, the health fears surrounding saturated fat were vastly exaggerated and partly fueled by a propaganda campaign from the sugar industry, which shifted blame for poor health onto fats. However, one odd legacy of that era remains: McDonald's uses non-vegetarian beef-flavored cooking oil for its fries.