Is McDonald's Ice Cream Gluten-Free?

Celiac.com 02/02/2024 - In our celiac and gluten-free forums, we see a lot of questions about the gluten-free status of certain foods, including McDonald's products. We've done articles on McDonald's lattes, salads and more. We've even done articles on ice cream, but, the questions keep coming. One of the most common product questions we've gotten lately is: Is McDonald’s ice cream gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? The short answer is not exactly clear.

The good news is that McDonald’s soft serve ice cream itself is generally considered to be naturally gluten-free. According to the McDonald’s website, their vanilla reduced-fat ice cream is made with milk, sugar, and cream, and does not list any gluten-containing ingredients. The only allergen listed is milk.

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Also, the Hot Fudge and Caramel sundae toppings for are currently also made without gluten-ingredients, with the only allergen listed is milk.

However, McDonald’s does not have a safe gluten-free menu for people with sensitivities to gluten. Also, according to McDonald's, they can't guarantee that any of their products are gluten-free, and are made without the risk of cross-contamination. 

Since cross-contamination could occur during the production process, we recommend that people with severe gluten allergies or celiac disease exercise caution, and speak with a McDonald’s staff member about any concerns.

If you do go for McDonald's soft serve, be sure to skip the cone, which definitely contains gluten.

As always, read labels, avoid gluten ingredients, check websites for up to date information, and stay healthy.