New Mcdonalds Story...

[psawyer]

CNN just posted a story online under the title:

McDonald's fries come with a surprise

It's here: Open Original Shared Link

[VydorScope]

CNN just posted a story online under the title:

McDonald's fries come with a surprise

It's here: Open Original Shared Link

"If they're saying there's wheat and dairy derivatives in the oil, as far as anyone with this disease is concerned there's actually wheat in it," said New York resident Jillian Williams, one of more than 2 million Americans with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten.

"They should have disclosed that all along," she said. "They should never have been calling them gluten-free."

WOOT! YOu go girl!

[bluelotus]

I scrolled through to see if anyone posted the chicago tribune version (google "celiac disease" and it comes up). This was a very frustrating article to read and I don't have time to email the author. Basically the doctor is quoted as saying "Well, if you haven't had problems eating them before, you don't need to stop eating them" and the doc also says that the processing removes the gluten. Grrrrrrr. 1) Not everyone gets sick from all gluten - plenty of celiacs can tolerate CC and even larger amounts of gluten without getting visibly ill and 2) how does this doc know that frying removes gluten? Did you all ever settle that one or is it still pretty certain that the gluten is not removed? Sorry, had to stop following the 20+ page thread about it - it was too long to keep up with after my busy week!

[VydorScope]

I scrolled through to see if anyone posted the chicago tribune version (google "celiac disease" and it comes up). This was a very frustrating article to read and I don't have time to email the author. Basically the doctor is quoted as saying "Well, if you haven't had problems eating them before, you don't need to stop eating them" and the doc also says that the processing removes the gluten. Grrrrrrr. 1) Not everyone gets sick from all gluten - plenty of celiacs can tolerate CC and even larger amounts of gluten without getting visibly ill and 2) how does this doc know that frying removes gluten? Did you all ever settle that one or is it still pretty certain that the gluten is not removed? Sorry, had to stop following the 20+ page thread about it - it was too long to keep up with after my busy week!

With the excpetion of one or 2 ppl that want to take a wait and see approach, no one here seems to belive there is any way frying will remove the gluten in any way shape or form. No scientific data or testing has been done (or if it has, its not been released) to back up anything that McDondals is claiming at this point.

Since soooooo many ppl on this board react to thier fries, all of which have celiac disease, their is little reason to blieve such a claim with out good hard proof, which McDonalds will not even give lip service too.

[jaten]

With the excpetion of one or 2 ppl that want to take a wait and see approach, no one here seems to belive there is any way frying will remove the gluten in any way shape or form. No scientific data or testing has been done (or if it has, its not been released) to back up anything that McDondals is claiming at this point.

As sort of one of the "wait and see" people I'd like to clarify. I don't want to wait and see if frying removes the gluten. Nope. None of us believe that. I am curious what the parts per million wheat content of the fries is. If it's less than 10 or 20 ppm almost everywhere this is considered gluten-free. More than that and I have SERIOUS issues with what McD has done. WHERE'S THE TESTING???? I'm surprised we're not getting numbers yet from some independent party.

Anyone have any word on testing????

[teankerbell]

Last week I noticed the discrepency between their allergy list and ingredients list. The allergy list said it the fries were gluten free, the ingredients had wheat and milk listed. I was NOT happy when I saw that - it is confusing, then it came out in the news! I guess enough of us complained because before the news broke it was corrected on their website!

[Jeff and Lisa]

What I find horrible is they knew wheat was an ingredient but added it to their gluten-free list anyway. We have been bringing our 4 year old to McDs weekly for the last couple years so she could eat out/socialize with her friends like any other kid. We did this having faith in the "gluten-free" list. Pretty naive. After explaining to our little celiac that she could no longer eat McDs fries and why, she told us she wanted to go tell the restaurant people how mean they are. I have seen several posts here about class action lawsuits. Anyone going to get that started? I am not typically this kind of person, but intentionally putting my little girl in danger really pushes my buttons. (Lots of expletives left out)

Jeff

[gemma]

I have seen several posts here about class action lawsuits. Anyone going to get that started?

I'll chime in too. I just can't believe they did this, and it makes me wonder what other companies are doing the same thing; saying they have gluten-free products to get more business. I've had a lot of problems over the past year, and fairly certain McD's fries were getting to me. I never ate at McDonald's often, but once a month was too often now that I know this. I haven't got a clue about class action lawsuits, but I'm looking into it. As far as we know, I am the only person in my family ever to have Celiac, but I'm having my 4 kids tested this year just in case. I can only imagine how you parents must feel after finding out McDs has betrayed you and your children. It drives me crazy thinking about it.

[gemma]

Open Original Shared Link

some info on how class-action suits work and strategies on how to get around all the politics involved. I personally would really like to see this work. Lets get big Corporations to think twice about playing the games McD's plays.

[pixiegirl]

I have a question... is it possible for say... me to test McDonalds fries? I mean what is stopping me from buying some fries and sending them somewhere to test for gluten. I know that this doesn't mean that the results I get would be the same for every McDonalds but I'm just sort of wondering out loud here.

Does anyone know where you can send something to have it tested?

Susan

[jerseyangel]

Susan--that's a really interesting question! I don't know where you could have it done, but I'm sure someone will.

[Guest BERNESES]

Susan- I know when I called Amy's Kitchen about a reaction, they sent a sample to the University of Nebraska to have it tested. They can only test down to I belive 10 ppm. I don't know what the cost would be, but it's worth looking into.

I'm not a big fan of lawsuits either (and I don't eat their fries) but the fact that they put children in danger INFURIATES me.

[Guest nini]

try explaining this situation to a wide eyed five year old who already feels different from her friends, and now she can't go have fries with her friends at McD's anymore... It's been absolutely devastating for her. I'm not a lawsuit type person, but this whole situation makes me so angry. I feel betrayed, let down... all that jazz... I know that there are still some foods left on McD's gluten free list, but I for one do not trust them at all and am boycotting them on principal. I'm also telling everyone I know to boycott McD's...

[aaascr]

Susan

Yes, there are places that do testing.

I used to work for a research lab -

it's not cheap though! There are

a few in the Atlanta area....

You would have to call the lab and ask

for particulars in terms of how to package

and ship them as well as what kind of quantity

they would need etc.

[Jeff and Lisa]

Several months ago I saw an ad/article about a home gluten testing kit to test food. I do not recall the manufacturer info but I just did a search and found

Open Original Shared Link

It might be cheaper than sending food to a lab but I do not know how reliable it is either.

Jeff

[pixiegirl]

What does, "its not cheap" mean.... $100 or $500 or $1000?

I'm not sure how to find a lab that does it, when I google it I keep getting labs that test people for Celiac not french fries!

Susan

[celiac3270]

You can get home testing kits, but they're unreliable and expensive (for just testing food).

BTW, Susan, my 10-year-old brother says your dog is cute

[pixiegirl]

Your 10 year old brother is a genius!

Like other dog crazy people my dogs have a web site. Have that adorable brother of yours look it!

Open Original Shared Link

Susan