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Wendy's Fries


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Free Food Newbie

Wendy's (at least in our area) has introduced a new item, chicken strips. As you probably can guess, they are cooked in the french fry vats and thus, the fries are contaminated with gluten.

My 3 y.o. is heartbroken. There are now NO fast food restaurants where she can eat (dairy allergy and celiac disease) a full meal.


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Guest gliX

mcdonalds?

Carriefaith Enthusiast

Some people eat at McDonalds with no problem. I personally don't, I can't risk the contamination because there's a higher chance of contamination in fast food restaurants.

For the US

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VydorScope Proficient

My son had a bad reaction to McDonalds... I wont risk it with him again. Most places I dont get fires at all. I have my own fryer, and I can trust it.

terri Contributor

I bought my own fryer and Alexia Julienned fries (they say gluten free right on the package) and they are better tasting than anything I've had in a restaurant! You just deep fry them 3 minutes and they're done. So cheer up! I'm sure she'll like "mommy's fries" better than Wendys! ;)

plantime Contributor

I make my own fries at home. The McDonalds in my area cook everything in the deep fryer, so it is all contaminated.

lovegrov Collaborator

Unless your McDonald's is one of those tiny ones in Walmart or somewhere similar they are violating basic McDonald's rules by cooking everything in one fryer. I'd complain to McDonald's headquarters.

richard


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VydorScope Proficient
Unless your McDonald's is one of those tiny ones in Walmart or somewhere similar they are violating basic McDonald's rules by cooking everything in one fryer. I'd complain to McDonald's headquarters.

richard

Rules or not, McDonalds has a bad rep for doing that... wont trust my son's gut to them, made that mistake once before I knew better and thats enough.

Carriefaith Enthusiast

I also cook my own fries at home. I got nasty reactions from MacDonalds fries every time I eat them and they were cooked in a separate fryer. Go figure <_<

lovegrov Collaborator

Let me add that I didn't eat at McD even before celiac. Can't stand their food.

richard

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator

Alexia fries are great!

I like the garlic herbed fries (just like Gordon Biersch fries!!) and the olive oil and sea salt fries (bigger cut - like Texas fries)

Yum yum

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
Alexia fries are great!

I like the garlic herbed fries (just like Gordon Biersch fries!!) and the olive oil and sea salt fries (bigger cut - like Texas fries)

Yum yum

Your definitely right about that.

Alexia fries are the best and they have multiple gluten free kinds that say it right on the bag :D

plantime Contributor
Unless your McDonald's is one of those tiny ones in Walmart or somewhere similar they are violating basic McDonald's rules by cooking everything in one fryer.

Basic rules or not, it happens all the time around here. The turnover of help is so high, that I am not sure they actually take the time to train the cooks completely. I will just not eat the fries!

jenvan Collaborator

The Alexia fries are a hit in my house too !

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Guest gliX

I work part time at Mcdonalds for some extra cash. The fries are cooked separately from everything else. The meat is cooked in these little ovens and there is definitely no cross contamination. But, thats just the one where I live.

terri Contributor

Jen

Thanks for posting the website. However, when I went there I found they have added lots of new gluten containing products! So, I wrote them the following:

Hello,

I notice you have added breads and onion rings and other products containing gluten to your repertoire. How does that affect the gluten free status of your fries? Are these gluten containing products run on the same lines or cooked together with the fries? Are the onion rings cooked in the same oil as the fries? Can the flour from the breads accidently contaminate the fries?

The Celiac community applauds your gluten free fries and loves them dearly, however, as our health is dependent upon being totally free from gluten, we would appreciate a quick and speedy answer.

Thank you,

Terri

So, we'll see what they have to say. Keep your fingers crossed!

  • 1 month later...
egoslayer1 Newbie

I can't speak for McDonalds, I won't eat there, but as an example.

Wataburger has a policy that says the onion rings and fries don't go in the same vat (fries still aren't safe because they cook the apple pies in the fry grease). I sat there and watched them put onion rings in the fry vat and asked them about it.

I said "aren't the onion rings not supposed to be cooked in the french fry vat?"

I was told "yes, but we do it anyway". with a shrug

End result, unless the chain doesn't carry anything fried that has gluten in it, I would assume the grease isn't safe for the french fries. Apple pies, onion rings, curly fries, all are gluten infested and often one of those shares the fry grease even by policy.

ES

===

Jen

Thanks for posting the website. However, when I went there I found they have added lots of new gluten containing products! So, I wrote them the following:

Hello,

I notice you have added breads and onion rings and other products containing gluten to your repertoire. How does that affect the gluten free status of your fries? Are these gluten containing products run on the same lines or cooked together with the fries? Are the onion rings cooked in the same oil as the fries? Can the flour from the breads accidently contaminate the fries?

The Celiac community applauds your gluten free fries and loves them dearly, however, as our health is dependent upon being totally free from gluten, we would appreciate a quick and speedy answer.

Thank you,

Terri

So, we'll see what they have to say. Keep your fingers crossed!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator

FYI,

The Wendy's near me does keep the fries and chicken strips in separate fryers. The manager told me they were cognizant of cross-contamination.

I am still concerned as the fries and the chicken strips are separated under the heat lamp by a piece of metal and the "fry scooper" and "chicken tongs" are kept in the same shelf...

Bummer...

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