Does McDonald's Have Gluten-Free Options On Its Menu?

Gluten-free menu items have been seen more frequently in recent years in restaurants across the country, but not many establishments can guarantee a completely gluten-free experience. Some, like McDonald's, don't advertise any gluten-free options at all. This doesn't necessarily mean someone with sensitivities to gluten can't ever visit the Golden Arches, but it does obligate them to be cautious with their order.

McDonald's states that because of the possibility of cross-contamination, none of its menu items are certified as gluten-free. Gluten is a protein found in an array of common grains, like wheat and barley. As one can imagine, with all the hamburger buns floating around any given McDonald's — as well as other products containing wheat — the possibility that one of those buns could come into direct or indirect contact with a gluten-free order is high. This would be the case even if the fast food titan offered gluten-free buns — which it does not.

For roughly 6% of the American population, eating foods containing the problematic protein can provoke a host of troubling symptoms, such as headaches, joint pain, nausea, and skin rashes. And approximately 1 in 133 Americans has celiac disease — a more serious affliction caused by abnormal genes that trigger an autoimmune response when gluten is ingested. For someone with celiac disease, eating at McDonald's probably isn't worth the risk of becoming ill. However, for someone with milder sensitivities, there are some options available that might be tolerable.

While there is no assurance that requesting your order be free of gluten from McDonald's will make it so, there are some options that don't include the protein in their makeup. Apple slices, many of the dessert items, and the fruit and maple oatmeal on McDonald's breakfast menu — which has been rumored to be returning to an all-day offering – don't list wheat as an allergen. So as long as they don't come into contact with any of the products that do, they should be gluten-free.

Another alternative is to order the only freshly-cooked burger you can currently get at McDonald's, the Quarter Pounder with cheese, and request it be made without the bun. Again, this won't ensure it never comes in contact with any wheat products, but the staff will attempt to accommodate your request as best they can. Most of McDonald's McCafe espresso drinks, which were missing from some menus for a spell, are also gluten-free if all you're looking for is a tasty beverage. While your choices are limited and certainly not guaranteed to be completely gluten-free, there are at least options if you are only mildly sensitive to gluten and are craving McDonald's fare.