McDonald’s Allergen Menu (2026)
Official allergen info, the gluten-free reality, and cross-contact warnings — updated October 2026
Last checked: Oct 14, 2026~13,500 US locationsIndependent guide
Quick answer
⚠️ McDonald’s fries are NOT gluten-free — US fries officially contain wheat and milk. Nothing on the US menu is certified gluten-free (McDonald’s US Nutrition FAQ, verified Oct 2026). McNuggets contain wheat; most burgers contain wheat, milk, soy, egg, and sesame.
📋 McDonald’s publishes per-item ingredient and allergen info on mcdonalds.com and in the app. Tables below summarize the major allergens by category — always confirm on the official item page before ordering, because recipes can change.
Where McDonald’s Publishes Allergen Info
McDonald’s US publishes ingredient statements with “CONTAINS:” declarations for every menu item — on each product page at mcdonalds.com (Nutrition + Ingredients tabs) and in the mobile app’s Nutrition & Ingredients section (McDonald’s US Nutrition FAQ, verified Oct 14, 2026). The tables below are built from those official ingredient lists. US law recognizes nine major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame (sesame added by the FASTER Act, effective Jan 1, 2023).
Allergens by Menu Category
Burgers & Sandwiches
| Item | Allergens present |
|---|---|
| Big Mac | Wheat, Soy, Egg, Sesame, Milk |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | Wheat, Sesame, Milk, Soy |
| Cheeseburger / Hamburger | Wheat, Sesame, Milk, Soy |
| McDouble | Wheat, Sesame, Milk, Soy |
Sesame-seed buns (wheat, soy, sesame); Big Mac sauce = soybean oil + egg yolk (soy, egg, plus mustard); American cheese (milk, soy). Sources: NY Allergy & Sinus Centers allergen guide (2024); official ingredient lists via 2026 reproductions.
Chicken & Fish
| Item | Allergens present |
|---|---|
| Chicken McNuggets | Wheat |
| Filet-O-Fish | Fish, Wheat, Egg, Milk, Soy |
McNuggets breading: enriched/bleached wheat flour + wheat starch (“CONTAINS: WHEAT” — official list). Filet-O-Fish: pollock batter (wheat, soy), tartar sauce (egg, soybean oil), cheese (milk, soy). Sources: official ingredient lists via 2026 reproductions; Marketingscoop citing McDonald’s.
Simpler proteins carry fewer allergens — but always check
Apple slices: no listed allergens
Fries & Sides
| Item | Allergens present |
|---|---|
| World Famous Fries | Wheat, Milk |
| Hash Browns | Wheat, Milk |
“CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK” — the natural beef flavor is made from hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients (McDonald’s official ingredient list; fact-checked Oct 2025). This is why US fries are not gluten-free.
Breakfast
| Item | Allergens present |
|---|---|
| Egg McMuffin | Egg, Milk, Wheat, Soy |
| Sausage McMuffin with Egg | Egg, Milk, Wheat, Soy |
| Hotcakes | Egg, Milk, Wheat, Soy |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | Egg, Milk, Wheat, Soy |
Whole egg patty; English muffin (wheat, may contain sesame); American cheese (milk, soy); butter (milk). Sources: official ingredient lists via 2026 reproductions.
Desserts, Shakes & McCafé
| Item | Allergens present |
|---|---|
| Oreo McFlurry | Milk, Wheat, Soy |
| M&M’s McFlurry | Milk, Soy |
| Vanilla soft serve / shakes | Milk |
| Black coffee, soft drinks, apple slices | No listed allergens |
Soft-serve base = milk; Oreo pieces add wheat + soy; M&M’s add milk + soy. Shared blending spindle = cross-contact risk (allergy guide verified July 2026). See our McFlurry price guide for flavors and prices.
Gluten-Free at McDonald’s: The Honest Answer
Key facts for gluten-sensitive diners:
- Fries are not gluten-free in the US — they contain wheat and milk via the natural beef flavor. (UK fries use a different recipe — irrelevant to the US.)
- No fried item can be treated as gluten-free — shared fryer equipment across the kitchen.
- Items with no listed gluten ingredients (apple slices, black coffee) are the closest thing to safe bets — but McDonald’s still won’t certify them.
Cross-Contact & Shared Equipment
McDonald’s official US Nutrition FAQ (verified Oct 14, 2026): “despite taking precautions, normal kitchen operations may involve some shared cooking and preparation areas, equipment and utensils, and the possibility exists for your food items to come in contact with other food products, including some that may contain gluten.”
In plain terms: McDonald’s never guarantees any item is free from any allergen. Buns are toasted in shared toasters, cheese handling can leave milk traces even when cheese is removed, and fryers are shared. If you have a severe allergy, McDonald’s own guidance is to check mcdonalds.com ingredient info and consult your doctor.
Peanuts & Tree Nuts
- No peanut oil: “McDonald’s uses a vegetable oil blend” — official US FAQ, verified Oct 14, 2026.
- Peanuts are not in standard US menu items — but McDonald’s does not guarantee allergen-free preparation, and some dessert varieties can carry traces (NY Allergy & Sinus Centers guide).
- There is no official US “no peanuts in the kitchen” statement — treat any such claim as unverified.
New in 2026: California Allergen Labeling Law
📜 California SB 68 — effective July 1, 2026
The first US state law of its kind: chains with 20+ locations — McDonald’s included — must disclose all nine major allergens for every standard menu item on menus, menu boards, kiosks, apps, and delivery platforms (NY Post, June 2026; QSR Magazine, Sept 2026). New York follows with its own allergen-notice rule starting November 12, 2026.