Fast Food Chains French Fries

[GeekyLilMuffin]

Up until recently I believed that most major fast food chains had switched to corn oil or vegetable oil to cook their french fries. Last night I left the dance to go to McDonalds with some friends to get something to eat. One of my friends, who knows I'm a vegetarian, informed me that the fries I bought were cooked in animal fat and I was really upset. I just really would like it if people could tell me what they knew about which fast food chains do and which don't have vegetarian fries.

[SobeVegChick]

That is truly gross. Even worse is the slow rate at which most chains change the oil. I think you are getting what you pay for when you eat fast food. Yuck.

[Jeremy]

McDonald's french fries aren't vegetarian regardless of the oil they're cooked in. They have beef extract for flavoring. As for the oil... I don't know about McDonald's, but most chains have a separate deep fryer for their french fries.

[GeekyLilMuffin]

You say that they use beef extract in the fries for flavoring? Is this true of most chains?

[MZCsmpsns]

I'm not 100% sure what fast food places have veg fries. I do know that even if they're supposed to cook them in separate fryers, they don't always do that. I know someone who works at a fast food place, and I asked about their fries, and he said they have a separate one for them, but if they need to, they'll stick chicken and stuff in there.

[sleepydvdr]

Most fast food restaurants use either beef or chicken extracts (McDonald's does use beef) for flavoring. Most restaurants use soybean oil to fry French fries. However, every individual store can decide if it wants to fry other things with the fries. Most places have a generic rule to fry fries by themselves, but I don't think this is strictly enforced.

You can ask the staff, but most of them are minimum wage and don't give a crap. I wouldn't trust them. Generally, it would be best if you ate somewhere else. Or eat something that is healthier. McDonald's does offer a vegan-friendly side salad.

Myself, I look at the whole menu to determine if the fries might be vegan-friendly. If there are no other deep-fried meats (chicken nuggets, buffalo wings, etc), then they probably have nothing else to fry with the fries. So far, there is only one such place (a crappy sub place called Penn Station) that does not offer anything else that can be fried in their oil, so when I go there, I can eat their fries. Salad and fries. What a great meal.

[hoodedclawjen]

you can look at the ingredients on their website. american mcdonalds fries do have a beef extract flavouring in their fries. british mcdonalds fries don't. canadian mcdonalds fries seem to be newly beef-free too.

i recall burgerking fries being ok last time i looked.

[AJccc4Life]

This was years ago but when I worked at McDonalds in high school although they have seperate baskets for fries and the chicken nuggets they were all fried in the same oil. They had seperate timers for them but it was the same oil. Similar to the veggie burgers being cook on the same grill they cook hamburger on. Your best option would to get something that is prepackaged like the salads at least when it comes to McDonalds.

[Jeremy]

...Similar to the veggie burgers being cook on the same grill they cook hamburger on...

That's terrible! Hehe, Burger King just nukes their veggie burgers in the microwave. This confirmed to me by a family member that has worked for BK for years now.

[Lena08-89]

Yes I know McDonalds does not have vegetarian french frie. Im glad I never eat there but thats ridiculous. apprently alot of vegetarians and vegans sued because they lied and said they were vegetarian so now they have to tell you if you ask about them..
Personally I think its sick and makes it hard to trust these damn companys... ugh

[Doktormartini]

Also not to mention that a large order of McDonalds fries has 8g of trans fats! YUM!

*gets heart attack from eating potatoes (oh wait they aren't even potatoes)*

[Jeremy]

While BK's fries seem to be fine, and their website insists they have a dedicated fryer for them... Wendy's on the other hand... :D

From Wendy's website:

"Please Note: French fries may be fried in same oil as fish fillets, french toast sticks, chicken nuggets, and crispy chicken patty."

Not that many of us are too interested in eating at Wendy's anyways especially after the "meatitarian" crap.

[Lovey]

Not that many of us are too interested in eating at Wendy's anyways especially after the "meatitarian" crap.

My co-worker thought it was funny to tell me about that new Wendy's commercial and then went on to tell me that she was a meatitarian. She thought it was so funny. I found the commercial to be quite lame. Not that I don't have a sense of humor, but it just wasn't funny.

[Fromper]

While BK's fries seem to be fine, and their website insists they have a dedicated fryer for them... Wendy's on the other hand... :D

From Wendy's website:

"Please Note: French fries may be fried in same oil as fish fillets, french toast sticks, chicken nuggets, and crispy chicken patty."

Not that many of us are too interested in eating at Wendy's anyways especially after the "meatitarian" crap.

I didn't know that about Wendy's. Not that I've eaten there since going veg, but thanks for the warning. I'll stick to Burger King and Subway on the occasions that I need to eat fast food (usually only while traveling).

--Fromper
:juggle:

[codemonkey]

In-n-Out fries are vegan and the fries are the only things they cook in the fryer. They don't have a veggie burger but they'll gladly make you a sandwich with everything but the meat and subtract the price of the hamburger patty from the price.

[Puppet Master]

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/OtherInfo/FastFoodRest.htm


It has lists of popular fast food chains with information regarding the food they sell. Whether it is vegetarian safe, vegan safe, or not safe for either.

And I also came across this through the website: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/737024543

I joined Care2 a while ago, and have been signing petitions on there for a quite some time. I'm glad they submitted it.
It would make it just so much easier for us vegetarians and vegans if companies would just label their food products safe or not. *sigh*

[SonicEarth]

Why would you be eating fast food in the first place?

[Indieorganicveg]

You say that they use beef extract in the fries for flavoring? Is this true of most chains?

No, just Mickey Icks! :brood:
Regardless, I make my own french fries, to ensure 100% healthiness and vegan-ness!

[jenni-anti-fur]

I dont really eat at these places but thanx for the info:)

[Masja]

I just looked on the Canadian Mcdonald's website and it looks as though the french fries are vegetarian. The natural flavouring is listed as coming from a vegetable source.

[danakscully64]

In-n-Out fries are vegan and the fries are the only things they cook in the fryer. They don't have a veggie burger but they'll gladly make you a sandwich with everything but the meat and subtract the price of the hamburger patty from the price.

So many people are In-n-out deprived :p I eat INO 3 times a week at least, I'm so over it :p

If anyone is ever on vacation in California, stop by In-n-out for some fresh fries!

[codemonkey]

There's an In-n-Out in my neighborhood in Arizona. I go right past it twice a day and it takes every ounce of willpower I have to not stop in for fries.

And my husband has 2 $10 In-n-Out gift cards in his wallet. He's managed to resist the temptation as well.

[danakscully64]

There are only a small handful of INO's outside of Cali. As you know, they're everywhere here :) I LOVE animal fries, but at 800 calories or so, they're evil :devil:

[Michael]

You say that they use beef extract in the fries for flavoring? Is this true of most chains?

No. McDonalds (in the US) started spraying their fries with beef fat when they switched over to vegetable oil. They're the only company that I know of that does that.

Thankfully I never liked McDonalds fries. Wendy's on the other hand... :lick: Homemade fries are great too - baked or fried. If you get a craving maybe you could try making your own.

[codemonkey]

I haven't been to a wendys since I stopped eating meat. Their fries were pretty good though. Especially when they're hot and salty. No In-n-Out (which is worth going to JUST for the fries) but still pretty good.