Allergen Guide for McDonald’s Menu Items in USA
This food guide is a great resource for anyone who enjoys a Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets, or Baked Apple Pie, but wants to avoid specific ingredients due to food allergens.
The next time you’re planning a quick stop at McDonald’s, check this comprehensive allergen menu for items made with eggs, fish, milk, nuts, sesame, soy, or wheat.
The first section provides a quick overview of ingredients and food items that are regulated and thus required to be reported by food producers as an allergen.
If you’re already comfortable with which foods are allergens and understand the risk of cross-contamination, click the jump button to skip the overview.
Quick Overview of Food Allergens
Current U.S. FDA NLEA regulations require commercial food processors to disclose when major allergens, including eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soybeans, tree nuts, and wheat are used in food products.
Highly refined oil, even if derived from a particular allergen group, is exempted from federal regulation. For example, refined soybean oil is not considered a common allergen.
Many foods are cooked in common preparation areas and with shared equipment. Fried foods, for example, are almost always cooked in a shared fryer with common oil.
As a result, even foods made without specific ingredients such as nuts, fish, or wheat may contain or come into contact with allergens through cross contamination.
McDonald’s Allergen Information Guide
The following section lists McDonald’s U.S. food made with one or more major allergens.
Ingredients information is sourced from the fast food giant and based on McDonald’s menu options at locations in the United States.
Breakfast
Loyal McDonald’s guests are familiar with the famous Egg McMuffin sandwich and biscuit breakfast options.
The Big Breakfast is more than a single sandwich. It’s a heartier meal option served with scrambled eggs, hash browns, a biscuit, and a sausage patty. It can also be upgraded to include a serving of golden brown hotcakes with butter and maple flavored syrup.
A sausage patty on its own does not contain any of the major food allergens.
Here is the list of allergens in the McMuffin, Biscuit, and McGriddle sandwiches, among other breakfast items at McDonald’s.
Allergens in McDonald’s Breakfast Menu Items
| BREAKFAST ITEM | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| Egg McMuffin | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat, and may contain Sesame |
| Sausage McMuffin | Milk, Soy, Wheat, and may contain Sesame |
| Sausage McMuffin with Egg | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat, and may contain Sesame |
| Sausage Biscuit | Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Sausage Biscuit with Egg | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Sausage McGriddles | Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Hotcakes | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Big Breakfast | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Big Breakfast with Hotcakes | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Sausage Burrito | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Hash Browns | Milk, Wheat |
| Fruit & Maple Oatmeal | Milk |
In addition to milk, consumers may want to know the cranberry raisin blend in the breakfast oatmeal contains the preservative sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide contains sulfites.
Burgers
Burgers, including the classic hamburger, cheeseburger, and McDouble are made with all beef patties and served on a plain bun, which contains wheat. These burgers may also contain sesame due to possible contact with other foods.
Other burgers, including the popular Big Mac, are served on a sesame seed bun.
Here is the list of allergens for McDonald’s full menu of beef burgers.
Allergens in McDonald’s Burgers
| BURGER | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| Big Mac | Egg, Milk, Sesame, Soy, Wheat |
| Classic McDonald’s Burger | Wheat |
| Cheeseburger | Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Double Cheeseburger | Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| McDouble | Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | Milk, Sesame, Soy, Wheat |
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese | Milk, Sesame, Soy, Wheat |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe | Egg, Milk, Sesame, Soy, Wheat |
| Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese | Milk, Sesame, Soy, Wheat |
Common allergens listed for McDonald’s food apply to all available sizes of the specific menu item.
For example, the allergens in a Quarter Pounder with Cheese is the same as the allergens in a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Likewise, a regular or large Oreo McFlurry contains the same allergens: milk, soy, and wheat.
This guide is for general informational purposes only. Fast food chains and food suppliers may alter recipes without notice. Check McDonald’s website or ask a manager at the restaurant for the most up-to-date list of potential allergens. Neither Nutrition & Ingredients nor its staff assume any responsibility for individuals with food allergies. Consult your physician for health and dietary advice based on your individual needs.
Sandwiches
The following table includes chicken sandwiches and the ever popular Filet-O-Fish sandwich available at McDonald’s with the list of allergens contained in each menu item.
Allergens in Chicken and Fish Sandwiches
| SANDWICH | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| McChicken | Egg, Wheat (bun may also contain sesame) |
| McCrispy | Milk, Wheat (bun may also contain sesame) |
| Spicy McCrispy | Egg, Wheat (bun may also contain sesame) |
| Deluxe McCrispy | Egg, Wheat (bun may also contain sesame) |
| Spicy Deluxe McCrispy | Egg, Wheat (bun may also contain sesame) |
| Filet-O-Fish | Egg, Fish, Milk, Soy, Wheat (bun may also contain sesame) |
Dairy-Free Sandwich Options
The Spicy McCrispy, Deluxe McCrispy, and Spicy Deluxe McCrispy are served with Spicy Pepper Sauce instead of salted butter. These three sandwiches are dairy free options.
In addition, the McChicken sandwich is made with mayonnaise. The ingredients contain egg and wheat, but not milk.
By comparison, a McCrispy sandwich is made with a fried chicken fillet, crinkle cut pickles, and salted butter. It’s served on a potato roll. The butter is made with milk.
Accordingly, a McCrispy is not dairy-free.
The listed allergens for each sandwich are based on standard formulations and exclude any substitutions.
McNuggets and Sides
Common allergens listed for McDonald’s fries and chicken McNuggets apply to all available sizes for the menu item.
Allergens in McDonald’s Nuggets & Sides
| MENU ITEM | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| Chicken McNuggets | Wheat |
| French Fries | Milk, Wheat |
Dipping Sauces
Guests who enjoy dipping their order of Chicken McNuggets in BBQ sauce or Ranch dressing can review the following allergen grid for a list of the food allergens in dipping sauces.
Allergens in McDonald’s Sauces
| SAUCE | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| Creamy Ranch Sauce | Milk |
| Honey Mustard Sauce | Egg |
| Mayonnaise | Egg |
| Spicy Buffalo Sauce | Milk |
| Sweet ‘n Sour Sauce | Soy, Wheat |
| Tangy Barbecue Sauce | Soy, Wheat |
Sweets and Treats
Here is the list of allergens in McDonald’s sweet treats.
Allergens in McDonald’s Desserts
| TREAT | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| Baked Apple Pie | Wheat |
| Chocolate Shake | Milk |
| Hot Caramel Sundae | Milk |
| Hot Fudge Sundae | Milk, Soy |
| McFlurry with M&M’s Candies | Milk, Soy, Wheat (may also contain peanuts) |
| McFlurry with OREO Cookies | Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Strawberry Shake | Milk |
| Vanilla Cone | Milk, Wheat |
| Vanilla Shake | Milk |
Kids Menu
Each kids’ combo meal includes an entree, kids-sized order of french fries, apple slices, and a small bottle of 1% lowfat milk.
Here is the list of allergens in kids’ combo meal options, famously branded as a Happy Meal.
Allergens in a McDonald’s Happy Meal
| MENU ITEM | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| Chicken Nuggets | Wheat |
| Hamburger | Wheat |
| French Fries | Milk, Wheat |
| 1% Low Fat Milk | Milk |
Coffee Drinks
Here is the list of allergens in McDonald’s coffee drinks.
Allergens in McCafe Drinks
| COFFEE DRINK | ALLERGENS |
|---|---|
| Caramel Cappuccino | Milk |
| Caramel Frappe | Milk |
| Caramel Latte | Milk |
| Caramel Macchiato | Milk |
| Iced Caramel Coffee | Milk |
| Iced Caramel Latte | Milk |
| Iced Caramel Macchiato | Milk |
| Iced Coffee | Milk |
| Iced French Vanilla Coffee | Milk |
| Iced French Vanilla Latte | Milk |
| Iced Latte | Milk |
| Iced Mocha Latte | Milk, Soy |
| French Vanilla Cappuccino | Milk |
| French Vanilla Latte | Milk |
| Latte | Milk |
| Mocha Frappe | Milk, Soy |
| Mocha Latte | Milk, Soy |
McDonald’s staff members may take great care to follow strict safety procedures during food preparation; however, McDonald’s cannot guarantee 100% safe food options.
Normal kitchen operations have limited space. Accordingly, food is prepared on shared cooking equipment. Menu items may contain or come into contact with common allergens during the preparation, cooking, and serving process due to cross contact.
Moreover, recipes, ingredients, and product formulations change without notice and may vary by location due to any changes in McDonald’s suppliers.
Individuals with food sensitivities should discuss their concerns with the manager at the local restaurant.
FAQs
Ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts are based on available information as of the date this article was published and/or updated. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change their recipes without notice. Check directly with the food provider for the most accurate and up-to-date information. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide health or wellness advice or dietary recommendations. Our aim is to research commercially processed food and publish articles for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, % Daily Value is based on 2,000 calories per day, but calorie needs vary by individual. Always consult your physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.
Allergens, ingredients, and nutrition information source: McDonald’s