Hash Browns and More Contain Animal Derivatives ‘Beef’ Flavoring, Here are the Other Items to Watch Out For, Vegan options at McDonald’s
To be perfectly straightforward, stateside, McDonald’s is not a particularly vegan-friendly option. If you’re in the mood for fast food (or limited in choice simply by what’s around), there are other chains that do plant-based better such as Burger King, Subway, and even Panda Express (goodbye Beyond Orange Chick’n, hello Eggplant Tofu).
Regardless, if you do find yourself at a McDonald’s, know that there are at least a few things you can eat. Here are all the vegan items at McDonald’s.
The McDonald’s menu is not marked with any green leaves or ‘V’ icons that indicate a vegan option, but that doesn’t mean every single item contains animal products. Here is what is vegan at McDonald’s.
McCafé Bakery and Sweet Treats
Considering vegan pastries are a rare find at most fast-food chains, we’re fairly thrilled that the flaky, sugar-dusted Baked Apple Pie is completely free from animal ingredients. For now, it’s the only vegan option on either the bakery and sweet treat menus.’
Breakfast
Don’t touch those hash browns. Unlike most fast-food spuds, McDonald’s hash browns contain animal derivatives. It’s a bit odd, as the offending ingredient is beef flavoring—which is made with milk and wheat, not beef. Avoid the oatmeal, too. It’s made with light cream. The one vegan option in the A.M. is a plain English muffin.
Beverages
Of course, there are soft drinks, but McDonald’s offers a few unique beverage options you may wish to consider. All the frozen Fanta slushies are vegan (Blue Raspberry and Coca-Cola) as well as the Honest Kids Appley Ever After Organic Juice Drink and Minute Maid Premium Orange Juice. Black coffee is safe as well, but be prepared to drink it straight or just with sugar—non-dairy milks are not (yet) available. Avoid the smoothies; they are made with dairy-based yogurt.
Sides
Surprise! McDonald’s fries are not vegan (at least in the US). Like the hash browns, they contain beef flavoring that is made from milk. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from potato products here. However, apple products seem to be in the clear. Just as the apple pie is vegan, the apple slices on the sides menu are good to go (and likely the healthiest option on the entire menu).
Burgers and sandwiches
At the moment, there are no vegan options in this category in the US … unless a condiment sandwich sounds appealing—the bun, ketchup, mustard, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles are vegan. We’d suggest seeking a sandwich elsewhere.
Sauces
Without French fries or sandwiches, we’re not quite sure what to put sauces on, but it’s always good to know what’s vegan. Along with the standard ketchup and mustard, the Tangy Barbeque and Sweet ‘N Sour dipping sauces are free from animals.
Our tip to you: take these sauces home to dip your favorite vegan nuggets.
