McDonald’s french fries are an iconic fast food item loved by millions. But few customers realize that the delicious fries contain “natural beef flavoring”, making them not vegan or vegetarian friendly. In this article, we’ll explore what exactly McDonald’s beef flavor is, why they use it, and the controversy around its use.
A Brief History of McDonald’s Fries
Up until 1990, McDonald’s cooked their fries in a mixture of 93% vegetable oil and 7% beef tallow This gave the fries their signature delicious flavor, but was high in unhealthy saturated fats.
In 1990, under public pressure, McDonald’s switched to using 100% vegetable oil to cook fries. However, to retain the familiar beefy taste, they added “natural beef flavor” to the new frying oil recipe.
McDonald’s does not disclose the exact ingredients of their natural beef flavoring, calling it a trade secret. But it likely contains flavor compounds found in beef to replicate the meaty taste.
Why Add Beef Flavoring to Fries?
There are two main reasons McDonald’s adds natural beef flavor to their fries:
-
To preserve the iconic taste customers expect from McDonald’s fries after eliminating beef tallow from the frying oil
-
As a flavor enhancer to improve taste – the umami components of beef flavor complement the starchy potato flavor
Beef tallow offered a rich, fatty mouthfeel and savory meaty notes. Recreating aspects of that flavor profile with natural beef flavorings helps retain a similar sensory experience that made McDonald’s fries so craveable.
The Controversy Around McDonald’s Beef Flavor
In 2001, McDonald’s was sued over not disclosing that their fries contained beef flavoring. The lawsuit alleged that vegetarians and religious groups who avoid beef were unknowingly eating animal products.
The controversy brought public attention to the common use of vague “natural flavors” in food labeling. While McDonald’s claimed the flavoring was imperceptible, critics argued consumers have a right to know exactly what they’re eating.
The case settled in 2002, with McDonald’s apologizing and paying $10 million to vegetarian and religious groups. Since then, McDonald’s has clarified on its website that its fries are not vegetarian or vegan certified.
However, the “natural beef flavor” remains listed innocuously among ingredients on McDonald’s menus.
What’s Actually in McDonald’s Natural Beef Flavor?
While the exact components are confidential, Reineccius, a food scientist, suggests it likely contains:
- Amino acids found in beef
- Sugars like starch hydrolysate
- Citric acid to replicate meat’s pH
- Hydrolyzed wheat and milk – common flavor starters
When these ingredients are heated, they produce the same flavor compounds formed when beef is cooked. This allows “natural beef flavor” without using any actual beef.
How Prevalent is Beef Flavoring Beyond McDonald’s?
McDonald’s fries may be the most famous example, but natural beef flavoring turns up everywhere:
- Burger King’s meatless Impossible Whopper
- Wendy’s French fries
- Domino’s meatless pizza topping
- Many flavored potato chips and snack foods
- Some vegetarian foods to improve texture and taste
If you want to avoid it, check ingredient labels carefully for any form of “natural flavoring”. It’s impossible to know the source unless specified.
Should You Be Concerned About Beef Flavoring?
For vegetarians, vegans, Hindus, and others who avoid beef for religious, ethical or health reasons, beef flavors can be upsetting and problematic. Even though the quantity is small, consumer transparency and choice are important.
However, for those who consume beef, there are no particular health issues with natural beef flavor additives. The flavors themselves don’t carry the same saturated fat, cholesterol and other nutritional factors as real beef fat or meat. It’s more an issue of personal values and beliefs than safety.
The Bottom Line
McDonald’s use of natural beef flavoring illustrates a broader issue around vague food labeling and consumer awareness. While natural flavors aren’t unhealthy in themselves, more transparency would benefit consumers so they know exactly what they’re eating.
If you want to avoid beef products, it’s unfortunately necessary to scrutinize ingredient labels for general natural flavors rather than assuming. But if you love the signature McDonald’s fry flavor, you can still enjoy it in good conscience, knowing it’s not actually derived from beef itself.
Some vegans upset McDonalds fries cooked in beef flavoring
FAQ
What is the natural beef flavor in McDonald’s fries?
Does McDonald’s use beef tallow in fries?
What is artificial beef flavor made of?
Do McDonald’s fries have animal products?
Why do McDonald’s fries have a beef flavor?
In 1990, McDonald’s bowed to public pressure and switched to frying its potatoes in pure vegetable oil. But to keep the delicious meat flavor without the cholesterol, McDonald’s added beef flavor to its fries — simply listing “natural flavors” on its ingredients list.
Does McDonald’s have beef flavoring?
According to Fox 10, beef flavoring isn’t listed as an ingredient or allergen in the marketing at McDonald’s in Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Take the U.K. for example, their fries are made using only three ingredients: potatoes, non-hydrogenated vegetable oils (rapeseed), and Dextrose (predominantly added at beginning of the potato season).
Does McDonald’s have a ‘natural flavor’?
Now, “natural beef flavor” is a standard component of McDonalds’ fries (via McDonald’s ). And though the secrecy surrounding the “natural flavor” industry runs deep — there’s probably a flavor mafia out there somewhere (kidding) — we do know a few things about this mysterious beefy addition. First off, it’s probably not made from beef at all.
Why do McDonald’s Fries taste meaty?
Now the fast-food chain adds “natural beef flavor” to its vegetable oil to give its fries their irresistibly meaty taste. Are McDonald’s french fries vegan? In the United States, McDonald’s french fries are not vegan, because the natural beef flavor is made with milk derivatives.