GLUTEN FREE MCDONALDS??? Say whaaaat! Believe it or not there are quite a few countries offering gluten free McDonalds burgers with buns and more coeliac friendly choices! The restaurants all state that they have processes in place to minimise the risk of cross contamination, which typically involves a dedicated area of the kitchen, gluten free toaster and/or sealed gluten free bread buns.
In Europe you can get gluten free McDonalds burgers with buns in the following countries/regions:
- Andorra
- Austria
- The Canary Islands
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- Gibraltar
- Hungary
- Ibiza
- Italy
- Majorca
- Menorca
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
I’ve tried a few of these personally on my travels now, including in Austria, Ibiza, Majorca, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland and have always had a good experience with no adverse reaction (I am coeliac). I didn’t bother when we were in Italy as there was too much other amazing gluten free food there to sample! But in countries where gluten free food is not so commonplace, McDonalds can be a safe, budget-friendly food option for coeliacs.
Sadly, the UK is not yet one of the countries offering burgers but I have included some information here on what we can eat here and the questions any coeliacs will need to ask before ordering.
UK
So our gluten free options are fairly limited in McDonalds, but you don’t have to go completely hungry.
- Chips – most of the time the chips are coeliac safe – the chips are naturally gluten free and always cooked in a dedicated fryer, but you will need to check with the manager about the oil if you are coeliac. Some restaurants in the chain filter their oil rather than using fresh batches each time, so that poses a cross contamination risk. The restaurant manager will be able to tell you either way before you order.
- Burgers/other food items – there are a few other options people consider too, such as bunless burgers but note that it is a fast-paced environment and staff may not necessarily be thinking about cross contamination when they order. Here is what the McDonald’s website says about gluten free: “Several items on our menu are free from ingredients containing gluten. However, due to our kitchen set up, we cannot guarantee that cross-contamination will not occur. The items on our menu that are free from ingredients containing gluten include our French Fries, which are cooked in dedicated fryers using a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil; Hash Browns; Fruit Bags; Carrot Sticks and Shaker Side Salad® with Balsamic Dressing; as well as some McFlurry® desserts, such as the Crunchie and Dairy Milk McFlurry®. All of our permanent menu drinks are also free from ingredients containing gluten.”
McDonalds UK have explained that the reason they do not offer gluten free buns is that their kitchens here are not big enough to accommodate a separate gluten free area. Fair enough and even more excuse to go on holiday to one of the following places!
Andorra
This tiny principality falls under the Spain McDonalds umbrella and offers gluten free buns on their menu. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder with cheese, Big Mac, double cheeseburger.
Gluten free = sense gluten
Austria
Austria is right up there with Norway for me as to the best gluten free McDonald’s I have had (although Barcelona nearly stole my heart with a gluten free Big Mac). Lovely seedy bun and a very easy ordering process, as you can use the in store electronic screens to do it. I found this put less pressure on and meant I could consider my choices easily. Plus, reassuringly my burger arrived with a gluten frei sticker on it. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, Royal TS burger, double cheeseburger, McFirst Beef and Hamburger Royale Kase.
Gluten free = gluten frei
Read my gluten free Vienna, Salzburg and Zell am See guides for more gluten free Austria tips.
Canary Islands
Lanzarote and Tenerife included, gluten free buns are available at McDonalds across the Canary Islands. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder with cheese, Big Mac, double cheeseburger.
Gluten free = sin gluten
Czech Republic
Thank you to my followers for letting me know that they had good experiences eating gluten free McDonalds in the Czech Republic. Options with a gluten free bun include: McRoyale, Double McRoyale, Big Tasty Bacon and Double Big Tasty Bacon.
Gluten free = bez lepku
Denmark
Denmark can be an expensive place for dining out a quick McDonalds gluten free burger is a welcome budget lunch option. They offer gluten free sesame seeded buns at McDonalds restaurants across the country. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder, McFeast, Big Mac and Big Tasty Bacon.
Gluten free = glutenfri
Finland
Gluten free sesame seed buns are on the menu at McDonalds in Finland and burgers can be made gluten free upon request.
Gluten free = gluteeniton
Gibraltar
Gibraltar falls under the Spain McDonalds umbrella and offers gluten free buns on their menu. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder with cheese, Big Mac, double cheeseburger.
Hungary
Schar buns gluten free buns are offered at McDonalds restaurants in Hungary. Options include: double cheeseburger
Gluten free = gluténmentes
Read my gluten free Budapest guide for more tips.
Ibiza
Ibiza falls under the Spain McDonalds umbrella and offers gluten free buns on their menu. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder with cheese, Big Mac, double cheeseburger.
Gluten free = sin gluten
Italy
As one of the most coeliac friendly countries in Europe, it should come as no surprise that McDonalds in Italy offers gluten free buns. Their Gluten Free Burger option consists of two burger patties and two slices of cheese, served in a Schar bun.
Gluten free = senza glutine
Read my gluten free Italy country guide for loads of tips and about a dozen individual city guides, including for Rome, Florence and Venice! Italy is one of the best countries for coeliacs.
Majorca
Majorca falls under the Spain McDonalds umbrella and offers gluten free buns on their menu for most of their burgers. They have an entirely separate gluten free preparation area and are very stringent about avoiding cross-contamination. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder with cheese, Big Mac, double cheeseburger.
Gluten free = sin gluten
Read my gluten free Majorca guide for more travel tips.
Menorca
Menorca falls under the Spain McDonalds umbrella and offers gluten free buns on their menu. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder with cheese, Big Mac, double cheeseburger.
Gluten free = sin gluten
Read my gluten free Menorca guide for more tips.
Netherlands
Certified by the Netherlands Coeliac Society. Made to order, with strict cross contamination controls in place. Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder.
Gluten free = glutenvrij
Norway
Everyone need to know that they have gluten free McDonald’s in Norway! Gluten free buns are available for most of the burgers – I had a Big Mac with some fries (also gluten free and coeliac safe…they had sweet potato fries here too) as it just seemed wrong to miss out. They prepare the burgers in a dedicated area to ensure they are safe for coeliacs. Perfect for a quick, cheap dinner in otherwise pricey Norway. Options available include: hamburger, quarter pounder with cheese and cheeseburger.
Gluten free = gluten fritt
Read my gluten free Oslo guide for more Norway tips.
Portugal
Certified by the Portuguese coeliac society. The gluten free bread arrives at the restaurants individually wrapped and is then heated in Teflon bags to avoid direct contact with the toasters and consequently any cross contamination. Options available include: Big Mac, Double Cheeseburger, McRoyal Deluxe, McRoyal Cheese, Cheeseburger and Hamburger.
Gluten free = sem gluten
Read my gluten free guides to Lisbon or Porto for more Portugal tips.
Spain
McDonalds across Spain offers really nice gluten free buns and orders are prepared and handled in a coeliac friendly zone. I had my first ever Big Mac at a Spanish McDonalds and it was AMAZING!!! Options available include: hamburger, cheeseburger, quarter pounder with cheese, Big Mac, double cheeseburger.
Gluten free = sin gluten
Read my gluten free guide to Barcelona for more Spain tips.
Sweden
McDonalds across Sweden offer gluten free buns as a menu choice. Options include: hamburger and their website mentions that most of their burgers can be ordered with gluten free bread.
Gluten free = glutenfritt
Switzerland
Swiss McDonalds is suitable for coeliacs and kitchen staff are trained to keep products totally separate. Options available: hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger.
Gluten free = glutenfrei/ sans gluten/ senza glutine (there are three official languages in Switzerland so it depends on where you are).
I hope you found this gluten free McDonalds guide helpful! If you fancy some more gluten free travel tips please do have a read of some of my gluten free guides while you are here:
Laura x
