People horrified after finding out shocking ingredient in McDonald’s fries

A former McDonald's chef has pointed out a little-known ingredient in the chain's fries and people are shocked.

You'd think fries are a fairly simple, uncomplicated and unproblematic item to have on a menu.

Unfortunately, unless you're the sort of person to read the small print, there's an ingredient in McDonald's fries in the US which you might not've realised is there, and may make you look at the product very differently.

Mike Haracz, a 'former McDonalds corporate chef' uploaded a video to TikTok earlier this week revealing how you can recreate McDonald's iconic fries at home.

The chef emphasises you 'need to worry about the process in which you cook them because that's the only way you're gonna get them to taste like McDonald's French fries'.

First things first, Haracz says you have to start with 'great value thin cut French fries' - no surprises there.

While making sure to not overload the fryer basket and fry at the right temperature, Haracz then lets his followers know on an ingredient you'll need to recreate the fries which might come as a bit of a surprise.

Haracz reveals the fast food chain's 'World Famous fries' include the ingredient of beef flavoring.

"The last thing and most important part is the fryer oil. McDonald's does add beef flavor to their fryer oil," he says.

And indeed, the McDonald's website's full list of ingredients reads: "Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]*), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. *natural Beef Flavor Contains Hydrolyzed Wheat And Hydrolyzed Milk As Starting Ingredients."

You'll be grateful to see just because 'beef flavor' is used, that doesn't mean literal beef product is, so the fries are still suitable for vegetarians - just not vegans, which some people are pretty shocked by.

One TikTok user said: "Oooooo... i ised to know a vegan that would eat their fries.. she was also a karen, so this is funny."

An X user commented: "just found out mcdonalds fries are not vegan in the usa so now i have decided that i am going to cry the Entire time being there."

"Just saw someone say (in reference to mcdonalds) 'make fries vegan and ill eat them' ………??? Are the fries not vegan already LOL," a third wrote.

And a final TikToker commented: "Natural Beef Flavor !!?!??!? In the oil."

Thankfully, for any vegan Maccies fans in the UK, you're safe, because the UK version of the iconic fries doesn't contain wheat or milk derivatives.

UNILAD has contacted McDonald's for comment.

Topics: McDonalds, Food and Drink, US News, News, TikTok, Social Media

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.