<<Disclaimer:  Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

John & Di Bohmer asked:

JDB> ... if anyone has heard whether McDonalds soft serve ice
JDB> cream is Gluten Free?

The last letter we received from them is dated June, 1993.  I think
it is still fairly current.  Their gluten-free list includes the
following desserts:

   lowfat frozen yogurt
   lowfat frozen yogurt sundaes:  caramel, hot fudge, & strawberry
   lowfat milk shakes:  all except chocolate

You may wish to write to them at their headquarters and get a more
current listing.  Contact information:

     McDonald's Corp.
     Nutrition Information Center
     McDonald's Plaza
     Oak Brook, IL  60521
     (708) 575-3663.

John & Di also asked:

JDB> ALSO, if anyone knows same for the caramel colouring in Diet
JDB> Coke &/or Schweppes Diet Cola?

First of all, I do not recommend diet drinks for children.  You
may wish to check with your pediatrician and get his/her view on
that.

A letter dated June 19, 1995 from The Coca-Cola Company states:
"...I'm pleased to tell you that you can continue to enjoy all
products of our Company, as none of them contain gluten."  It
was signed by Karlyn Kauffmann, Consumer Affairs Specialist.
This includes many popular soft drinks, such as Coke, Sprite,
Minute Maid, and Mr. PiBB.

Contact information:

     The Coca-Cola Company
     P.O. Drawer 1734
     Atlanta, GA  30301
     (800) 438-2653

Schweppes beverages are produced by Cadbury Beverages Inc.  In a
phone call on 1-3-95, Consumer Affairs Representative Kristin
Johnson stated that all their soda beverages are gluten free.  This
includes many popular brands, such as Schweppes, Hires Root Beer,
A&W, and Crush.

Contact information:

     Cadbury Beverages Inc.
     6 High Ridge Park
     PO Box 3800
     Stamford, CT  06905-0800
     (203) 329-0911

Melissa Picchini asked:

MP> ...is there any fast food chain whose french fries are safe?

Mike Jones replied:

MJ> The majority of French Fries that are available away from home
MJ> are NOT GF.  There are only a few exceptions and that depends
MJ> upon the procedures used at the restaurant.  The primary cause
MJ> of problems is cross contamination of the oil from things like
MJ> Chicken McNuggets.

I'd like to add a few points to this discussion:

  -- In most restaurants, all the deep fried food is cooked in the
     same oil.  Since many deep fried items are breaded, some gluten
     gets in the oil, and then transfers to items such as french
     fries.  Some people feel that the amount of gluten would be
     small in this case and therefore acceptable.  I do NOT agree
     with this viewpoint; in my opinion celiacs should avoid all
     potential sources of gluten.  You must make your own decision
     on this point.

  -- McDonald's has a policy of cooking their french fries
     separately from their chicken McNuggets, for taste reasons.
     However, they do use the same oil for their french fries and
     hash browns off of the breakfast menu.  Unfortunately, in the
     USA McDonald's hash browns are not GF (according to their
     "Ingredient/Product Listing for People with Food
     Sensitivities").  So the oil still becomes contaminated with
     gluten from their hash browns.  Again, use your own judgement.

--- Jim Lyles, [log in to unmask] ---
--------- Holly, Michigan, USA --------