McDonald’s Fries Are Not Vegan, Not Even Vegetarian

McDonald's was sued in 2001 when it was discovered that the "natural flavor"* in their French fries contained beef extract after they'd been telling customers that the French fries were vegetarian. A class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of vegetarians and McDonald's settled for $10 million with $6 million going to vegetarian organizations.

When several vegans and vegetarians told Animal Rights attorney, Doris Lin of About.com Animal Rights, that the French fries are now vegan and/or vegetarian, she had to double check. When she contacted the company through their website, McDonald's response was as follows:

"With regard to our French fries, any customer in the U.S. who contacts McDonald's USA to ask if they contain beef flavoring is told 'yes.' For flavor enhancement, in the U.S., McDonald's French fry suppliers use a very small amount of beef flavor as a natural flavoring during the par-frying process at the potato processing plant. In the restaurant, the French fries are cooked in vegetable oil. In addition, we have no plans to change the way we prepare our French fries in the U.S. However, it is important to know that our French fries are prepared differently in other countries."

Source: http://animalrights.about.com/b/2011/10/26/mcdonalds-french-fries-still-not-vegetarian.htm