Updated 2026-08-30
McDonald's
Check what is in the current McDonald's menu before you order.
Menu items available
126
Menu items that contain additives
85%
Menu items that contain seed oils
49%
Additives
List of additives used at McDonald's
Potassium sorbateLimitedUsed in 55 menu itemsMono- and diglyceridesLimitedUsed in 51 menu itemsModified food starchLimitedUsed in 50 menu itemsDextroseModerateUsed in 41 menu itemsCaramel colourLimited · Restricted - CaliforniaUsed in 36 menu itemsCarrageenanLimitedUsed in 36 menu itemsHigh-fructose corn syrupModerate · Restricted - CodexUsed in 33 menu itemsSodium phosphateModerate · Restricted - USUsed in 32 menu itemsXanthan GumLimitedUsed in 30 menu itemsCalcium phosphatesLimitedUsed in 26 menu itemsSodium benzoateLimited · Restricted - CanadaUsed in 25 menu itemsMaltodextrinLimitedUsed in 24 menu itemsMonocalcium phosphateLimitedUsed in 22 menu itemsPolysorbate 80LimitedUsed in 20 menu itemsCarboxymethylcelluloseLimited · Restricted - EU infant-use restrictedUsed in 19 menu itemsGuar gumLimited · Banned - EU infant-use restrictedUsed in 19 menu itemsSodium acid pyrophosphateModerate · Restricted - Allowed with use limitsUsed in 17 menu itemsDATEMLimitedUsed in 16 menu itemsSodium aluminum phosphateLimitedUsed in 14 menu itemsArtificial flavouringLimitedUsed in 12 menu itemsPropylene glycolLimitedUsed in 12 menu itemsArtificial food colouringHigh · Banned - Red 3 revoked; school bansUsed in 11 menu itemsEDTALimitedUsed in 11 menu itemsPaprika and turmeric oleoresinsLimitedUsed in 11 menu itemsPropylene glycol alginateLowUsed in 9 menu itemsSodium stearoyl lactylateLimitedUsed in 9 menu itemsDipotassium phosphateModerateUsed in 7 menu itemsBeta-carotene / β-apo-8′-carotenalLimitedUsed in 6 menu itemsPolysorbate 60LimitedUsed in 6 menu itemsSodium nitriteModerateUsed in 5 menu itemsAnnattoLimitedUsed in 4 menu itemsMonosodium glutamateLimited · Restricted - US-GUUsed in 4 menu itemsSodium erythorbateLimitedUsed in 4 menu itemsAspartameLimitedUsed in 2 menu itemsNatamycinLimitedUsed in 2 menu itemsSaccharinLimited · Banned - Revoked in USUsed in 2 menu items
Seed oils
List of seed oils used at McDonald's
Soybean OilLimited · Restricted - Broad use is allowed; Louisiana requires a future food-service disclosure notice for seed oils, including soybean oil, but no sale ban was found.Used in 53 menu itemsCanola OilLowUsed in 37 menu itemsSunflower OilLimited · Restricted - LouisianaUsed in 21 menu itemsCorn OilLimitedUsed in 11 menu itemsCottonseed OilLimitedUsed in 3 menu items