Apple pie is traditionally made with shortcrust pastry that contains eggs. But what about McDonald’s apple pie. Is McDonald’s apple pie vegan or not?
Well, the answer is far from straightforward. Whether McDonald’s apple pie is vegan or not depends on how strict of a vegan you are. It also depends on where you order it, as the ingredients are different in different McDonald’s restaurants across the world.
In this article, I’ll give you all the info to help you decide whether McDonald’s apple pies are suitable for your vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.
While you’re here, you may also want to look at these guides that I’ve also written:
- Are McDonald’s Fries Vegan or Vegetarian?
- Are McDonald’s Hash Browns Vegan or Vegetarian?
- What’s Vegan at Burger King?
If you just want the short version, take a look at this table which shows how McDonald’s apple pies are different in each country…
| Country | Vegetarian ingredients? | Vegan ingredients? | Cooked separately? | Guaranteed free of contamination? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | YES | YES | YES | NO |
| USA | YES | YES | YES | NO |
| Canada | YES | YES | YES | NO |
| Australia | YES | NO | NO | NO |
| New Zealand | YES | YES | NO | NO |
Is McDonald’s apple pie vegan?
McDonald’s apple pie is vegan by ingredient in most countries including the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand. However, in countries such as Australia, the McDonald’s apple pie recipe contains milk. There may also be cross-contamination with milk products to consider.
Read on for some more information about the McDonald’s apple pie ingredients and cooking methods in each country…
United Kingdom
Is McDonald’s apple pie vegan in the UK?
In the UK, McDonald’s apple pies are vegan by ingredient and are not fried alongside animal products. However, the oil used for the apple pies is filtered using the same device as the oil used to cook chicken and fish. Therefore, there’s a small chance of cross-contamination with meat, fish and milk.
For this reason, McDonald’s apple pies cannot be certified as suitable for vegans, suitable for vegetarians or dairy-free.
UK McDonald’s apple pie ingredients:
Water, Wheat Flour, (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Apple (22%), Sugar, Modified Starch (Maize, Corn), Vegetable Oil (Palm, Rapeseed), Dextrose, Mixed Spices (Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Cassia Extract), Salt, Raising Agent (Sodium Carbonates), Invert Sugar Syrup, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Flavouring, Thickener (Locust Bean Gum), Yeast Extract, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid).
[Source]
United States
Is McDonald’s apple pie vegan in the US?
McDonald’s baked apple pie is vegan by ingredient in the United States. The apple pies are prepared off-site by Bama Companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma and baked in McDonald’s restaurants. There is no guarantee against cross-contamination with milk products.
While nothing is certified as vegan, or even vegetarian, in McDonald’s in the United States, the baked apple pies are one of only two items on the menu to have all vegan ingredients. The other is the apple slices.
US McDonald’s apple pie ingredients:
Apples (Apples, Ascorbic Acid, Salt, Citric Acid), Enriched Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Apple Juice Concentrate, Modified Food Starch, Invert Syrup, Contains 2% or Less: Yeast, Salt, Cinnamon, Sunflower Lecithin, L-cysteine (Dough Conditioner), Yeast Extract, Enzyme, Beta-carotene (Color).
[Source]
Canada
Is McDonald’s apple pie vegan in Canada?
In Canada, McDonald’s apple pies are vegan by ingredient as they do not contain any animal products in the recipe. While these sweet treats are not certified as suitable for vegans, they do not have milk listed as a potential allergen, so you can be reassured that there’s unlikely to be cross-contamination.
Canada McDonald’s apple pie ingredients:
Pastry: enriched wheat flour, vegetable oil shortening [palm oil and canola oil and modified palm oils, soy lecithin, natural butter flavour, citric acid, colour (beta carotene)], water, sugar, yeast, salt, l-cysteine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid, filling: apples (apples, ascorbic acid, salt, citric acid), glucose-fructose, water, sugar, sorbitol, dextrose, sodium alginate, sodium citrate, spice, salt, dicalcium phosphate, modified corn starch, citric acid, natural flavour (plant source), topping: sugar, spices
[Source]
Australia
Are Australian McDonald’s apple pies vegan?
Unlike in other countries, McDonald’s apple pies are not suitable for vegans in Australia. This is because they contain whey powder which is made from cows milk. They are, however, suitable for vegetarians.
Australia McDonald’s apple pie ingredients:
Apple (Antioxidants (300, 330)), Wheat Flour, Water, Sugar, Modified Starch (1412, 1422), Margarine (Palm Oil, Water, Salt, Emulsifiers (471, Soy Lecithin), Acidity Regulators (270, 330), Antioxidant (304), Natural Flavour, Natural Colour (160a)), Whey Powder, Iodised Salt, Dextrose, Ground Cinnamon, Mixed Spices, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Ground Nutmeg, Vegetable Gum (466), Baking Powder (Raising Agents (450, 500), Wheat Starch, Mineral Salt (170)), Thickener (415), Natural Flavour
[Source]
New Zealand
Is McDonald’s apple pie vegan in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, McDonald’s apple pies are vegan by ingredient. However, they are cooked using the same equipment as products containing egg and milk, so there is potential for cross-contamination.
Unlike apple pies, McDonald’s apricot pies are not suitable for vegans as they contain milk.
NZ McDonald’s apple pie ingredients:
Apple (Salt, Food Acid (330), Antioxidant (300), Preservative (223)), Wheat Flour, Water, Sugar, Margarine (Vegetable Oil (Palm)), Water, Salt, Emulsifier (471, 322 -Soy)), Acidity Regulator (500), Antioxidant (307b – Soy), Food Acid
(330), Colour (160a)), Flavour (Water, Humectant (1520), Natural & Artificial Flavour, Sugar, Vegetable Gum (415, 405), Colour (100, 150a)), Modified Starch (1422, 1442), Dough Conditioner (Wheat Flour, Salt, Sugar, Emulsifiers (472- Soy), 471),
Mineral Salt (500), Preservative (223)), Vegetable Gum (466), Salt (Anticaking Agent (535), Dextrose Monohydrate, Colour (160b, 100), Cinnamon, Acid (331), Nutmeg, Vegetable Gum (410), Concentrated Lemon Puree.
[Source]
FAQs
McDonald’s apple pies are made from apples, wheat flour, water, sugar, salt, starch, oil, lemon juice, spices and flavourings, as well and chemicals like acidity regulators, emulsifiers, thickeners and colours. The ingredients vary by country and in Australia the apple pies also contain milk.
McDonald’s apple pies usually don’t contain dairy, but in Australia they do. McDonald’s apple pies cannot be said to be dairy-free as there is some risk of cross-contamination with dairy products, either in the factory or in McDonald’s restaurants.
In some countries, McDonald’s apple pies are deep-fried, but in others, they’re baked. You can get McDonald’s fried apple pies in the UK, Ireland, Hawaii, Mexico, Brazil, Greece, Egypt and Hong Kong.
What can vegans eat from McDonald’s?
The vegan menu items at McDonald’s varies by country. In the UK, vegans have a great choice of options at McDonald’s, including the new McPlant burger. However, in the US there is barely anything vegan on the menu.
Of course, you may also want to pay attention to whether items are certified as vegan, or whether they just have vegan ingredients and you’re willing to ignore any issues with cross-contamination.
United Kingdom
Certified vegan items at UK McDonald’s:
- McPlant Burger
- Veggie Dippers
- Spicy Veggie Wrap
- Fries
- Hash Browns
- Apple & Grape Fruit Bag
- Carrot Bag
Vegan by ingredient items at UK McDonald’s:
- Apple Pie
- Side Salad
- Toasted Bagel (plain)
- Vegetable Deluxe (ask for no sandwich sauce)
United States
Vegan by ingredient items at USA McDonald’s:
- Apple Pie
- Apple Slices
Canada
Vegan by ingredient items at Canadian McDonald’s:
- Apple Pie
- Apple Slices
- Fries
- Fruit Smoothie Without Yoghurt
- Hash Browns
Australia
Vegan by ingredient items at Maccas in Australia:
- Apple Slices
- Garden Salad with Balsamic Dressing
- Grape Tomatoes
- Hash Brown
- Fries
- McDonaldland Cookies