McDonald's Australia Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, McDonald's Australia cooks with: Canola oil blend (canola oil, high-oleic canola oil and sunflower oil) for frying fries, hash browns, nuggets and other fried items; palm-oil-free since February 2015. Across the 36 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
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Safest Orders at McDonald's Australia
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Cheeseburger + Coca-Cola, 6.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chocolate Thickshake | 2.0g |
| Bacon & Egg McMuffin | 5.0g |
| Sausage McMuffin | 6.0g |
| Brekkie McWrap | 6.0g |
| Cheeseburger | 6.0g |
What to Avoid at McDonald's Australia
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| World Famous Fries (Large) | 13.0g |
| Double Chicken Deluxe | 13.0g |
| McSpicy Chicken Burger | 12.0g |
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 12.0g |
| Bacon Chicken Deluxe | 11.0g |
Every McDonald's Australia item, ranked
All 36 items we have for McDonald's Australia, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Coca-Cola | 0.0g |
| Frozen Coke | 0.0g |
| Coca-Cola No Sugar | 0.0g |
| Soft Serve Cone | 1.0g |
| Hot Fudge Sundae | 2.0g |
| Chocolate Thickshake | 2.0g |
| Caramel Sundae | 2.0g |
| McDonaldland Cookies | 3.0g |
| M&M Minis McFlurry | 3.0g |
| Oreo Cookie McFlurry | 3.0g |
| Coffee Frappe | 3.0g |
| Hotcakes with Butter & Syrup | 4.0g |
| Bacon & Egg McMuffin | 5.0g |
| Apple Pie | 5.0g |
| Sausage McMuffin | 6.0g |
| Brekkie McWrap | 6.0g |
| Hash Brown | 6.0g |
| Cheeseburger | 6.0g |
| Sausage & Egg McMuffin | 7.0g |
| Big Mac | 7.0g |
| Double Cheeseburger | 8.0g |
| Onion Rings | 8.0g |
| Filet-O-Fish | 8.0g |
| McChicken | 9.0g |
| Big Brekkie Burger | 9.0g |
| Chicken McNuggets (6pc) | 9.0g |
| Chicken McBites | 9.0g |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 9.0g |
| Classic Angus Burger | 10.0g |
| World Famous Fries (Medium) | 10.0g |
| Chicken Deluxe | 10.0g |
| Bacon Chicken Deluxe | 11.0g |
| McSpicy Chicken Burger | 12.0g |
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 12.0g |
| World Famous Fries (Large) | 13.0g |
| Double Chicken Deluxe | 13.0g |
Frequently asked
Does McDonald's Australia use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, McDonald's Australia cooks with: Canola oil blend (canola oil, high-oleic canola oil and sunflower oil) for frying fries, hash browns, nuggets and other fried items; palm-oil-free since February 2015. Across the 36 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.4g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does McDonald's Australia cook with?
Our research indicates: Canola oil blend (canola oil, high-oleic canola oil and sunflower oil) for frying fries, hash browns, nuggets and other fried items; palm-oil-free since February 2015. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does McDonald's Australia use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates McDonald's Australia cooks with Canola oil blend (canola oil, high-oleic canola oil and sunflower oil) for frying fries, hash browns, nuggets and other fried items; palm-oil-free since February 2015, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is McDonald's Australia seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates McDonald's Australia cooks with Canola oil blend (canola oil, high-oleic canola oil and sunflower oil) for frying fries, hash browns, nuggets and other fried items; palm-oil-free since February 2015, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at McDonald's Australia?
Chocolate Thickshake is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at McDonald's Australia, at an estimated 2.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at McDonald's Australia?
World Famous Fries (Large) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at McDonald's Australia, at an estimated 13.0g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
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See where McDonald's Australia lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.