What oil does McDonald's fry in?
McDonald's cooks with canola-corn-soybean oil blend with natural beef flavoring (fries); no US beef tallow switch as of 2026 despite 2025 speculation.
BMedium Risk — 7.0g avg PUFA/item across 84 items
The 5 cleanest things to order at McDonald's
| Sprite | 0.0g PUFA |
| Lemonade | 0.0g PUFA |
| Premium Roast Coffee | 0.0g PUFA |
| Unsweetened Tea | 0.0g PUFA |
| Dr Pepper | 0.0g PUFA |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the McDonald's report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.