McDonald's South Africa Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, McDonald's South Africa cooks with: not stated by McDonald's South Africa; palm-rich frying fat by evidence: McDonald's corporate says palm oil is used 'as a restaurant frying oil and as a par-fry for pre-cooking of products such as French fries, chicken patties and Chicken McNuggets' in Africa (2011), and the SA fries panel is 47% saturated (7.6 of 16.3 g); modelled as palm plus an unnamed vegetable oil. Across the 160 menu items we analyzed, it averages 3.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).
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Safest Orders at McDonald's South Africa
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.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Passion Fruit McFizz | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Small) | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Large) | 0.0g |
What to Avoid at McDonald's South Africa
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chicken Sharebag | 40.0g |
| Combo Sharebag | 28.6g |
| Beef Sharebag | 23.1g |
| Chilli Cheese Tenders | 15.0g |
| Chicken Foldover Spicy | 12.7g |
Every McDonald's South Africa item, ranked
All 160 items we have for McDonald's South Africa, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Americano | 0.0g |
| Filter Coffee (Small) | 0.0g |
| Filter Coffee (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Macchiato | 0.0g |
| Rooibos Tea | 0.0g |
| Tea | 0.0g |
| Apple Juice (Small) | 0.0g |
| Apple Juice (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Apple Juice (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Apple Juice (Large) | 0.0g |
| Bonaqua Water | 0.0g |
| Cappy Apple Juice | 0.0g |
| Coke (Small) | 0.0g |
| Coke (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Coke (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Coke (Large) | 0.0g |
| Coke No Sugar (Small) | 0.0g |
| Coke No Sugar (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Coke No Sugar (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Coke No Sugar (Large) | 0.0g |
| Creme Soda (Small) | 0.0g |
| Creme Soda (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Creme Soda (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Creme Soda (Large) | 0.0g |
| Fanta (Small) | 0.0g |
| Fanta (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Fanta (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Fanta (Large) | 0.0g |
| Orange Juice (Small) | 0.0g |
| Orange Juice (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Orange Juice (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Orange Juice (Large) | 0.0g |
| Passion Fruit McFizz | 0.0g |
| Powerade Mountain Blast | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Small) | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Large) | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Small) | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Medium) | 0.0g |
| Stoney Zero (Large) | 0.0g |
| Watermelon McFizz | 0.0g |
| Espresso | 0.1g |
| Filter Coffee with Milk | 0.1g |
| Caramel Frappe | 0.2g |
| Choco Frappe | 0.2g |
| Corn (Small) | 0.3g |
| Mango Frappe | 0.3g |
| Strawberry Frappe | 0.3g |
| Cappuccino | 0.4g |
| Flat White | 0.4g |
| Iced Latte | 0.4g |
| Iced Latte Caramel | 0.4g |
| Iced Latte Hazelnut | 0.4g |
| Iced Latte Vanilla | 0.4g |
| Soft Serve | 0.4g |
| Latte Frappe | 0.5g |
| Mocha Frappe | 0.5g |
| Caramel Sundae | 0.5g |
| Chocolate Sundae | 0.5g |
| Plain Sundae | 0.5g |
| Strawberry Sundae | 0.5g |
| Hamburger | 0.6g |
| Corn (Regular) | 0.6g |
| Mocha | 0.6g |
| McFlurry with KITKAT | 0.6g |
| Oreo McFlurry | 0.6g |
| Cheeseburger | 0.8g |
| Hot Chocolate | 0.8g |
| Grimace Shake | 1.0g |
| Café Latte | 1.0g |
| Pistachio Iced Latte & Glazed Doughnut | 1.1g |
| Double Cheeseburger | 1.3g |
| Hash Brown | 1.4g |
| Egg McMuffin | 1.5g |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 2.0g |
| Chocolate Ganache | 2.0g |
| 4 Piece Chicken McNuggets | 2.2g |
| Sausage McMuffin | 2.2g |
| Chocolate Shake (Small) | 2.2g |
| Strawberry Shake (Small) | 2.2g |
| Vanilla Shake (Small) | 2.2g |
| Fries (Small) | 2.3g |
| Boerie Burger | 2.3g |
| Chocolate Shake (Regular) | 2.3g |
| Strawberry Shake (Regular) | 2.3g |
| Vanilla Shake (Regular) | 2.3g |
| Round Caramel Cake | 2.5g |
| Low GI Cheese, Tomato and Chicken Roll | 2.7g |
| Veggie Burger | 2.8g |
| Cheesy Jalapeño Bites | 3.0g |
| Low GI Cheese and Tomato Sandwich | 3.0g |
| Golden McFlurry | 3.1g |
| Sausage McMuffin with Egg | 3.2g |
| Chocolate Shake (Medium) | 3.2g |
| Strawberry Shake (Medium) | 3.2g |
| Vanilla Shake (Medium) | 3.2g |
| Big Mac | 3.3g |
| 6 Piece Chicken McNuggets | 3.3g |
| Fries (Regular) | 3.3g |
| Boerie & Egg Burger | 3.3g |
| Chicken Burger | 3.4g |
| Jalapeño Chicken | 3.4g |
| Mega McMuffin | 3.4g |
| Chocolate Danish | 3.5g |
| Custard Danish | 3.5g |
| Glazed Doughnut | 3.5g |
| McWings | 4.0g |
| Bran Muffin | 4.0g |
| Caramel Muffin | 4.0g |
| Choc Doughnut | 4.0g |
| Round Carrot Cake | 4.0g |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe | 4.1g |
| Boerie Burger Double | 4.1g |
| Chocolate Shake (Large) | 4.3g |
| Strawberry Shake (Large) | 4.3g |
| Vanilla Shake (Large) | 4.3g |
| Blueberry & Cheesecake pie | 4.6g |
| Fries (Medium) | 4.7g |
| Chilli Cheese Double Burger | 4.8g |
| SnackWrap | 4.8g |
| Boerie & Hash Brown Stack | 5.2g |
| Pie à la Mode | 5.3g |
| Green Salad | 5.5g |
| Fries (Large) | 5.6g |
| Low GI Chicken Club Sandwich | 5.6g |
| 2 Piece Chicken Tenders | 5.8g |
| Cajun Chicken | 6.3g |
| McCrispy Spicy | 6.3g |
| Apple Pie | 6.4g |
| McChicken | 6.6g |
| Red Velvet Round Cake | 7.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Salad | 7.1g |
| Korean BBQ McWrap | 7.2g |
| McFeast | 7.2g |
| Double Jalapeño Chicken | 7.3g |
| Breakfast Wrap | 7.8g |
| White Chocolate Doughnut | 8.5g |
| Oreo Doughnut | 8.6g |
| Spicy McWrap | 8.7g |
| Grand Chicken Classic | 9.0g |
| Grand Chicken Spicy | 9.0g |
| Homestyle Doughnut | 9.1g |
| SA Breakfast | 9.4g |
| Grand Chicken Special | 9.5g |
| Jalapeno McWrap | 9.8g |
| Lemon Pepper McWrap | 9.8g |
| Choc Chip Muffin | 10.5g |
| Chilli Cheese V-Cut Wedges | 10.7g |
| 4 Piece Chicken Tenders | 11.6g |
| McCrispy Deluxe | 11.6g |
| Blueberry Muffin | 11.7g |
| McCrispy | 11.8g |
| Chicken Foldover | 12.0g |
| Chicken Foldover Spicy | 12.7g |
| Chilli Cheese Tenders | 15.0g |
| Beef Sharebag | 23.1g |
| Combo Sharebag | 28.6g |
| Chicken Sharebag | 40.0g |
Frequently asked
Does McDonald's South Africa use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, McDonald's South Africa cooks with: not stated by McDonald's South Africa; palm-rich frying fat by evidence: McDonald's corporate says palm oil is used 'as a restaurant frying oil and as a par-fry for pre-cooking of products such as French fries, chicken patties and Chicken McNuggets' in Africa (2011), and the SA fries panel is 47% saturated (7.6 of 16.3 g); modelled as palm plus an unnamed vegetable oil. Across the 160 menu items we analyzed, it averages 3.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).
What oil does McDonald's South Africa cook with?
Our research indicates: not stated by McDonald's South Africa; palm-rich frying fat by evidence: McDonald's corporate says palm oil is used 'as a restaurant frying oil and as a par-fry for pre-cooking of products such as French fries, chicken patties and Chicken McNuggets' in Africa (2011), and the SA fries panel is 47% saturated (7.6 of 16.3 g); modelled as palm plus an unnamed vegetable oil. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does McDonald's South Africa use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates McDonald's South Africa cooks with not stated by McDonald's South Africa; palm-rich frying fat by evidence: McDonald's corporate says palm oil is used 'as a restaurant frying oil and as a par-fry for pre-cooking of products such as French fries, chicken patties and Chicken McNuggets' in Africa (2011), and the SA fries panel is 47% saturated (7.6 of 16.3 g); modelled as palm plus an unnamed vegetable oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is McDonald's South Africa seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates McDonald's South Africa cooks with not stated by McDonald's South Africa; palm-rich frying fat by evidence: McDonald's corporate says palm oil is used 'as a restaurant frying oil and as a par-fry for pre-cooking of products such as French fries, chicken patties and Chicken McNuggets' in Africa (2011), and the SA fries panel is 47% saturated (7.6 of 16.3 g); modelled as palm plus an unnamed vegetable oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at McDonald's South Africa?
Passion Fruit McFizz is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at McDonald's South Africa, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at McDonald's South Africa?
Chicken Sharebag is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at McDonald's South Africa, at an estimated 40.0g 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 South Africa 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.