A&W – Canada

All A&W menu ingredients either contain dairy, may contain dairy, or were made in a plant that processes dairy.  If you are not dealing with a severe milk allergy, and traces of milk are not a concern for you, then you may be able to put together something to eat. However, avoiding cross-contamination with milk ingredients at A&W Canada will be almost  impossible. Enjoy a root beer and go somewhere else for your main course.

As of spring 2013, the A&W seasoning that formerly contained whey and is used on most of their foods, such as the burgers and fries, is now listed as being manufactured in a facility with dairy. It is unclear whether it is processed on the same line as dairy-containing products. Use caution.

No Dairy (Milk) Ingredients (use caution due to cross-contamination potential):

• Bread – Hamburger Bun, Wheat Bun, Ciabatta Bun, and Sesame Bun
• Salads – Coleslaw (but milk in manufacturing facility) and Macaroni (but milk in manufacturing facility)
• Dipping Sauces – Gravy, Honey Mustard, Barbecue, Sriracha, and Sweet & Sour (but milk in manufacturing facility for all sauces and gravy)
• Dessert – Root Beer Lollipops (but milk in manufacturing facility)

No Dairy Ingredients, but Fried in Common Oil with Dairy-Containing Menu Items:

• Chicken – Chubby Chicken Strips and Fried Chicken Pieces (but milk in manufacturing facility for all chicken products)
• Breakfast – Hash Brown (but milk in manufacturing facility), Eggs, Ham and Sausage (but milk in manufacturing facility for both meats), and Bacon (eggs, ham, and bacon are noted here since they may be cooked on same surface as dairy-containing margarine. Request griddle oil only for cooking, which is non-dairy) White  and whole wheat toasts are made in a facility with dairy.
• Fries and Sweet Potato Fries – In addition to being fried in common oil with dairy-containing menu items, the fries are seasoned with A&W seasoning that is processed in a facility with dairy.

Special Order (use caution due to cross-contamination potential):

• Burgers and Dogs – Their Pure Beef Patties are just that, beef. The seasoning used on the patties is manufactured in a facility where dairy is present. If they do have patties available without the seasoning, then this is a good option. The sesame seed buns and wheat buns “may contain traces of milk” but do not have milk in the ingredient listings. Keep in mind, the Sirloin Beef Patty, Hot Dogs, and Veggie Patties all contain milk.
• Chicken – Hold the ranch and see the above note about the wheat buns (“may contain traces of milk”). If these adaptations works for you, then the Chicken Grill Deluxe may be a good option. The sesame seed bun “may contain traces of milk”, otherwise the Chubby Chicken Burger is free from dairy ingredients, but there is milk in the manufacturing facility for all of their chicken products, and the patty is probably fried in a shared fryer with milk ingredients.
• Breakfast – Toast (whole wheat or white) hold the margarine. All jellies are manufactured in a facility with dairy; the peanut butter is not.

Restaurant Website: www.aw.ca

Ingredient Information: www.aw.ca/publicinfo.nsf/Nutrition-Nutrients2

* The above information was supplied by the corresponding restaurant via their website, customer service, or other published nutritional information.  Ingredients and menu offerings are constantly changing in the food service industry, and can be subject to interpretation.  For this reason, Go Dairy Free does not guarantee nor take responsibility for the accuracy of this information.  If severe allergies or intolerances are a concern, contact the restaurant directly before purchasing or consuming one of their products.  Cross-contamination of potential food allergens should always be considered a possibility in a fast food restaurant. 

Last Updated: August 8, 2015