Wendy’s

Updated 2019! Wendy’s is one of the largest burger chains in North America. The bulk of the restaurants are in the U.S. and Canada, but there are some other locations in South America, Asia, and beyond.

For the U.S. and Canada, Wendy’s allergen information is available via their interactive menu and upon request. However, they no longer update an allergen chart online. So it took a bit of sleuthing to update our dairy-free list this year! The specifics listed are from the U.S. allergen details, but I’ve also included a link to Canada’s interactive menu below. It is possible for menu items and ingredients to vary between countries.

No Dairy (Milk-Based) Ingredients (see disclaimer below)

• Breakfast (see Allergen Notes below) – Seasoned Homestyle Potatoes
• Sandwiches (see Allergen Notes below) – Jr. Hamburger, Hamburger (without cheese), Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Homestyle Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Premium Cod Sandwich (seasonal)
• Bread & Buns (see Allergen Notes below) – Sandwich Bun, Premium Bun, Tortilla
• Sandwich & Salad Proteins (see Allergen Notes below) – Jr. Hamburger Patty, Hamburger Patty, Grilled Chicken Breast, Spicy Chicken Breast, Homestyle Chicken Breast, Crispy Chicken Patty, Premium Cod (seasonal), Applewood Smoked Bacon
• Other Chicken (see Allergen Notes below) – Crispy Chicken Nuggets, Chicken Tenders
• Kids’ Meal (see Allergen Notes below) – Kids’ Nuggets, Chicken Tenders, Kids’ Hamburger
• Sides – French Fries (see Allergen Notes below), Plain Baked Potato, Chili (see Allergen Note below), Apple Bites, Hot Chili Seasoning Packet, Saltine Crackers
• Salad Dressings & Toppings – Apple Cider Vinaigrette, Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing, Roasted Tomato Salsa, Taco Chips
• Dipping Sauces (see Allergen Notes below) – Honey Mustard, Barbecue, Sriracha, Sweet & Sour
• Sauces – Smoky Honey Mustard Sauce, Tartar Sauce, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard

Allergen Notes

In the past, Wendy’s only cooked dairy-free items in their fryer, but this changed in January 2019. They launched three new hamburgers with an onion tangler topping that contains a milk allergen.  The onion tanglers are finished in Wendy’s fryers and may introduce a milk allergen to other items that are fried in the same oil. This may include their French fries and all fried chicken menu items. It does not mean those items contain milk as an ingredient, but they now have potential cross-contamination risk.

They also have potential cross-contamination issues with the hamburger patties (also used in the chili) due to cheeseburgers cooked on the same grill. That is why the chili was confusingly labeled as “contains milk” according their customer service.

According to Wendy’s, their buns are toasted in a common toaster with products that contain Egg, Milk, and Soy. Untoasted buns are available upon request.

Wendy’s no longer lists out their sauces online, so we could not confirm which dipping sauces are still available and if the ingredients are still dairy free. As always, check the ingredients in store to verify.

The roasted nuts used on Wendy’s salads do contain lactose. You might be able to order some salads dairy-free without the nuts, cheese, and with a dairy-free dressing option.

More Details from Wendy’s

Allergen Disclaimer from Wendy’s: We provide known instances of allergens; however, please understand that cross contact is possible due to common handling and preparation areas in our restaurants. We are unable to guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of allergens. Customers with allergies and sensitivities should exercise judgment when ordering.

Restaurant Website: www.wendys.com

U.S. Allergen Information: menu.wendys.com/en_US/categories/?_ga=2.212351956.19701979.1533412432-428450530.1533412432

Canada Allergen Information: menu.wendys.com/en_CA/categories/?_ga=2.16674934.19701979.1533412432-428450530.1533412432

*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: January 23, 2019