People with celiac disease can celebrate: In-N-Out is a reasonably safe choice for fast food that is gluten-free.

One of the most challenging aspects of traveling with celiac disease is deciding where to eat while on the move. This is something I am very familiar with. I used to avoid dining at restaurants that were not completely gluten-free for fear of cross-contamination.

Unfortunately, many small, family-run restaurants have closed their doors permanently due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining a restaurant is already costly, and having one that caters specifically to gluten-free customers can be even more financially challenging. While having a dedicated gluten-free eatery is a blessing for individuals with wheat allergies or autoimmune disorders, some people still mistakenly believe that gluten-free cuisine lacks the flavor and quality of traditional wheat-based food.

That was why I was a stammering bundle of nerves when I showed up to my first In-N-Out just outside of San Diego.

Since an incident involving severe cross-contamination in 2018 that landed me in the hospital, I have only dined at establishments that are exclusively gluten-free. I have been extremely cautious about social gatherings and have limited my food shopping to places where I can oversee the preparation to avoid any potential risks.

That was why I told my coworkers to just drop me off at a local grocery store so I could pick up my go-to travel dinner of pork rinds, cold cuts, and cheese to make my own mini charcuterie. However, one of my coworkers’ brothers, who also grew up celiac, apparently went to In-N-Out all the time growing up and had never gotten sick once.

Caving to peer pressure, I finally gave in. I agreed to go with them under the condition that I talk to the employee at the counter and see what measures were in place to prevent cross-contamination. If my fears were assuaged, I would order… something. If not, I would just head back to the local grocery store and spend the night wrapping pork rinds in stringy cheese.

I let my coworkers order first so that I would get a separate ticket for my allergy. When it was my turn to order, I nervously stammered out, “Hi, I’ve never eaten at In-N-Out before because I have celiac disease and I get very sick if there is any gluten cross-contamination. What measures do you have in place to make sure people with gluten allergies don’t get sick eating here?”

In a rare stroke of luck, the restaurant was not crowded (I was the only one in line) and the employee was actually really well-trained. He proceeded to explain how they make sure to cook their onions on a separate grill from the burgers and that all employees change their gloves before handling a gluten-free order. Fries were naturally gluten-free, since they were the only thing that went in the fryer, so the only thing I had to worry about were the buns.

Guided by the advice of my coworkers, I was told to get a double-double, protein-style, animal-style burger. Double-double means that there were two cheese-covered patties, while “animal style” refers to a mustard-glazed patty that’s topped with grilled onions, pickles, and the restaurant’s spread. Protein-style means wrapped in lettuce. Nervously, I said I wanted a protein-style double-double, no onions, no sauce, and nothing like that. Right after I ordered, the employee actually stepped away from the register to call out that a gluten-free order was coming in. That impressed me. I was also pleased to see that the receipt was marked with an allergy too.

Needless to say, I got my burger and it was delicious – so much so, that I decided to get another one: animal-style. I waited ten minutes between burgers and didn’t have any signs of a reaction, so I thought I was okay. And I was right. I waited all night like I was about to have a heart attack, but I was fine. I ate at In-N-Out and I didn’t get sick. It was a miracle. I ate at a fast-food establishment for the first time since I was diagnosed with celiac disease over fifteen years ago and did not get sick. It felt like a miracle, yet I felt more normal than I ever have in my entire life.

Fortunately, there are many things that you can order at In-N-Out that are gluten-free, since the only thing that has gluten are the buns. Following my experience, a spokesperson for the fast food franchise told me that many of the items on the Not-So-Secret menu are gluten-free and able to be customized as such.

For example, not only do the burgers come animal-style. You can also get animal-style fries, which have grilled onions, a slice of melted cheese, and their signature spread. I generally don’t like eating anything that has “secret ingredients” – especially with my allergies – but a spokesperson assured me that it was completely gluten-free.

In addition, there is also a Flying Dutchman, which is a Double-Double with just two beef patties and two slices of cheese. You can order this onion-wrapped, where they essentially give you two onions to serve as buns instead. This can also be ordered animal-style, which means you’ll get the pickles, the spread, and the mustard-glazed patties as well.

There is also an option called “monkey style,” which is animal-style fries added to a burger, along with a “pup patty,” which is a plain, unsalted beef patty that can be ordered to give your dog. I haven’t tried this myself, but apparently you can just order a “meat patty, no salt,” which may be a safe bet for someone who wants to try In-N-Out with very little allergy risk.

In total, my trip to San Diego brought me to two different In-N-Out locations a total of four times. I only got lucky on my first trip; the rest of the time I went, it was extremely crowded and I had to wait in line for a while before it was my turn to order. I did not get sick any time I went, which was quite a relief. I did have to wait a long time for my protein-style burger, but I’d rather wait twice as long  than risk getting sick (even if it meant my coworkers all finished eating before I even got my food).

Unfortunately, there is bad news. When The Blast spoke with a representative for In-N-Out, they emphasized that there is no way to guarantee that eating at In-N-Out will result in a completely gluten-free experience for the customer, since there are gluten-containing items on the menu.

While she did confirm that it was standard practice for employees to change their gloves before allergy orders, she was a bit cagey when I asked if buns and onions were cooked on separate grills, or whether or not the same brush was used to apply their animal-style sauce on both buns and lettuce wraps. I’ve seen some chatter online that a squirt bottle is used in some places, while others say that they need to avoid the sauce altogether due to the contamination risk.

So, at the end of the day, it seems that In-N-Out might not be as safe as it first appeared, but I didn’t get sick, and that’s a huge win for me. But will it be a win for you? The only thing to do is head to your local In-N-Out and try it (if you are lucky enough to have an In-N-Out near you).

The most important piece of advice that I can give is to advocate for yourself at the counter. If they dismiss you and your concerns, or flat-out won’t answer your questions, just head right out the door and try another location. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t eat it. Your health is not worth the price of a burger.

But, if you’re like me, celiac and nervous about the ability to eat out with coworkers, it is worth a shot, especially if it makes you feel just a bit more like everyone else.

Have you eaten at In-N-Out while avoiding gluten? What was your experience? Are there any other fast food chains that you eat at that are great for celiacs? Let us know in the comments below!