The question I get asked most often about Five Guys is not about the burgers, the fries, or the milkshakes.
It is this: “Can I actually eat there safely with my allergy?”
And the honest answer is: it depends entirely on which allergy you are managing, how severe your sensitivity is, and how carefully you order. Five Guys is one of the most transparent fast food chains in America when it comes to allergen information. They publish a detailed Nutrition and Allergen PDF on their official website, they post ingredient information in-store, and their staff are generally well-trained on allergy protocols.
But transparency is not the same as guaranteed safety. Knowing exactly what is in every item is genuinely useful. Understanding the kitchen environment matters just as much.
This complete 2026 guide to the Five Guys allergen menu covers every food category, every major allergen, every gluten-free option available, and practical tips for ordering confidently with any dietary restriction. Whether you are managing celiac disease, a peanut allergy, a dairy intolerance, or simply trying to eat more carefully, this is everything you need before you order.
Allergen Info PDF
Five Guys Allergen Policy: What You Need to Know First
Before we get into individual menu categories, one piece of information changes everything else in this guide.
The only products Five Guys offers that contain gluten are their buns, hot dogs in Canada only, HP sauce in the UK only, and the malt vinegar condiment for fries. In Canada, the Poutine Gravy condiment also contains gluten. That is a remarkably short list for a fast food chain, and it reflects how deliberately simple the Five Guys menu is built.
However, while their crew members do all they can to avoid it, there is always a risk of cross-contamination. Five Guys recommends reviewing their Nutrition and Allergen PDF for the most accurate information.
Five Guys’ open kitchen means everything is prepared near peanuts, gluten, soy, and dairy. The grills, spatulas, and prep areas are shared. Even if an item is allergen-free by ingredients, there is always some risk. Five Guys’ official stance is that they do not guarantee any item is 100% free from any allergen due to possible cross-contact.
That honesty is worth respecting. It also means customers with severe or anaphylactic allergies need to weigh the cross-contamination risk carefully before visiting.
The Nine Major Allergens at Five Guys — Master Reference Table
Allergen | Present In |
Gluten / Wheat | Buns, malt vinegar, Oreo mix-in, REESE’S mix-in |
Milk / Dairy | Buns, American cheese, mayo, milkshake base |
Eggs | Buns, mayo, milkshake base |
Peanuts | Peanut oil (all fries), peanut butter mix-in, restaurant environment |
Soy | Buns (vegetable shortening), hot dog frank (hydrolyzed soy protein) |
Tree Nuts | Not present in any menu item or cooking process |
Sesame | Buns (sesame seeds) |
Fish | Not present in any standard menu items |
Shellfish | Not present in any standard menu items |
Peanuts are served in all Five Guys restaurants, but none of their menu items contain tree nuts. They are also not used in the cooking process in any way. However, there is always a risk of cross-contamination at their locations.
Five Guys Burgers Allergen Menu
The burger is the heart of everything Five Guys does. The good news for most allergy sufferers is that the beef patty itself is one of the cleanest items on the entire menu.
Hamburger patties are simple: 80/20 USDA ground chuck with no fillers and no binders. They are naturally free of gluten, milk, soy, and other major allergens.
The problem, as with most fast food burgers, is everything that surrounds the patty.
Burger Allergen Breakdown
Component | Gluten | Dairy | Egg | Peanut | Soy | Sesame |
Beef Patty | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Standard Bun | YES | YES | YES | No | YES | YES |
American Cheese | No | YES | No | No | No | No |
Bacon | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Mayo | No | No | YES | No | No | No |
Ketchup | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Mustard | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Lettuce / Tomato / Fresh Veggies | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Grilled Onions | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Grilled Mushrooms | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Malt Vinegar | YES | No | No | No | No | No |
Gluten-Free Burger Options in 2026
All sandwiches including burgers, hot dogs, and the veggie sandwich are available without a bun via wrap or bowl. This is the primary gluten-free ordering strategy at Five Guys.
The lettuce wrap uses fresh iceberg lettuce leaves in place of the bun. The bowl option serves your burger contents in a paper bowl without any bread component. Both are available at no extra charge and do not require anything beyond a simple request at the counter.
What to order for gluten-free burgers in 2026:
- Any burger patty in a lettuce wrap or bowl
- American cheese — gluten-free
- All fresh vegetable toppings — gluten-free
- Bacon — gluten-free
- Mustard, ketchup, hot sauce, A1 sauce, relish — all gluten-free
- Avoid: Standard bun and malt vinegar condiment
If you have a gluten allergy, tell your cashier when ordering and the team will take extra care to avoid cross-contamination by changing gloves more frequently.
Real customer experience from February 2026 confirms this protocol still holds: staff still follow the safety protocol, flag allergy orders in the system, and use a clean part of the grill for allergy orders.
Important note for celiac disease sufferers: Five Guys does not have gluten-free buns. Your only option is to either bring your own bun or use lettuce wraps available in-store. Cross-contamination risk exists in the shared kitchen environment, so inform staff clearly about your celiac diagnosis rather than just stating a preference.
Dairy-Free Burger Options
Skip American cheese and mayo. Every other standard burger component is naturally dairy-free. According to Five Guys, it is not policy to use real dairy butter at their locations. They have oil and a liquid butter product which is not dairy butter. This matters for customers worried about dairy on the grill surface.
Soy-Free Burger Options
The bun contains vegetable shortening that contains soy. Skip the bun entirely and order as a lettuce wrap or bowl. The beef patty itself contains no soy. Most condiments are soy-free.
Five Guys Hot Dogs Allergen Menu
The Five Guys hot dogs allergen profile is slightly more complex than the burgers because of one key ingredient difference in the frank itself.
The hot dogs contain hydrolyzed soy protein, plus flavorings and spices that may be triggers for some customers. This distinguishes them from the beef patties, which are plain ground chuck with no additives.
Hot Dog Allergen Breakdown
Component | Gluten | Dairy | Egg | Peanut | Soy | Sesame |
Beef Frank (US) | No | No | No | No | YES | No |
Hot Dog Bun | YES | YES | YES | No | YES | YES |
American Cheese | No | YES | No | No | No | No |
Bacon | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Mayo | No | No | YES | No | No | No |
All Fresh Vegetable Toppings | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Gluten-Free Hot Dog Options
If you want gluten-free hot dogs, skip the bun and opt for a lettuce-wrapped beef dog. The frank itself is gluten-free in US locations. All the standard toppings are gluten-free once the bun is removed.
What to order for gluten-free hot dogs:
- Any hot dog frank in a lettuce wrap or bowl
- Bacon topping — gluten-free
- All fresh vegetable toppings — gluten-free
- Mustard, ketchup, hot sauce — gluten-free
- Avoid: Standard hot dog bun and malt vinegar
Important note for soy allergy sufferers: The Five Guys hot dog itself may contain soy allergen. Unlike the beef patties, the frank contains hydrolyzed soy protein. If you have a soy allergy, the hot dog frank is not a safe option regardless of how you order it.
Note on Canada locations: Hot dogs in Canada contain gluten, unlike US locations. Canadian customers ordering gluten-free should avoid the frank entirely and order a burger lettuce wrap instead.
Dairy-Free Hot Dog Options
Skip the American cheese and mayo. The frank, bacon, and all fresh vegetable toppings are dairy-free. Order in a lettuce wrap and you have a completely dairy-free hot dog.
Five Guys Sandwiches Allergen Menu
The Five Guys sandwiches category includes four items: the Veggie Sandwich, Cheese Veggie Sandwich, Grilled Cheese, and BLT. These are the meatless options on the menu.
Sandwiches Allergen Breakdown
Sandwich | Gluten | Dairy | Egg | Soy | Notes |
Veggie Sandwich (with bun) | YES | No | YES | YES | Bun contains allergens |
Veggie Sandwich (no bun / lettuce wrap) | No | No | No | No | Allergen-free without bun |
Cheese Veggie Sandwich | YES | YES | YES | YES | Bun and cheese contain allergens |
Grilled Cheese | YES | YES | YES | YES | Bun and cheese contain allergens |
BLT | YES | No | YES | YES | Bun and mayo contain allergens |
All ingredients in the veggie sandwich are allergen-free except the bun, which contains eggs, gluten and wheat, milk, sesame, and soy. The cheese and veggie sandwich as well as the grilled cheese contain milk allergens. The BLT contains mayonnaise which includes egg allergens.
Gluten-Free Sandwich Options
The veggie sandwich ordered without the bun as a lettuce wrap is one of the cleanest gluten-free options on the entire Five Guys allergen menu. Grilled onions, mushrooms, green peppers, lettuce, and tomatoes are all naturally gluten-free.
If you are looking for a vegan option at Five Guys, try the veggie lettuce wrap sandwich. Note that grilled onions and mushrooms may not be suitable for individuals with food allergies as they are cooked on shared cooking surfaces.
The Grilled Cheese and BLT cannot be made gluten-free as the bread is the defining component of both items.
Vegan-Friendly Sandwich Option
The Veggie Lettuce Wrap without cheese or mayo is the closest thing to a vegan option at Five Guys. All fresh vegetables including lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and raw onions are vegan. Grilled onions and mushrooms are cooked in oil and are vegan. Skip cheese, mayo, and the bun for a fully plant-based meal.
Five Guys Fries Allergen Menu
Here is the most important allergen fact on the entire Five Guys allergen menu, and the one that catches the most people off guard.
Five Guys fries contain no gluten. Their potatoes are freshly cut, soaked in water, and ONLY fried in refined peanut oil using fryers that cook absolutely nothing else.
That dedicated fryer policy is genuinely unusual for fast food. Most chains fry multiple items in shared oil, which creates significant cross-contamination risk. Five Guys uses their fryers exclusively for fries, eliminating one major cross-contamination pathway entirely.
The server at Five Guys has confirmed that fries are hand-cut each morning using fresh potatoes, and there is a sign hanging in front of each store that announces where today’s potatoes are from.
Fries Allergen Breakdown
Fry Style | Gluten | Dairy | Egg | Peanut Oil | Soy | Tree Nuts |
Five Guys Style Fries | No | No | No | YES | No | No |
Cajun Style Fries | No | No | No | YES | No | No |
Both fry styles are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and soy-free by ingredients. The single allergen concern is peanut oil.
Peanut Allergy and Five Guys Fries in 2026
Five Guys fries are cooked exclusively in 100% refined, cholesterol-free peanut oil in fryers that cook absolutely nothing else. Highly refined peanut oil is not always an issue for some peanut allergy sufferers according to FDA guidelines. However, if you have a severe peanut allergy, you should avoid them. There are also peanuts stored openly in the restaurant.
For individuals with mild peanut sensitivities, highly refined peanut oil may be tolerable as most allergenic proteins are removed during the refining process. For individuals with severe or anaphylactic peanut allergies, any peanut-derived product carries risk. Always consult your allergist rather than relying on general guidance.
Gluten-Free Fries Confirmed
The Five Guys Style and Cajun Style fries are gluten-free and are cooked in 100% refined, cholesterol-free peanut oil.
The Cajun seasoning blend used on Cajun Style Fries is also gluten-free, making both fry styles safe for customers avoiding gluten. This has been independently verified with the Nima Sensor gluten test, which confirmed the fries test gluten-free.
Corn Derivatives to Know About
The products Five Guys offers that contain high-fructose corn syrup include Cattleman’s brand BBQ sauce, Heinz brand ketchup, Mount Olive brand relish and pickle chips, their mayonnaise condiment, the mushroom topping, and their fountain beverages. Their buns also contain corn derivatives.
The fries themselves do not contain corn derivatives. However, if you add ketchup or other condiments to your fries, corn-derived ingredients may be present
Five Guys Milkshakes Allergen Menu
The Five Guys milkshake allergen profile depends almost entirely on which mix-ins you choose. The vanilla base carries its own allergens, and several popular mix-ins add additional concerns on top.
Milkshake Base Allergens
Five Guys milkshakes contain a base made from milkfat, nonfat milk, sugar, whey, and stabilizers. This means every milkshake on the Five Guys allergen menu contains dairy. There is no dairy-free milkshake alternative available as of 2026.
The vanilla base also contains eggs through the ice cream formulation, making all milkshakes unsuitable for customers with egg allergies.
Milkshake Mix-In Allergen Breakdown
Mix-In | Gluten | Dairy | Peanut | Egg | Safe for Celiac? |
Chocolate / Fudge | No | No | No | No | YES |
Strawberry | No | No | No | No | YES |
Banana | No | No | No | No | YES |
Peanut Butter | No | No | YES | No | YES (but peanut risk) |
Bacon | No | No | No | No | YES |
Salted Caramel | No | No | No | No | YES |
Coffee | No | No | No | No | YES |
Oreo Crème | No | No | No | No | YES (per Five Guys guide) |
Whipped Cream | No | YES | No | No | YES |
Candy Cane (Seasonal) | No | No | No | No | YES |
Oreo Cookies | YES | No | No | No | NO |
REESE’S | YES | YES | YES | No | NO |
Cherry Flavoring | YES | No | No | No | NO |
Malted Milk | YES | No | No | No | NO |
Most REESE’S Cups are gluten-free by recipe, but according to Five Guys’ own allergen guide, these ones contain traces of wheat or gluten, so avoid them if you have celiac disease. Oreo Cookies contain gluten flour, making them unsafe for celiacs and anyone with gluten sensitivities.
Gluten-Free Milkshake Options
A plain vanilla milkshake with any of the following mix-ins is gluten-free: chocolate, strawberry, banana, peanut butter, bacon, salted caramel, coffee, Oreo Crème, or Candy Cane (seasonal). Whipped cream topping is also gluten-free by ingredients.
Avoid for gluten-free: Oreo Cookies, REESE’S mix-in, cherry flavoring, and malted milk flavoring.
If you are ordering a milkshake and are concerned about cross-contact, ask for the blender to be freshly cleaned with soap and water before making your shake. This is a reasonable request that most Five Guys staff will accommodate.
Dairy-Free Milkshake Options
There are none. The milkshake base contains dairy at its foundation. Five Guys has not introduced a plant-based milk alternative for their shake program . Customers with dairy allergies should avoid all milkshake items entirely.
Five Guys Toppings & Condiments Allergen Guide
The free toppings are one of the best things about Five Guys, and most of them are clean across all major allergens.
Complete Toppings Allergen Table
Topping / Condiment | Gluten | Dairy | Egg | Peanut | Soy |
Lettuce | No | No | No | No | No |
Tomato | No | No | No | No | No |
Pickles | No | No | No | No | No |
Fresh Onions | No | No | No | No | No |
Grilled Onions | No | No | No | No | No |
Green Peppers | No | No | No | No | No |
Jalapeno Peppers | No | No | No | No | No |
Grilled Mushrooms | No | No | No | No | No |
Bacon | No | No | No | No | No |
American Cheese | No | YES | No | No | No |
Mayo | No | No | YES | No | No |
Ketchup (Heinz) | No | No | No | No | No |
Mustard | No | No | No | No | No |
Hot Sauce | No | No | No | No | No |
BBQ Sauce (Cattleman’s) | No | No | No | No | No |
A1 Sauce | No | No | No | No | No |
Relish (Mount Olive) | No | No | No | No | No |
Malt Vinegar | YES | No | No | No | No |
All of the sauces and toppings at Five Guys are gluten-free except for the malt vinegar. Malt is derived from barley, which contains gluten. This makes malt vinegar the single most critical condiment to avoid for anyone on a strict gluten-free diet at Five Guys. Every other topping and sauce on the list is gluten-free by ingredients.
Five Guys Drinks Allergen Menu
Five Guys serves Coca-Cola products and all of their soft drinks are gluten-free.
Fountain beverages do contain high-fructose corn syrup. Customers managing corn sensitivities should be aware of this when choosing drinks. Water is available and is naturally free of all allergens.
What Five Guys Does NOT Contain
Knowing what is absent from the menu helps identify safe options quickly.
There is no MSG added to Five Guys burgers, hot dogs, fries, seasonings, or condiments. The only seasonings offered in their restaurants are salt and Cajun seasoning.
None of their menu items contain tree nuts, and tree nuts are not used in the cooking process in any way. Fish and shellfish are also completely absent from the Five Guys menu.
The Kraft American cheese used at Five Guys does not contain any meat-based enzymes or rennet. This matters for customers managing specific dietary restrictions around rennet sources.
Complete Gluten-Free Options Summary at Five Guys
For quick reference, here is every confirmed gluten-free item on the Five Guys menu:
Safe to order gluten-free (US locations):
- Beef burger patty — lettuce wrap or bowl, no bun
- Bacon
- American cheese
- All fresh vegetable toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, green peppers, jalapenos)
- Grilled onions and grilled mushrooms
- Hot dog frank in US locations — lettuce wrap, no bun
- Veggie sandwich — lettuce wrap, no bun
- Five Guys Style Fries — both Regular and Cajun
- Milkshake vanilla base
- Milkshake mix-ins: chocolate, strawberry, banana, peanut butter, bacon, salted caramel, coffee, Oreo Crème, Candy Cane (seasonal)
- All condiments except malt vinegar
- All Coca-Cola fountain beverages
Not gluten-free — avoid these:
- All standard buns (burger, hot dog, sandwich)
- Malt vinegar condiment
- Oreo Cookie shake mix-in
- REESE’S shake mix-in
- Cherry flavoring shake mix-in
- Malted milk shake flavoring
- Hot dogs in Canada locations
- HP sauce in UK locations
- Poutine Gravy in Canada locations
Allergen Safety Tips for Ordering at Five Guys
Knowing the allergen information is only half the picture. How you communicate your needs at the counter matters equally.
Always Tell Your Cashier About Your Allergy
If you have a gluten allergy, tell your cashier when ordering and the team will take extra care to avoid cross-contamination by changing gloves more frequently. This same protocol applies to all major allergens.
The staff at Five Guys typically respond to allergy notifications with a clarifying question: is this an allergy or a preference? Answering that you have an allergy triggers more careful handling protocols. Be specific and direct about the nature of your restriction.
Real 2026 customer experience backs this up: when you inform the staff about your allergy, they take it seriously and the kitchen does everything they can to avoid cross contact. The order is also marked in the system if you have an allergy.
Request Fresh Gloves and Clean Surfaces
For customers with severe allergies or celiac disease, it is entirely reasonable to ask staff to change gloves before preparing your order and to use clean preparation surfaces. When placing an order at Five Guys, ask them to change gloves and clean surfaces when specifying a gluten-free requirement. Most locations honor this request when asked clearly at the time of ordering.
Ask for the Blender to Be Cleaned for Milkshakes
If you are ordering a milkshake and are concerned about cross-contact, ask for the blender to be freshly cleaned with soap and water before making your shake. This significantly reduces cross-contamination risk from gluten-containing mix-ins used in previous orders.
Download the Official Allergen PDF
Head over to the Five Guys website, go to the Menu page, scroll down, and click on the Five Guys Ingredient and Allergen Guide link to open a separate PDF file. Save this on your phone so you can quickly refer to it while waiting in line to order. Five Guys regularly makes changes to their menu, suppliers, ingredients, and recipes, so this PDF gets updated to reflect new nutritional, ingredient, and allergen information.
This PDF is the authoritative source. Always verify against it before your visit.
Safest Meal Combinations by Allergy Type
If you are managing more than one allergen at once, here are the simplest safe meal builds at Five Guys:
- Gluten and dairy-free: Beef patty lettuce wrap, no cheese, no mayo, fresh vegetable toppings, mustard or hot sauce, regular or Cajun fries, water or Coke
- Peanut allergy: Any burger or hot dog without fries, milkshake without peanut butter or REESE’S mix-in, avoid the dining area peanuts snack zone
- Soy allergy: Beef patty lettuce wrap only (avoid bun and hot dog frank), fresh vegetable toppings, regular fries, check condiment labels
- Egg allergy: Any burger lettuce wrap without mayo, all fresh vegetable toppings, regular fries, avoid all milkshakes
Be Aware of the Restaurant Environment
Five Guys’ open kitchen means everything is prepared near peanuts, gluten, soy, and dairy. The grills, spatulas, and prep areas are shared. Even if an item by ingredients is allergen-free, there is always some risk.
Peanuts in the shell are available as a free snack in the dining area. Peanuts are literally everywhere at Five Guys restaurants. For customers with severe airborne peanut allergies, this matters independently of what you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Five Guys gluten-free friendly
Yes, more than most fast food chains. The majority of menu items are gluten-free by ingredients. The bun is the primary gluten source, and all burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches are available in lettuce wraps or bowls. The Five Guys Style and Cajun Style fries are gluten-free and cooked in 100% refined peanut oil.
Does Five Guys have gluten-free buns
No. Five Guys does not offer gluten-free buns. Your only options are to bring your own bun or use their lettuce wraps.
Are Five Guys fries safe for celiac disease?
Five Guys has a dedicated fryer for fries. Fries are the only thing cooked in those fryers. This makes them one of the safer gluten-free fast food fry options. Cross-contamination risk exists in the broader kitchen environment, but the dedicated fryer eliminates shared oil contamination.
Can someone with a peanut allergy eat at Five Guys?
This requires careful consideration. All fries are cooked in 100% peanut oil, and peanuts are stored openly in the restaurant. For severe or anaphylactic peanut allergies, Five Guys presents significant risk beyond the food itself.
Are Five Guys milkshakes dairy-free?
No. All milkshakes contain dairy in the base ice cream formulation. There is no dairy-free alternative available at Five Guys
Does Five Guys use MSG?
There is no MSG added to Five Guys burgers, hot dogs, fries, seasonings, or condiments. The only seasonings offered are salt and Cajun seasoning.
Final Words
Five Guys earns genuine credit for allergen transparency in an industry where transparency is often inconvenient.
The official allergen PDF, the in-store ingredient postings, the dedicated fryer for fries, the allergy marking in the ordering system, the glove-changing protocols — these are meaningful commitments that go beyond minimum compliance.
The limitations are equally real. No gluten-free buns. No dairy-free milkshake alternatives. Peanuts are openly present throughout every restaurant. An open kitchen where allergens are in close proximity at all times.
Five Guys’ official stance is that they do not guarantee any item is 100% free from any allergen due to possible cross-contact. Always check the latest Five Guys allergen menu online or in-store.
The honest conclusion for 2026: Five Guys is one of the better fast food options for customers managing gluten intolerance, dairy sensitivity, or moderate allergies. It requires more careful communication than a certified allergen-free kitchen but delivers considerably more transparency and staff training than most fast food chains provide.
Know your allergy. Know the environment. Download the official PDF. Talk to the staff when you arrive. And make your ordering decision with full information rather than assumptions.
Have you navigated the Five Guys allergen menu with a specific dietary restriction in 2026? Share your experience in the comments. The most useful information on this topic always comes from people who have actually ordered there with real dietary needs.