cDonald’s restaurants are changing the oil they use to cook fried foods. However, french fries and hash browns remain unsafe for vegetarians.

The Oak Brook-based McDonald’s Corporation apologized to “Hindus, vegetarians and others” for misrepresenting their fries as vegetarian, according to a company release.

McDonald’s cooks its fries and hash browns in 100-percent vegetable oil, which is safe for vegetarians. But the problem comes much earlier in the process, before the uncooked food even reaches the restaurant.

At the plant where the potatoes are processed, the company adds beef flavoring to enhance the taste of the food. It is an ingredient that makes a major difference to vegetarians.

“It’s basically an obstacle for consumers,” said Bill McCarthy, senior philosophy major and president of NIU’s Vegetarian Education Group.

McDonald’s was sued in 2001 for adding beef fat flavoring to its fries and not disclosing the information to the public.

“It’s dubious of McDonald’s to have products which many think are vegetarian but are, in fact, not,” McCarthy said.

By the terms of a class-action settlement with various vegetarian, Hindu and Kosher groups, McDonald’s must make a public apology, donate $10 million to various organizations, and make nutrition information more readily available to the public.

Pamphlets with nutrition facts, including detailed ingredients, may not be on display, but they are available at the restaurants by request. The pamphlets mention that the natural flavor in the french fries comes from a “beef source.”

As for the $10 million, the money is being divided with 60 percent going to vegetarian organizations and 20 percent going to Hindu or Sikh groups. The remaining money will be split between Kosher and children’s nutrition advocacy groups.

McDonald’s has not announced plans to change its recipes.

For more information on the class-action case, visit the plaintiff’s Web site at www.edcombs.com. Nutrition information on McDonald’s products is available at www.mcdonalds.com.