Questions answered
There are 20 questions about “French Fries” in the “How do you make...” topic.
Click on a question to read our answer.
- 1. Are your fries suitable gor vegans or vegetarians? I have heard that they come pre-coated in lard. Please can you clear this up? Thank you.
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Thank you for your question. McDonald’s UK French Fries are made by McCain’s using Russet Burbank, Pentland Dell and Shepody potatoes, which are chosen for their quality, taste and long shape when cut. The fries are not coated in any fats or substance from an animal. Once at the restaurant our fries are simply cooked in dedicated frying vats in a non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil which is 100 percent suitable for vegetarians. McDonald’s French Fries are officially accredited by the Vegetarian Society. (January 2011)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 2. how much are your medium fries?
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Thank you for your question. Prices may sometimes vary between different McDonald’s restaurants according to whether they are company owned or franchised stores. However prices for all menu items are displayed in each restaurant. (January 2011)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 3. Hi, I've read somewhere that before the fries are shipped out to individual stores they are soaked in animal fat. Is this true? Are the fries soaked in anything else?
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Thanks for your question. No, McDonald's UK French Fries are not soaked or coated in any animal fat or substance. McDonald’s UK French Fries are made by McCain’s using Russet Burbank, Pentland Dell and Shepody potatoes, which are chosen for their quality, taste and long shape when cut. Once at the restaurant our fries are cooked in dedicated frying vats in a non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil which is 100 percent suitable for vegetarians. McDonald’s French Fries are officially accredited by the Vegetarian Society. (December 2010)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 4. Hi, I was browsing the McDonald's USA and UK webpage’s for french fires ingredients, I noticed that the USA fries contain "natural beef flavor", whereas UK fries do not. Could you please confirm that USA french fries are not suitable for vegetarians and UK fries are, if this is not the case, would you please kindly inform me with the correct information.
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Make Up Your Own Mind has been set up specifically to answer questions about McDonald's within the UK so it is hard for us to answer specific questions about other markets. The French Fries sold in McDonald's UK are suitable for vegetarians and have been approved by The Vegetarian Society. The Fries are cooked in a non-hydrogenated blend of rapeseed and sunflower oil. This has been carefully developed to ensure it does not raise saturated fat content. This GM-free cooking oil also reduces the levels of Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) to their lowest possible levels, without a change to the taste.
(Jan 2010)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 5. I represent Vanmark (Division of Grote Co.) Potato & Vegetable Processing Machinery in Europe. Is it possible to get the contact information for your french fry suppliers in the UK and Europe so that I may make them aware of our industrial potato processing machinery (washers, de-stoners, peelers)? Thank you in advance for your response. Regards, Ken Hancock European Sales Manager Vanmark Equipment, LLC Div. of Grote Co. Wrexham, UK
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Thank you for your question. McDonald’s UK French Fries are supplied by McCain Foods and Lamb Western.
(December 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 6. I want to ask do you people use pig or cow fat before making the French fries frozen or something like that.
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The answer to your question is no. The French Fries are made from Russet Burbank, Shepody and Pentland Dell potatoes that are sourced in the UK for their superior taste and unique shape. They are sliced into their recognisable shape, and at the beginning of the potato season a light coating of dextrose is added to help them brown properly. They are then frozen to seal in the freshness and sent to McDonald's UK restaurants. Once they are at the restaurant, the fries are then freshly prepared as and when needed. They are cooked for approximately three minutes in a non hydrogenated oil blend of rapeseed and sunflower oil, and then lightly salted by hand and served. You may be interested to know that the UK's Vegetarian Society has given McDonald's official accreditation for their fries being suitable for vegetarians.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 7. I want to clear my misconception regarding the oil, process and machinery used for vegetarian French fries because I have heard from many people that McDonalds is using beef tallow. so clear doubts...plz. Give me detailed answer.
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Thank you for your question. This is incorrect, McDonald’s Fries are 100% vegetarian and have been approved by the Vegetarian Society. McDonald’s has two different types of filtering processes - One process is self-filtering where oil will not be mixed from one fryer to another. If the restaurant does not have self filtering vats, the oil is filtered into the same container but in a specific order. So the French Fries fryer is filtered first, followed by the Veggie Deluxe fryer, the Apple Pies fryer, the chicken fryer and then the Filet-o-Fish fryer. The machine is thoroughly cleaned after every filtering session.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 8. Hi can u please confirm regarding your fries are the suitable for halal diet?
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Thank you for your question. At the moment, McDonald's UK lacks the necessary infrastructure throughout its supply chain to guarantee the requirements of Halal while ensuring the company retains its high standards of welfare, ingredient quality, etc. McDonald's recently completed a trial period, during which Halal products were available for purchase in the Southall, London restaurant. We wanted to assess customer demand for certified Halal food in our UK restaurants. We have learnt that Halal is only popular with a very small percentage of our customers and to offer it we would need to make significant changes to our kitchen procedures and supply chain. Given this, we have decided that we are not currently in a position to roll out Halal food in the UK.
However, in regards to your question, McDonald's Fries are 100 percent vegetarian and are also officially accredited by the Vegetarian Society.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 9. could you please put my friend right she thinks that the potatoes for the french fries are peeled by hand and i say it is mechanicaly done which is true and if I am right how many potatoes can the machines peel at on time. many thanks. Tim
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Thank you for your question. You are right, it would be impossible to make enough French Fries to meet the daily demand of McDonald's customers if they were peeled by hand, therefore, to ensure both quality and efficiency a machine is used in the process. To get a more thorough look at how McDonald's French Fries are made, please follow the Sally Ault's quality scout report on the this site. Sally, like the other quality scouts, is a member of the general public from around the UK who, like you, was curious about McDonald’s business and food. None of the Quality Scouts are paid, nor do they have any ties to the company. They take an honest, behind the scenes look at McDonald's and report back exactly what they see and hear. Just click on the 'Quality Scout' link on this site to find out more.
(March 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 10. Do you still use those wicked gun things that fire potatoes into those massive grills to make fries? Have you ever thought of firing other stuff with it, just to see what would happen? Some suggestions would be: A watermelon, some eggs, a brick, wood, a cat (although that might be considered cruel; best kill it first) and a disliked co-worker's possessions.
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McDonald’s does not use any such device in any of its restaurants. The majority of McDonald’s French Fries are made by McCain’s. Russet Burbank, Pentland Dell and Shepody potatoes are used for their quality, taste and long shape when cut. They arrive at the restaurant pre-cut, and are cooked in dedicated frying vats in a new non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil which is suitable for vegetarians. You can find extensive information of all McDonald's menu available in the 'Food' section of www.mcdonalds.co.uk and at www.mcdonaldsmenu.info.
(Nov 2008)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 11. what do you fry your chips in?
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McDonald’s UK fries are cooked in dedicated frying vats in a non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil. This oil has been developed without raising the saturated fat content or altering the taste. All that is added to the Fries is a pinch of salt after cooking for taste.
(October 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 12. hiya, I would just like to know if all of your macflurrys are halal, if not could you please name them. And whether your chips are fried in vegetable oil, because i recieved a text saying: "Mcdonalds chips are haram as they are fried in pig lard before bought to mcdonalds!" is this true? please e-mail back. thankyou Sania.
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Today, McDonald's UK lacks the necessary infrastructure in its supply chain to guarantee the requirements of Halal. However, it is something the company is currently looking at with a trial being run in a McDonald's restaurant in Southall, London with a few chicken products available on the menu as Halal. Regarding the French Fries, you will be happy to know that they are not cooked in any animal fats before, during or after their final preparation in the restaurants. The French Fries sold in McDonald's UK are suitable for vegetarians. McDonald's UK uses new non-hydrogenated, GM free cooking oil. This reduces the levels of Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) to their lowest possible levels - less than two percent (naturally occurring TFAs make it impossible to reach zero percent). The oil (a blend of sunflower and rapeseed) has been carefully developed to ensure it does not raise saturated fat content, or change the taste. You may also be interested to know that after several years of working with the Vegetarian Society, McDonald’s French Fries are now fully accredited by the Society. You can find out more about McDonald’s Halal menu items trial and the French fries on this site in the 'McDonald's News' section.
(December 2007)
FEBRUARY '08 UPDATE: McDonald’s UK now do not use any hydrogenated oil in any food items across the entire menu
SEPTEMBER '09 TRIAL RESULT: McDonald’s began this trial because we wanted to assess customer demand for certified Halal food in our UK restaurants. We have learnt that Halal is only popular with a very small percentage of our customers and to offer it we would need to make significant changes to our kitchen procedures and supply chain. Given this, we have decided that we are not currently in a position to roll out Halal food in the UK.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 13. what variety of potato do you use to make your fries?
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Thank you for your question. McDonald’s UK Fries are made from only the best quality potatoes such as Russet Burbank, Shepody, Pentland Dell and Innovator. The fries are cooked in dedicated frying vats in a non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil.
(September 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 14. Are McDonalds Fries coated in lard or any other non-vegetarian/non-halaal substance? I have heard that the fries are coated in such substance before being shipped to the McDonald's stores- even in countries such as Saudi Arabia. Is this true?
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Make Up Your Own Mind has been set up specifically to answer questions about McDonald's within the UK so it is hard for us to answer specific questions about other markets. However, McDonald’s UK Fries are suitable for vegetarians and have been approved by the Vegetarian Society. Additionally you will be happy to hear that there are no animal fats used in the sourcing, preparation or cooking of McDonald's French fries. The Fries are made from 100% potato, and are cooked in a non-hydrogenated blend of rapeseed and sunflower oil.
(September 2009)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 15. McDonald's fries (which tastes great in my opinion) contains wheat and milk. What process do the fries undergo to need these two ingredients?
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McDonald's fries do not contain any wheat or milk. The Fries are made using Russet Burbank, Pentland Dell and Shepody potatoes. These are used for their quality, taste and long shape when cut. They are sliced into their recognisable shape and, at the beginning of the potato season, a light coating of dextrose is added to help them brown properly. They are then frozen to seal in the freshness and sent to McDonald's UK restaurants. Once they are at the restaurant, the fries are then freshly prepared as and when needed. The fries are cooked in dedicated frying vats in a new non-hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil, which is suitable for vegetarians. The new oil has been developed without raising the saturated fat content or altering the taste. There are no animal fats or lards added of any kind. The fries are cooked for approximately three minutes and then lightly salted by hand and served.
(August 2009)
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