"mcdonalds fries" news and stories

The Wendy's vs. McDonald's french fry war is heating up. You've probably read the latest pronouncement: "In a national taste test, consumers said Wendy's fries taste better than McDonald's. When asked which they thought taste better after sampling both, 56% of participants chose Wendy's Natural-Cut Fries with Sea Salt. Only 39% preferred the taste of McDonald's."

Go ahead; be skeptical. That info comes straight from Wendy's website -- it's a part of their new ad campaign to topple McDonald's long-running reign as "America's Favorite Fries (McDonald's trademark phrase, by the way). And although that claim is on the pompous side, it's not without clout -- enough people have raved about them over the decades that McDonald's very identity is synonymous with those fried spuds. While some may disagree with their claims, there's no denying that McDonald's fries have set the standard that others in the fast-food industry aim for. Burger King has been trying to dethrone the Golden Arches for years, once even claiming victory after their own taste-test survey.

Wendy's claims their nationwide French fry survey was conducted by an independent research firm in eight American cities. However, there's some question about whether their resulting data is skewed -- it's their marketing campaign, after all.

We figured it was time for an unbiased review:

The Claims (From Their Websites): Wendy's latest fries are "made from 100% Russet potatoes and sliced 'natural-style' with the skin on for additional texture and taste, then cooked in proprietary oil that has 0 grams trans fat per serving. They are finished with a dusting of natural sea salt to further enhance the flavor." (Medium size: 420 calories.)

McDonald's "World Famous Fries" are "golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Made with quality potatoes and cooked in our canola oil blend for zero grams of trans fat per serving." (Medium size: 380 calories.)

I have one fast food weakness: McDonald's fries. Thin, crispy strips of salted goodness. I can forgo most of the other fast food offerings, but no matter which diet I happen to be on or how much I may want to avoid carbs, that is one that keeps me coming back for more. The good news is, McDonald's has finally selected a new trans-fat-free oil blend, so we will be able to eat them with a little less guilt. Apparently the oil is already being tested in select markets, but they have kept quiet on which locations have so far made the switch.

McDonald's had tested over 50 blends before settling on a canola-based, corn and soy oil mixture. Obviously, one of their largest concerns was finding a product that maintained the same flavor in the cooked fries. Eventually all of the 13,500+ locations across the U.S. will use the new oil, but a date has not yet been specified.

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