In 1990, the company announced that they would replace the beef tallow with 100 percent vegetable oil. After the announcement, McDonald's stock fell 8.3 percent. The new fry didn't stack up.
In the 1990s, as health concerns over saturated fat reached an all-time high, McDonald's faced a backlash against the use of beef tallow, and worried about losing customers, the chain switched to vegetable oil. Unfortunately, many customers said the new texture and taste weren't up to the mark.
McDonald's cooked its fries in beef tallow for decades
Founded in 1940, McDonald's initially used 93% beef fat tallow for their French fries in an effort to save money, according to a piece on the origins of the favored fast food item published by Atlas Obscura.
The oil in the fryer at McDonalds is vegetable oil. Some fish & chip restaurants do use tallow (rendered beef fat) in their fryers, but it's a lot more expensive and harder to handle as it's solid at room temperature.
The switch was all because of a man named Phil Sokolof. After having a heart attack in 1966, Sokolof began lobbying against cholesterol and fat in fast food, specifically targeting McDonald's. He eventually got the company's attention, leading the chain to stop cooking its fries in beef tallow in 1990.
It was beef tallow — the rendered form of beef fat that's solid at room temperature — that gave McDonald's fries their signature rich and buttery flavor. But the tallow was used initially because it was the cheap, convenient option.
Animal fat is more stable at high temperatures but was phased out in the great fat scare of the late 20th century. At this time McDonald's in the US did use beef tallow in its fries but replaced it with vegetable oil in the 1990s.
Are McDonald's Fries vegetarian or vegan in Australia? Yes! The ingredients list for Australia is one of the cleanest: Potato, canola oil, mineral salt (450), dextrose, antifoam (1521). So these fries are vegetarian and vegan in Australia!
The short answer here is, no, McDonald's French Fries are not vegan. But why not, you might ask. After all, French Fries are just potatoes and potatoes are vegan, so, what's the issue? The issue is their French Fries have a natural beef flavoring that contains dairy.
Over time, McDonald's and other fast-food joints made the beef fat part of their signature fry flavors. But in the 1980s, fast-food restaurants took the ingredient out when health advocates criticized how much “bad” saturated fat it added.
The claim that McDonald's dairy products contain pig fat has been denied by the company in several occasions.
The landmark legal action was the first of its kind against a fast-food chain to make its way into a U.S. courtroom. A U.S. judge ruled that McDonald's isn't responsible for an individual's obesity. Do you agree? McDonald's spokesman Walt Riker said that common sense had prevailed in the suit.
Vegetable Oil
Before the 1990s, McDonald's fries were actually cooked in straight beef fat to give them their world-famous taste. But they moved to a vegetable oil blend after consumers complained about the amount of saturated fat in McDonald's foods.
We learnt that Halal certified food is popular with only a very small percentage of our customers, and to offer it in all our restaurants would require significant changes to our kitchen procedures and supply chain.
For decades, McDonald's fries were cooked in animal fat (lard) which was supposedly what gave them their famous flavor. Eventually, the chain switched to vegetable oil, but customers complained that the fries were no longer ... No. Our fries are not coated in any fats or substances from an animal.
This is because one of the ingredients is “natural beef flavoring,” which contains milk. “When our suppliers partially fry our cut potatoes, they use an oil blend that contains beef flavoring,” the McDonald's website states.
Our kiosks also have symbols to indicate vegan menu items and ingredients. Why aren't your fries suitable for vegans? We don't offer the Vegan Burger as a meal because our fries aren't suitable for vegetarians or vegans, due to being cooked in the same oil as our Popcorn Chicken.
Despite the fact that their fries are cooked in the same oil as their Popcorn Chicken, vegetarians and vegans are not permitted. You can still choose vegan options, such as beans and corn, to add to your meal for a tasty and satisfying vegan experience.
McDonald's removes McVeggie burger from menu due to lack of demand. The fast-food giant has confirmed that one of its most-hyped options is no longer available.
KFC stores use canola oil to cook chips. KFC Chips – The salt mix on the seasoned chips and the actual chips do not contain any animal products. Our supplier/s of chips and seasoning have confirmed they are suitable for vegans.
Subscribe today and enjoy a wide range of exclusive perks to gain a competitive edge in the vegan business world! KFC Australia has launched its first ever plant-based option — Wicked Popcorn.
Does Macca's have any vegetarian or vegan menu options? Unfortunately, no McDonald's menu items are certified as vegan or vegetarian.
In 1990, the company announced that they would replace the beef tallow with 100 percent vegetable oil. After the announcement, McDonald's stock fell 8.3 percent.
As health concerns over saturated fat grew in the 1990s, McDonald's finally made the switch to vegetable oil. Unfortunately, customers noticed that the fries didn't taste how they used to. To mimic the chain's original oil blend, the oil is laced with natural flavoring to replicate that mouthwatering smell.
This Washington Post article from 1985 identifies Arby's, Bob's Big Boy, Burger King, Hardee's, McDonald's, Popeyes, and Wendy's as fast-food spots that use beef tallow in their fryers. All but one of these have swapped the tallow out for supposedly healthier oils in recent years.