FOOD NEWS
McDonald's Took An Unexpectedly Long Time To Feature Fries In Its Menu
By Camryn Teder
Arguably one of the most iconic items at McDonald’s is its French fries, but they actually weren’t introduced to the menu until nine years after the chain first opened.
When the chain opened its first location in 1940, the original menu offered chips instead of fries. It wasn’t until 1949 that french fries finally replaced chips.
The lack of fries was not unique to McDonald's at this time. French fries are a European invention, and those crispy potatoes took quite a long time to reach the United States.
Many say World War I was the catalyst for french fries coming to the United States. White Castle added them to the menu in the 1940s, with McDonald’s following in 1949.