Watch McDonald’s new video about their French Fries and share your opinions - £300 Love2Shop voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

As part of their Good To Know campaign, McDonald’s have released three new videos to give a little bit more information on the ingredients they use in their products, and they’re keen to hear what Mumsnetters think. You may have noticed this thread on McDonald's Chicken Nuggets we posted recently, and we’ll be asking to hear your opinions on one more product over the next couple of weeks. For this thread, McDonald’s are keen to hear your thoughts on their new video about their fries.

McDonald’s say: "We’ve launched our Good To Know campaign to provide our customers with more information on the quality of the ingredients we use in our products. Despite some common misconceptions, our Chicken McNuggets are made with 100% chicken breast meat, fries are made from real, whole British spuds and 100% beef from whole cuts of forequarter and flank goes into a McDonald’s burger. Alongside the Good To Know website, we’re launching the three new videos you’ll see in Mumsnet threads over the next few weeks, and we’re really interested to hear your thoughts"

Please watch the 40 second video below:

Once you’ve watched the video please let us know:

• What did you think of the overall message in the video?
  
• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?
  
• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children?
  
• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?
  

Whatever your thoughts, McDonald’s would love to hear about them.

Everyone who adds a comment will be entered in to a prize draw, where one winner will receive a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks & good luck,
MNHQ

[AngelieMumsnet]

Thank you for all your comments! The winner of the prize draw is EasterRobin :)

[villagefox]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?
Again I think that the message is a little simplistic. It does not tell you what they are fried in or how they are preserved. I didn't think they were 100% potato so I guess it was successful in that sense.

Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?
Yes. I read a book entitled "A fast food nation" which outlined how fast food places preserved food, made food and maximised profits. Hence my belief that the chips were not 100% potato.

If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children?
We only go as a treat the food does not have enough nutritional value and is too unhealthy to go regularly.

• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?

Yes - I didn't even know there was one. I would like to know the healthier options and where all the calories come from.

[Sixgeese]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?
That fries are made from potato, but I think that it would be useful to also mention that they are suitable for celiacs, as McD is one of the few first food places where my nieces can eat the fries.

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?

Not really, a fry is a fry

• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children?
• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?

As my children don't have any dietary issues I probably wouldn't visit the Good to know site, my Dsis on the other hand might as her DC do.

[baberooo]

I wish that McDonalds wouldn't dumb down their adverts. The people they are targeting aren't stupid, they want clear precise information about the FOOD they are giving their children, but we do have a brain. I think that those of us with a brain should demand more intelligent adverts that are fun and Informative, not stupid.

[Cupcakemumma11]

The video is much as I expected it to be, it's good to watch I suppose the company coming back from all the rumored added things they place in the chips, especially as i am gluten free..
I used to visit a fair bit but stopped in the last year or so and never have any desire to pop back in, kids are better off without it but I don't mind if they grab something now and then their Dad still likes to go in sometimes.
As for the website, no time for that haha

[driscoll123D]

The overall message seemed positive and has made me curious, after not visiting McDonald's for over 3 years, I would definitely take my children to McDonald's to try the fries and see for ourselves how they taste! I'm going to take a look at the "Good to know" website to find out a bit more.

[BrendaandEddie]

who won then?

[Daariina]

Well, I wasn't told anything I didn't already know, so it didn't change things for me at all and won't change things for me in terms of going there.

[Princessxo]

To be honest, I was told awful things about their french fries so I have to say the video did make me think more positively about them.

I already visit their website.

[clopper]

Haha I did think that they were made from potato that had been messed about and added to in a 'secret' way so I am clearly one of the gullible. I generally like them but find that they are a bit too salty.

[SerenaVanDerWoodsen]

• What did you think of the overall message in the video?
  

I found it a little strange really, as I wouldn't really have considered that chips/fries would be made of anything other than potato.

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?
  

No. They are still made of potato, fried and covered in salt.

• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children?
  

Not from watching the video, no. I occasionally go on my own (once or twice a year) but my children have never been and the revelation that their chips are made from potatoes won't change that I'm afraid.

• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?
  

No thanks

[marymanc]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?
I always wondered how McDonald's fries are made as they are delicious and very different from others. Knowing that they come from British potatoes makes me feel good.

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?

It made me want to eat them more.

• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children?

I am a regular visitor and love McDonalds

• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?

Yes, why not?

[Bornonthebayou]

I thought fries would be made from potatoes and the video confirmed my suspicions, but clearly left out the secret addictive element used to make them so tasty. I wish there wasn't salt all over the ones in the happy meals.

[sassolino]

• What did you think of the overall message in the video?
  

I didn't expect anything else in fries so not surprised they used potatoes to make chips/fries. The video wasn't very exciting.

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?
  

Not really. We don't have a McDonald's nearby so visit it only rarely when we're travelling. My kids love their French fries.

• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children? If it were at a walking distance in town, yes, but the nearest one is out of town, and I don't drive.
  
• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information? No.

[xxmissbrightsidexx]

The overall impression that I get from the video is that fries are made from potatoes 😮. Nothing has changed my perception, I still love McDonalds fries 😊

[rayray23]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?

It didn't give us enough information on what they are deep frying it with. I am sure people always knew it was made out of potatoes.

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how? No, i still love eating them, but know they are not good for me whether or not its potatoes. Potatoes are healthy the salt and deep frying isn't
  
• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children? I'd take them sometimes, but i wouldn't make it a regular thing.
  
• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information? Yes, i'd love to know what goes into my food.

[gin33333]

IT WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH IT TOLD ME SOMETHING NEW MCDONALDS FRIES ARE MADE FROM BRITISH POTATOES IN FACT WASNT REALLY SURE HOW THEY WERE MADE OR FROM WHAT POTATO INTERESTING FACTS THIS VIDEO WOULD MAKE ME VISIT MORE AS KNOWING THIS IS GREAT KNOWLEDGE

[UntamedShrew]

• What did you think of the overall message in the video? Right got it, potatoes. But how come they are all so uniform? I'd like to know how they manage that. I thought they were made from potato slurry fed through a tube. Mmm tasty.
  

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how? Not really.
  

• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children? No, I wouldn't as there are usually healthier and tastier alternatives available. The fries are too salty for young children. Not ruling it out in future when they're older (currently 4 and 6 years old).
  

• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information? No thank you :)

[emmfurn]

1. Overall message is clear - real potatoes are used but I wouldn't have expected anything differenct.
   
2. It didn't change my perception of the fries as they are fried which is not really a healthy way to eat food. Having said that, I have eaten them in the past and enjoyed them but wouldn't want to do this regularly.
   
3. My kids sometimes eat in Mc Donalds and the advert doesn't change that or of their love for Mc Donalds. The reason I wont eat in Mc Donalds is that I have had bad experiences of waiting too long when I have thought it would be very quick.
   

Thanks

[Demonwarx]

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?

Nope, I still like them. Will need to be dodging them more in the new year though!

• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children?

We have visited often with our kids.

• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?

I do occasionally look up the information on these kind of websites

[manfalou]

Never thought the fries were made of anything else anyway, we go probably once a month anyway and see it as a treat meal, nothing more nothing less. We actually really enjoy the fries when they're hot... not when they're luke warm or cold. Hubby used to work at McD's and has quite a high opinion of them tbh.

[eteo]

the video is okay with their message. to be honest, i dont care what they made from, i just simply love them.
i love madonald and happy to buy them.
as for their website, im not too interested to find out more.

[Girlwithnotattoos]

Watched the video hoping to learn something new, instead I found out that fries are made from potatoes It hasn't changed my opinion of macdonalds I go there with my children now and again as treat. Just wish the food tasted better and the fries weren't doused in salt.

[BoffinMum]

PS Can you improve the way your restaurants smell? They seem so greasy and old-fashioned.

[BoffinMum]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?

Trying to address misinformation and misconceptions about their chips. Smacks of desperation.

• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?
  

Not really. I knew they were made from potato but fiddled about with so much it only counts as emergency food in this household.

• If you're not a current McDonald's visitor, having watched the video, do you think you'd now consider visiting McDonald's or visiting with your children?
  

I really don't like any of us eating that stuff. It has too many hidden calories. I just take my kids to the drive thru once a year or so if we are busy decorating or travelling or whatever and it's the least stressful option. I tend to have a chicken wrap and a coffee and I would not eat the chips myself.

• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?
  

Not really. I have no problem with your ingredients, it's the way you bastardise them and create bland food that is semi-addictive that I don't like, and it's actually not even that cheap.

I wish you did more foods where there was a better correlation between what the brain thinks you are eating, the calorie and nutrition intake, and how satisfied you feel afterwards. Plain chicken breast, baked potatoes, salads, bean dishes and so on.