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

[thegoldenlemon]

When I was younger a friend who worked at McDonald's told us the fries were made of maize. To this day I thought that they were probably reconstituted with added stuff. The ad is a bit odd really as it tells you that all the myths are wrong but could have given more insight into the process of making the fries. I do eat McDonald's sometimes. I like their salty fries. I'd still eat them if they were made of maize

[heyday]

OK, so they are made from Real potatoes. I think most of us have worked that out already. The big concern is what else they add to them ie the junk ............as well as the tons of salt of course. That so many people think it is okay to regularly feed McDonald's to their children is very worrying. The advert does nothing to change my unfavourable perception of McDonald's.

[catgirl2]

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

Positive but nothing I did not already know

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

No, already thought were ok, not something I really ever questioned but nice to know British potatoes are used

• 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 take my kids occasionally - would be good to offer no salt fries as standard for kids meals

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

Not for fries

[mumsnit]

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

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

More convinced that fries are actually made from real potatoes and that they are vegetarian.

• 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?
  

My kids don't really like McDonald's food. We have taken them but they leave most of it. They would always rather have pizza!

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

I probably wouldn't because we don't go often enough so the quality of the food isn't really something that worry me! Its good in general that McDonald's are producing better quality food though.

[theredjellybean]

the message was mcd are good people, look their fries are made from 'uk ' potatoes....it was a subliminal message that as they are made from potatoes they must be 'healthy' and from english potatoes so good for economy.

it didn't tell me anything i dont know and no i wont be visiting mcd anymore freqnently

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

This advert really annoys me - all that rubbish about them being made in secret factories, and not actually being made of potato - do they really think their consumers are that stupid?? I hope not!

I agree with a previous poster - I just wish they would guarantee us hot, crispy chips.

[sofiahelin]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?
Good to know they are made with real potato not dried or whatever
Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?
No
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
Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information? yes

[ouryve]

I never doubted that they were made from potatoes, but have never been sure about what happens in between them being a whole potato and being served. Even potato waffles are made out of potatoes! The ad also never said how they're cooked and whether they really are veggie friendly.

So no, they've not changed my perception of macdonalds fries.

And I'm not likely to go back and try some. Last had some 5 years ago and they tasted of nothing. Nice potatoes taste of nice potato. They just tasted of bland, soggy nothingness. Given that DS1 also last visited 5 years ago and now refuses to set foot in the place, we'll stick with BK for our occasional dirty burger and fries.

[Strawclutching]

I thought it was a good video but not anything I didn't know already.

[Jinglebells99]

I found the video very patronising. It had never occurred to me that anyone would think fries weren't made from potatoes! We enjoy a McDonald's every now and again. The worst thing is a luke warm Big Mac! It has to be served piping hot to be at its best and often it's not. The fries are too salty for children. Watching the video hasn't changed my mind about visiting McDonald's as we do, but the good to know message is confusing as it implies "good for you" and fries aren't particularly good for you, even made from potatoes.

[Carrotcruncher11]

I have people at work who were trying to tell me that they were made from fake potatoes but I did point out that was probably harder to do than use actual potatoes!

[Theimpossiblegirl]

Years ago there was talk of McDonalds' fries being made from flour, water and additives of some description. They are obviously made from potatoes.
McDonalds are trying very hard to convince us they are healthy and good quality. They're not, they're high in salt, fat, calories etc. so should be a very rare treat.

[Powaqa]

What did you think of the overall message in the video? Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how?
I thought it was light on real info - I thought they were made from real potatoes, but real potatoes and what else? I would rather see a video showing what happens between picking the crop and serving in a McD's

• 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 go when Burger King is not an option. McD fries are not as good as BK's but better than KFC's fries
  

• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information? I'll go and have a look now

[SuzCG]

I would never have thought that fries were not made from potatoes?!? McDonalds fries are far too salty however - I struggle with them, my daughter really can't get them down at all.
I have no issue with a visit to McDonalds now and again and this video has down nothing to change that either way. It's treat food, not every day food - always has been, always will be.
Would visit the website - when I have time - Christmas week however, is the wrong time to ask busy Mum's to find the time for this. A nice to do activity, not need to do!

[albertthedog]

From the video I thought it was interesting that the potatoes are sourced from British farmers, there wasn't really anything new or interesting other than that. Whilst it would be good to know what the salt and calorie levels are i'm not sure it'd stop me eating them. I wouldn't visit the website.

[elvisthehamster]

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

Not sure it told me anything new-It was always the meat content I was concerned about and had heard rumours a about -the fries never really worried me.

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

I guess I was good that they clarified that they are suitable for vegetarians , but other than that it didn't really change my perceptions.
As others have mentioned there does seem a lot of Salt but my children do only have it now and again as a treat so I am not overly worried.

• 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 do take my children there now and again as a treat , so I don't think it will make a difference on that front. I was happier to see the videos addressing hear say about the meat content but the fries don't worry me too much.

[Rigbyroo]

• What did you think of the overall message in the video? Didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know.
  
• Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how? Not really, I love them as a rare treat.
  
• 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? Every so often I will go when I don't have the children, we took dd(3) and ds(20mths) once and they really weren't fussed.
  
• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information? Possibly.

[Snoopadoop]

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

Hmmm the message appeared to be that McDonald's fries are made out of potatoes, I know this already... What would the fire be made out of it wasn't a potato? Very Strange. Your nugget one was better.

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

No not at all.

• 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 visit already with my child.

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

I doubt I would to be honest. I like it when you (years ago) printed nutritional facts and information on the the paper that sits in the trays.

[FoofFighter]

You still get the bumph on the back of the tray liners Snoopadoop...

1: Nothing I didn't know - used to work for a competitor so very clued up.
2: Not really, but then I knew that they were made of actual real potatoes unlike it seems some others (wtaf?!)
3: I occasionally visit already a couple of times a year perhaps, not out of snobbery that I don't want to go there or won't feed my 2yo a Mcds - but cause it's out on the very edge of town and I don't drive.
4: not really sorry.

[PickledPants]

1. The message seems to be in line with other McDonald's advertisements I've seen ('knowing where food comes from') but it felt a bit dumbed down ("grown in a lab" no one would say that...) - however I really liked the inclusion of them being British but felt that was sneaked in and not made enough of.
   
   
2. Has tweaked my perception; good to know they support British spud growers. and 3) We are visitors already!
   
   
3. Yes as I want to know more about the other ingredients - i.e. the cooking oil - as one of our DC is currently having gastric problems and we have found chips/oil to be a trigger.

[Snoopadoop]

foof do you? I can't say I have ever turned them over to look!

[mumsbe]

We go to mcdonalds once in a while more for the kids than us grown ups really. Its good that mcdonalds are giving more information about where they source their ingredients from. I think we all know that chips are made from potatoes but its nice to know its a british potatoe.

[FoofFighter]

I only noticed as I am familiar with the BK ones as DD cannot have milk products and turned it over once to see if they were still the same :)

[ButWaitTheresMyrrh]

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

It's trying to be lighthearted about the rumours that surround their food.
It doesn't tell me anything I don't already know.

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

No.

• 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.

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

No.

[GetKnitted]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?
I think it kind of missed the point, because really what it made me wonder was what do they then have to do to that potato to make it into fries.

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

Not really

• we do go to McDonald's with the kids on occasion. E.g. when we do need to fit in some fast food.
  
• Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information?
  

Only if I thought it was real substantial information about your processes, but then of course anyone could make mcdonalds fries, which I understand you probably wouldn't want!