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

[ottothedog]

I'm now worried about what they used to be made of that made this ad necessary! Ad was ok, bit patronising tho, and i'm not sure if people were too worried about the chips

[Realitea]

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

By showing farmers and local tradespeople they're trying to come across as friendly, local, positive

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

It did not change my perception as I knew they were made from potatoes. I started to wonder if Mcdonalds sourced their ingredients from farmers rather than mass produced factories

• 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 current visitor, occasionally. My children love it but it's definitely for a 'treat' rather than a regular thing

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

yes!

[IrritableBitchSyndrome]

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

It seemed a bit... simplistic?

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

No. Not only did I know they were made of potatoes, I knew which type. It's the fat they are fried in that bothers me, not the potatoes!

• 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 would be really wary of taking my children there, or eating there myself. The food is too processed to be nutritious and there is evidence that it messes with the body's beneficial gut bacteria.

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

No. I think it is unlikely to give me the type of info I would need to consider eating McDonalds products. For example the level of antibiotics used in their meat.

[piggyliggy2015]

I always thought they were potato of some kind, but it is nice to get that guarantee they are from fresh potatoes. Makes you feel better about what you are eating. I have no problem eating their fries now, so the video makes no difference to me - I am more interested in where their meat comes from than the fries

[Nelc3]

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

I have real reservations about McD's. I'm probably one of those people who say their food isn't real. It is refreshing to hear that their fries are all real. But, it also demonstrates a real lack of understanding of the general public. Their initial reaction would be "what about their burgers and the rest of the food?".
Is that not real?

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

I'm glad the fries are real, for the consumer and the company, but I still feel that McD's have a long way to go before I can go there.

• 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 think McD's is an appropriate 'food' source for children and would certainly not class it as a treat. There needs to be more nutritional information to get me to change my mind.

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

No, internal company PR is not going to win people over. Independent reports would.

[wannabestressfree]

For and against
I don't mind the videos. I like the farmer type links and I like The fact macdonalds support an industry that struggles at times. Like others I was unsure the fries were ok for veggies so that's good to know :)
It Doesn't change my perception as we know McDonald's is bad for us but ok in moderation. I often think the practices in certain restaurants are worse than their 'message' eg
Too much salt on chips.... Would you like chips with that salt?
The frying oil aggreviates my crohns :( chips go in and leave fairly sharpish.
We go already so it hasn't' changed my mind and I would visit the website if one of my children asked a question :)

[BananaDaiquiri]

What did you think of the overall message in the video? - All fairly obvious stuff I thought

Did it change your perceptions of McDonalds’ Fries at all? If so, how? - No. I love McD fries and knew they were made of potatoes!

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 already a McD fan and visit every now and then as a treat.

Would you be interested in visiting the McDonald’s Good To Know website to find out more information? - Not particularly, I already like to visit McDs and visiting the website won't increase their popularity with me.

[kungfupidge]

this video was fun to watch however i dont think there was any real information given, :)

[Miaow1234]

Pretty clear they are potato! My issue is all the salt put on already when you buy. More information about nutritional content more important to me. We do go to McDonald's occasionally and enjoy but if I went more often it would make me feel ill.

[Hopezibah]

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

that McDonald's use real proper ingredients and they want to bust through the rumours about bad quality ingredients or unnatural ingredients being used in their foods.

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

No - I think highly of McDonalds' food in the UK (i think it is in USA that they have the poor quality food with MRM nuggets etc - i hope it has changed by now to same high standard that they have in uk)

• 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?
  

Already a very frequent visitor :-)

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

yes i think it would be interesting for parents and kids to know more about where food comes from generally and whilst food like burgers and fries should be eaten in moderation it is actually not 'bad' in itself

[Twighlight]

What did you think of the overall message in the video?
I liked the video. It was light-hearted and had some comments in it which I have heard people make before.

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

It did change my perception for the better. I did think that since they had gone to the trouble of naming different types of potatoes it would have been helpful to say which type of potato they use rather than just saying British spuds but this is a small point.

• 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 McDonald's visitor and sometimes take my children there. This would not change how often I take them there as it is the salt and calorie content which concerns me.

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

Yes I would be happy to do this.

[anonooo]

Overall message: don't believe the myths. McD fries are actually made from potato, and these are grown in GB.
It changed my perceptions a little, as I thought they were reconstituted, they may yet be. The video was not quite clear.
They don't appeal to me. I like thick British chips. Still look thin, oily and unhealthy. Plus I know they are covered in salt.
Don't go to McD. Still not likely to go.
Still need more info, so if I were to go, I would go to the Goodtoknow website.

[Donthate]

I have heard rumours about mcdonalds recipes before. One that stuck in my mind was that the chunks in apple pie were made of potato not apple. I remember buying an apple pie the next time I visited mcdonalds and prodding the insides. They were definitely not potato chunks . So I can understand why mcdonalds have introduced these adverts. I think they are a great idea.
I will be having a look at the Good to Know website to get more info.

I liked the message in the video, it didn't change my perception because I already love mcdonalds fries.

[ozbird1]

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

I think that you would struggle to change the minds of people who don't believe its real potato - the same as 100% beef etc, they don't want to think of McDonald's providing quality food.

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

No - I worked many years ago at McCains and saw how the chips are produced.

• 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?

Everything in moderation, so yes would visit

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

Yes, I have had a look around it

[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.

[BoffinMum]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[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 :)

[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

[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.

[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 😊