ATLANTA, GA. (THECOUNT) — In a move that’s left more than just their fries crispy, Chick-fil-A has decided to stir the pot with their beloved Waffle Potato Fries. The fast-food titan recently announced on its website that it had made “a slight adjustment” to the recipe, promising fries that “stay crispier, longer.” But instead of a crisp reception, they’ve been met with a chorus of “What the cluck?” from their fanbase.
The tweak? A new coating with pea starch, intended to combat sogginess but, according to fans, turning the fries into something akin to dry, flavorless potato chips. Chick-fil-A assures that while this new recipe doesn’t include any of the nine major allergens, the introduction of pea starch has certainly stirred up some allergic reactions – not to the food, but to the change itself.
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Pea starch is derived from yellow peas, specifically from the endosperm of the pea, which is rich in starch. It’s isolated through a process that involves soaking the peas, milling them, and then separating the starch from other components like proteins and fibers. The result is a fine, white powder, which is then dried and can be used in various food applications.
Enter Daryl-Ann Denner, the fashion mogul behind Nuuds, who took to her Instagram Stories to express her dismay. “One of my New Year’s resolutions is to somehow convince @chickfila to return their fries back to normal,” she posted, according to Southern Living. Denner, a self-proclaimed Chick-fil-A aficionado who visits the chain “at least a few times a week,” noticed the change in November. “They added this P protein so they don’t get soggy. But now they just taste gross,” she lamented. “You know I love you, Chick-fil-A. You can do no wrong, except this lol.”
Denner’s Google sleuthing led her straight to the culprit on Chick-fil-A’s website, and she’s since sworn off the fries. “They used to be my favorite snack,” she told Southern Living. “Now they are dry, grainy and have no flavor anymore. My kids won’t even eat them.”
The backlash isn’t just from Denner. Social media has turned into a digital protest, with comments flooding Chick-fil-A’s Instagram post from December 23. “I love soggy fries. Please, we are begging you,” one user pleaded, clearly missing the old, softer fries. Another commented, “Please change the fries back. They aren’t as good anymore. They don’t taste the same and I hate how hard they are.” It’s not just about taste; some parents are in a pickle with their children’s allergies to pea products now affecting what was once a go-to meal. “Please go back to the original fries,” one mom wrote, highlighting the new allergy concerns.
There’s even a faction suggesting that Chick-fil-A should “raise prices” rather than “lower standards” with their food quality. “Had to throw out the last 3 orders of fries, couldn’t finish them. I kept thinking I got a bad batch, but now I know and won’t buy them again,” another comment read. And in a plea that echoes through the digital age, one customer questioned, “Who at @chickfila decided to ‘fix’ what wasn’t broken?!?! Read the room, y’all. Bring back the old fries and stop messing around with the classics.”
As the debate simmers, it seems Chick-fil-A might have underestimated the passion their fans have for the original, unaltered crunch of their waffle fries. Whether this will lead to a recipe rollback or if Chick-fil-A will stand firm on their crispier commitment remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: when it comes to fast food, sometimes, you just can’t mess with perfection.
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