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© 2021 AFPWhen the chips are down: McDonald's rations fries in Japan
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© 2021 AFP
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WA4TKG
Oh Got NO; not THAT ! WHaaaH
Septim Dynasty
Shrinkflation is getting worse, while LDP fascists keep their heads beneath the sands. The number of boondoggle articles to say "Japan has no inflation" has been skyrocketing in recent weeks.
Yrral
Idaho, is there a problem
Cricky
Potato’s need more protection. I would suggest a McDonalds sponsored breeding program and a mascot.
Jbigs
Can I have 15 x small fries please..
Japan is comical at times.
Meiyouwenti
Time to wean yourself from junk food.
Workaholic Brothers
There is often very long line for Macdonald. I cant understand why so many people are consuming their time just for getting hamburgers and fries…..but I understand some people can’t live without Macdonald so I hope the situation will get better soon.
Hiro
If people are sick of city life, they really should considered going into the farming industry. I wish the government does more to revive the agriculture sector. The potato business seem pretty good right now. The fact that we rely so much on imports is kinda crazy. With today farming technology, you don't even need to do much manual labor as long you plan it out well enough.
SDCA
Isn't the L size already an S size here?
BackpackingNepal
Shockingly, Japanese eat too much french fries.
MOS burger should start making sweet potato fries for their burger.
FizzBit
Maybe it’s the cost of being a farmer, or taxes, or JA, not sure, but with all that land up in Hokkaido, it’s puzzling that McDonald’s can’t locally source potatoes. Maybe farmers just don’t wanna start growing larger sizes. I’m glad to see some farmers finally growing the larger, thicker and sweeter green peppers but they’re hard to find, and even if they are big, many are still too thin. When I do find them, I always search for the heaviest package.
Iron Lad
Good news!
Peter Neil
Japan McDonald’s fries and everything is better than the US version. US is inedible now. Cold, too much salt, either soft or burned and tastes like wet newspaper.
Steve
You know times are tough when they begin to ration the fries! Kind of like they do with the ketchup in their hamburgers! Best off going to Wendy’s!!
snowymountainhell
First the potential “2021 Christmas Chicken shortage” and now this! - Not to worry. - They’re obviously stockpiling for their semi-annual “¥150 AnySizeFries” promotion after the New Year. (Btw: Most kombini workers snickered when asked about the Nov 21, 2021 reported panic there would be a chicken shortage for Christmas: https://japantoday.com/category/features/food/japanese-convenience-store-chain-running-out-of-fried-chicken-takes-precautions-to-save-christmas
kohakuebisu
Just for other posters suggesting other people grow them, I bet the conditions for becoming a McDonalds potato supplier are extreme.
FizzBit
Good point. Not so much corporate farming in Japan and they don’t wanna be bothered, plus the pesticides and fertilizers.
shogun36
They still got nuggets tho right?
We good.
Paul
No L chips no McDonald's!!! That is the main reason I buy McDonald's!!!
Chico3
Man! That's just it for me. That insult just hits me in the gut. There's nothing worse than to deprive a person of his/her fries. Just totally devastating!
prionking
No great loss. McD's chips are horrible anyway, probably from the type of oil they use. The went downhill after switching from beef tallow to vegetable oil.
nandakandamanda
They'll probably sell more French fries this way. Instead of ordering one large for a family of three or four to share out, folks will be ordering one each, so three or four S sizes. Win-win for McDeez.
Speed
I thought French fries came from France.
Slayer
This is not a problem, just go to SHAKE SHACK. They have much better fries!
GBR48
French fries. Meh. Proper chips are big fat things, often sold at Japanese festivals.
A potato shortage is frightening. I eat spuds 4-5 times a week and couldn't imagine Christmas dinner without roast potatoes.
Jtsnose
Those French fries, above . . . very photogenic.
kurisupisu
Plenty of potatoes in the shops here!
Who needs overpriced crud from McDonalds?
Danielsan
Fast food companies are known to add addictive substances that stimulate the pleasure Center of the brain, creating a subconscious craving for their product.
Hence the long lines for smaller servings, and the increasing number of fast food rage incidents.
Blacklabel
They will come back soon! With medium order in the “large” size package at a higher price.
shrinkflation as others have said, plus an actual price increase too.
Ubesh
Considering there is a surplus of milk, why not offer a free glass of milk as a condolance?
gaijintraveller
Are their fries made from potatoes? I thought they carefully avoided the word potato because they used a cheaper source of starch.
Mr Kipling
Congratulations to McDonalds for this fantastic free advertising campaign. Getting their logo and products in newspapers, social media and even on TV all for free. Genius!
bass4funk
I think that is a personal opinion. I think the exact opposite and what bothers me the most about the fries at MDJ is that they are either always hard, too salty or over cooked, now I’m not a fan of MD to begin with, but the Japanese version is just for the most part God awful.
I would rather go to Burger King or Carl’s Jr. even better, but MD? If you twist my arm…
But again, it just depends on your personal taste and opinion.
Martimurano
So many good old-style burger-bars tucked away serving excellent burgers and fries Japanese-style, from Shibuya / Omotesando down to Ebisu - always pick these places over the American big-chains.
Strangerland
You'd be surprised at what bodybuilders will eat. I knew a guy who would have a can of coke after a workout every time, and I've seen body builders who eat donuts after a work out. When you're burning 5000 calories in a day, it's ok to have a coke or a donut.
I eat McDonalds, but maybe once a year. I love their fries. But if you eat McDonalds regularly it's really not going to be good for you. It's a nice periodic treat though.
bass4funk
True, but we do have a cheat day and on that day all bets are off.
TokyoLiving
Forget McDonald's.. MOS Burger is the best !!!..