Satisfried'? Burger King to Introduce a 'Healthier' French Fry

Everyone’s becoming a little more self-conscious about their weight these days and the food industry is responding to those concerns.

Image source: Burger King

Whether it’s Olive Garden or Red Lobster revamping their menus or McDonald’s and Wendy’s introducing “greener” items, the industry wants to address America’s health concerns while bringing people through the door.

And now Burger King is getting a piece of the action with a new, low-fat French fry called -- wait for it -- “Satisfries.”

The chain plans to start selling the crinkle-cut fries Tuesday.

The new menu item will have 20 percent fewer calories than regular French fries and a small order should contain about 270 total calories (as opposed to the 350 calories you get with a regular order).

Burger King’s top brass promises that the new health-conscious fries will taste just as good as regular fries, adding that “Satisfries” use the exact same ingredients.

They explain that the difference lies in adjusting the proportions of ingredients used for the batter to block out more oil. Simply put, the new fries are less absorbent.

The new fries will be cooked in the exact same machines and for the exact amount of time as regular fires. However, the company explains, confusion will be avoided thanks to the crinkle-cut.

"You need to make things as simple as possible," says Eric Hirschhorn, Burger King's chief marketing officer.

Burger King’s new item will also cost a bit more than the regular offering: $1.89 for an order of “Satisfries” as compared to $1.59 for the regular deal.

“Burger King took great pains to keep the launch of Satisfries under wraps. Last week, reporters were invited to preview a ‘top secret new product’ at a New York City hotel, where they were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements,” The New York Times reported.

“Attendees were each served a carton of the fries that look and taste like any other fries, even leaving the familiar grease stains in their paper cartons,” the report adds.

But will the new menu item be a hit?

Maybe.

Here, Gawker’s Lacey Donohue has an interesting prediction: “no one will ever order Satisfries because no self-respecting person will ever want to say ‘Satisfries’ aloud. Ever. Fine, maybe in the drive-thru once, but only because no one will see you.”

–

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image Burger King

[related]