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New Wendy’s Fries: Skin and Sea Salt

by Jordan Yerman | November 10, 2010 at 12:34 pm

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New Wendy's Fries to Target Foodies

Wendy's is revamping its humble french fries to appeal to fried-potato connoisseurs. By daring to strip its french fry ingredients down to potatoes, vegetable oil and sea salt, Wendy's hopes to get a leg up on the other fast food chains.

Wendy's tested the skin-on fries in a few target markets, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive-- positive to the extent that Wendy's is changing out its fries across North America. (This is a huge decision for a large corporation that prizes uniformity at its outlets)

By leaving the skin on, Wendy's is hoping to send a visual message that its fries are more "authentic", though they will still be delivered frozen to Wendy's locations.

Are the New Wendy's Fries Healthier?

Each fry is skinnier than its skinless predecessor, so a order of fries will contain more, narrower items.

So, are Wendy's new fries actually healthier? Not really. The new fries have half again as much salt as the old fries, and a medium Wendy's french fry order will have 10 more calories. That said, if you're going to a fast-food restaurant, you're not seeking out health food, so the comparison is somewhat academic.

The company, a unit of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc., has never been known for its fries, Calwell concedes. Burger King in the late 1990s famously overhauled its recipe to be crispier.

Wendy’s said its new fries have been selling well in five test markets, including New Orleans and Orlando, in the past eight to nine months, he said.

"This is all part of a strategy to raise the bar," said a rep for the fast food chain. "We know customers are looking for new things."

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TaylorTinkerbell (not verified)

at 13:56 on November 10th, 2010

Actually, it IS healthier, because it has no preservatives and other dangerous chemicals, which are actually much more unhealthy than calories or salt! And sea salt is natural, so it's not necessarily unhealthy. Potatoes, vegetable oil, and sea salt, is WAY healthier than all that other man-made stuff that our bodies weren't made to digest. No wonder people are so sick nowadays.

Sir H (not verified)

at 16:36 on December 16th, 2010

"And sea salt is natural, so it's not necessarily unhealthy." We hear this a lot. Poison Ivy is natural -- is it also 'not necessarily unhealthy?' Natural does mean good for you/better for you. Granted, sea salt is natural and depending from where it comes, packs awesome flavors. However, we need to back off the natural mantra so many are chanting.