Chick-fil-A, a beloved fast-food chain, recently announced a recipe change to its iconic Waffle Potato Fries, leaving many customers dissatisfied. The company claims the adjustment, which includes the addition of pea starch, is designed to keep the fries “crispier, longer.” However, a vocal contingent of fans disagrees, arguing the new fries are grainy, dry, and flavorless.
The recipe change was initially announced on the Chick-fil-A website, where the company assured customers that the new recipe remains free of the nine major allergens. Despite this assurance, the addition of pea starch has sparked concern among some customers with pea allergies. Influencer Daryl-Ann Denner, a self-proclaimed Chick-fil-A loyalist, voiced her disappointment on Instagram, urging the company to revert to the original recipe. She described the new fries as “gross” and lamented their grainy texture and lack of flavor.
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A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Minnesota.
Denner, who frequents Chick-fil-A multiple times a week, noticed the change in November. Initially attributing the difference to a “bad batch” or a specific location, she confirmed her suspicions after a similar experience with her mother at a different restaurant. A subsequent online search led her to the official announcement on the Chick-fil-A website. As a result of the change, Denner stated she will no longer order the fries, which were once her “favorite snack.” Her children, she added, also refuse to eat the new version.
Denner’s sentiment is echoed across social media, with numerous customers expressing their dissatisfaction on Chick-fil-A’s Instagram page. Comments range from pleas to “bring back the old fries” and declarations of love for “soggy fries” to complaints about the new fries’ hard texture and lack of flavor.
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Chick-fil-A’s Waffle Potato Fries.
The addition of pea starch has also raised concerns for parents of children with pea allergies. Several commenters expressed their disappointment at no longer being able to bring their children to Chick-fil-A due to allergy concerns and the risk of cross-contamination. Some customers suggested Chick-fil-A raise prices rather than compromise the quality of its food. Others simply questioned the company’s decision to “fix what wasn’t broken.” The overwhelming message from dissatisfied customers is clear: bring back the original Waffle Fries.
