The Filet o' Fish: how an iconic McD Sandwich became a Cultural Icon 🍔
If there is one fast food item which gets a bad rep it’s the Filet o’ Fish burger from McDonald’s. A burger which truly divides opinions - it has its hardcore fans but also its haters - this item has been making waves since it was placed on the menu in 1962 - outdating even the Big Mac! Let’s have a look at the cultural relevance of this controversial sandwich.
The Filet o’ Fish: humble beginnings
The Filet o’ Fish was first thought up by a savvy franchise owner in Ohio in 1961. Lou Groen, who ran a McDonald’s at that time, noticed that his restaurant profits dropped hugely on Fridays. This was because a large percentage of his customers were Catholics who didn’t eat meat on Friday. Lou noticed that the customers were flocking to a competitor who offered a fish burger option and decided to take on the challenge of creating a fish sandwich at McDonald’s.
The FOF and its adversity from the start
Whilst the Filet o’Fish has actually been a huge success story for McDonald’s - in fact the biggest selling non-burger item on their entire menu - it started with some reluctance from McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. Kroc was initially concerned about his restaurants smelling “fishy” - not ideal! The decision was made to launch the fish sandwich alongside a “Hula Burger” - Kroc’s contribution - which was a slice of pineapple and cheese on a bun. The Filet o’Fish crushed its competition and has been a staple on the menu ever since.
The Filet o’ Fish, might be a favourite but it’s still controversial
Whilst the Filet o’Fish burger remains super popular on the menu, it isn’t without its controversies. For some reason some people love it, whilst others hate it - there doesn’t seem to be a middle-ground for this fish sandwich.
I personally am a huge fan of the delicious steamed bun goodness but I know it’s a controversial choice amongst the nuggets and burgers on the menu.
Regardless, it still remains one of my favourite McDonald’s items. Donald Trump is also known to be a huge fan (perhaps their most notorious one), bringing heaps of the fish sandwiches on his campaign trail.
Have you ever ordered a Filet o’Fish at McDonald’s? What do you think of it? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to tag us @foodblog.mt the next time you tuck in!
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