Chick-fil-A customers are fuming after the fast food restaurant made changes to its popular waffle fry recipe.
Americans have blasted the new fries as ‘gross’ after the chain added a controversial new ingredient – pea starch – to the classic mix.
Daryl-Ann Denner, 34, was among those with salty words for Chick-fil-A after it made the change without consulting customers.
‘I eat Chick-fil-A at least a few times a week, and I would say by the middle of November I caught on to something being different with the fries,’ Denner told Southern Living.
‘At first, I just thought I kept getting a bad batch. Then, I blamed it on the location being off, but when I visited another location with my mom, I asked her if she noticed that the fries were grainier than usual.
‘Whether or not I was getting a meal, I would get fries and a large Diet Coke. Now, I order my entree and don’t get a fry. They are dry, grainy, and have no flavor anymore. My kids won’t even eat them.’
A recent Instagram post by Chick-fil-A was also inundated with people throwing shade about the recipe change, describing it as ‘gross’ and ‘scary’.
‘The fries are so gross now. We are all sad,’ one person wrote, while another said: ‘CFA I love you more than anyone. You can do no wrong. Except the fries. Please put them back.’
‘Your new fries are terrible. I can’t even eat them anymore and they were my favorite thing. Please go back!’ another beleaguered customer agreed.
‘The new fries are giving “7 Eleven Waffle Fries under a heat lamp,”’ one client quipped, while another complained: ‘Who at Chick-Fil-A decided to “fix” what wasn’t broken?!?! Read the room, y’all.’
‘Hate the new fries!! Please change them back. We want soggy!’ one woman said, while another said simply: ‘We want the old fries back’.
Many customers missed the ‘sogginess’ of the old fries – adding that the new ones are dangerously sharp.
‘The new fries are awful and I cut the inside of my cheek trying to chew them,’ one patron warned. ‘Please bring back the original fries.’
Others lamented ‘scary’ allergies linked to the new ingredient, saying they ‘found out the hard way’ that the new fries include pea starch.
‘You were our ONLY safe fast food place for our family members with food allergies,’ one woman fumed.
‘We found out the hard way that you changed your fries formula. I was wondering why my son suddenly had hives after eating CFA, which is something we do quite often. What a shame we wont be going there anymore.’
‘I had no idea they were using a pea starch now – so scary!’ another agreed. ‘I’m SO GLAD we didn’t end up stopping by this afternoon. What are the chances we were skip it and then would see this!?!?! My kid has a scary pea allergy.’
It comes after Chick-Fil-A also caused a stir by launching some brand new menu items – but adding that they’re only available in select locations.
The exclusive new items will only be available at Truett’s Chick-fil-A locations, the New York Post reported.
Truett’s Chick-Fil-A restaurants are found in Georgia, and are special locations that celebrate the life and legacy of the chain’s founder, Truett Cathy.
Truett’s locations first opened in 2017 and offer a specialty Chick-fil-A menu, including new items banana pudding, sweet potato soufflé and sweet potato waffle fries.
Also included in the list of twelve new options are fried peach pie, tropical nuggets, tropical chicken minis, fried okra and crispy sprouts.
The fourteen special locations have also rolled out new beverages including cran-lime lemonade, frosted pineapple, pineapple nut milkshake and frosted Hawaiian.