 Filet-O-Fish Sandwich |
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| Serving size | 1 sandwich (141g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | US 380 UK 360 |
| Calories from fat | 170 |
| Total fat | 18 g (28%) |
| Saturated fat | 3.5 g (19%) |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 40 mg (14%) |
| Sodium | 640 mg (26%) |
| Total carbohydrate | 38 g (13%) |
| Dietary fiber | 2 g (7%) |
| Sugars | 5 g |
| Protein | 15 g ) |
| Vitamin A | 30 IU (2%) |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg (0%) |
| Calcium | 150 mg (15%) |
| Iron | 0.8 mg (10%) |
| Source | McDonald's |
| Notes | May vary outside US market. USRDA based on 2000 calorie diet. Some restaurants publish nutritional information for the sandwich with the tartar sauce removed. |
The Filet-O-Fish (also MacFish or McFish) is a fish sandwich sold by the international fast food chain store McDonald's.
Contents |
Product description
The Filet-O-Fish contains a battered fish patty made mostly from Alaskan pollock and/or hoki,[1] half a slice of processed cheese and one ounce of tartar sauce made with dill relish, and seasoning on a steamed bun. It is similar to an English Favourite, the 'Fish Finger Sandwich' in which fish fingers are used as a filling of a sandwich, as the name suggests.
Variants
- Fish Filet Deluxe - Replaced the Filet-O-Fish. The fish portion was enlarged, a whole piece of cheese was used instead of a half piece, lettuce was added, and this was all placed on the potato roll used for the other Deluxe sandwiches. After the Deluxe Line failed (see Arch Deluxe), the Filet-O-Fish was brought back, albeit, under the larger fish patty.
- Double Filet-O-Fish - Two fish patties and extra cheese, available in some markets.
In some non-English-speaking countries, it is called FishMac, McFish or Fish Filet. The former name was changed to Filet-O-Fish in Germany in 2006/2007.[2][3]
History
In 1963, the sandwich was introduced by a McDonald's franchise in Cincinnati, Ohio and was named by Cye Landy of Cye Landy Advertising Agency, which was the advertising firm for that particular McDonald's franchise. The sandwich was created in response to declining sales at restaurants on Fridays, due to the Catholic practice of not eating meat on Fridays at the time (a practice that the Catholic Church continues to consider obligatory on Fridays during Lent).[4] Created by young enthusiast Lou Groen, it has become popular with people who cannot eat meat-based products offered, particularly Muslims: fish is always considered Halal, whilst Halal meat requires special slaughter techniques. [5] Ray Kroc originally wanted to exclude the Fliet-O-Fish from the McDonald's menu, instead selling the Hulaburger, a hamburger with a pineapple slice on a bun with two pieces of cheese, excluding the meat. The idea was that if either the Hulaburger or the Filet-O-Fish had the most sales, the sandwich would be added. When test-marketed in 1963, the Filet-O-Fish was the most consumed, so it was added to the permanent menu.[6]
In November 2007, McDonalds switched from using New Zealand hoki to Alaskan pollock,[7] due to declining numbers of New Zealand hoki fishery sustainability. McDonalds originally used cod, before declining cod catches forced McDonalds to find sustainable fish elsewhere. McDonald's is trying to maintain fish only from areas certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, but that is becoming more difficult each year.
As of March, 2009, the Marine Stewardship Council[8] placed the Alaskan Pollock fisheries in a re-assesment program[9] due to catch numbers declining by over 30% between 2005 and 2008, and by-catch problems with salmon.
Filet-O-Fish singing fish ad
In 2009, McDonald's started a new advertising campaign for the Filet-O-Fish, in time for the Lent season, that featured a singing fish named "Frankie the Fish", a mechanized version of Big Mouth Billy Bass.[10] It was filmed in both Spanish and English versions, and besides Frankie, stars actors Ray Conchado (who munches his sandwich and shrugs off the odd experience) and Jason Reed (who watches in disbelief).[10] The commercial was written by Kristen Landgrebe and Peter Harvey from the Boston-based ad agency, Arnold Worldwide. [11]
The advertisement is catchy,[12][13] yet deceptively simple:
The fish sings, "Give me back that Filet-O-Fish" as he hangs mounted on a wall plaque in a garage. Two friends watch the fish, but enjoy the sandwich without a word.—Theresa Howard, USA Today[10]
The commercial has been wildly successful from a marketing perspective in the crucial Lent season, the 40-odd day period during which 25 % of Filet-O-Fishes are sold.[10] It made "a big splash" for consumers,[10] has inspired a Facebook fan page with more than 4,000 members,[14] [13] "spawned a series of knockoff ads posted online and a ring tone,"[10] increased online searches for the sandwich at Google by "100% in the past four weeks,"[10] and "has been viewed on YouTube more than a million times."[10][12]
The advertisement has entered pop culture:
Few commercials have what it takes to make their way into popular culture. It looks like the new McDonald's Filet-O-Fish commercial has done it. It is a sensation that has people singing the tune all over the place. It's too early to tell whether it's actually selling sandwiches, but the new McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish commercial is definitely generating buzz.—Leslie Gaydos, NECN[13]
References
- ^ [1] Nutritional Info
- ^ McDonalds Germany
- ^ McDonalds Thailand
- ^ "Fasting and Abstinence". http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/abfast.php.
- ^ Clark, Paul (February 20, 2007). "No fish story: Sandwich saved his McDonald's". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-02-20-fish2-usat_x.htm?csp=34. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
- ^ "Big Mac: Inside the McDonald's Empire" program from CNBC
- ^ [2],
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Theresa Howard, "McDonald's Filet-O-Fish ad makes a big splash: Catchy, kitschy song gets stuck in people's head," USA Today, April 6, 2009, p. 2B, found online at USA Today story of 4-6-09. Accessed April 6, 2009.
- ^ http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/retail-restaurants/e3i71419f4d58d0cd4c43fe847f012e10b3
- ^ a b Kate Ward, "McDonald's Filet-O-Fish commercial: Get out of my head!" March 20, 2009, found at Entertainment Weekly story of 3-20-09. Accessed April 6, 2009.
- ^ a b c Leslie Gaydos, "Filet-O-Fish ad takes its place in pop culture, " NECN, found at story of 3-20-09. Accessed April 6, 2009.
- ^ McDonald's Filet O' Fish Commercial Fan Club. Accessed April 7, 2009.
External links
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