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McDonald's halts sales of French fries in South Korea due to quality concerns

McDonald's Korea announced Thursday it had suspended sales of French fries due to concerns about the quality of its usual frozen potato imports.

The suspension took effect at 10:30 Thursday, affecting combo meals that typically include French fries.

McDonald's Korea initially attributed the suspension to supply chain disruptions, without elaborating on specifics. But the company later clarified that concerns over the quality of frozen potatoes, typically imported from a major U.S. supplier to ensure consistent taste, led to the sales halt.

However, some analysts believe the situation may be more complex, citing factors such as ongoing tensions in the Red Sea, a surge in global freight shipping rates, and potential delays in delivery times.

The suspension has reignited questions among South Korean consumers about why McDonald's Korea doesn't source its potatoes domestically to ensure a more stable supply chain.

So far, no other fast food restaurants in the country have suspended the sale of French fries.

"We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience, and we will do our best to resume sales as soon as possible," said McDonald's Korea in a statement posted on its website with no specified time offered for sales resumption.

This comes after McDonald's Korea raised prices on 16 menu items by an average of 2.8 percent last month, citing rising costs for raw materials, logistics, and labor. The price of a signature Big Mac Meal increased from 6,900 won (about 4.70 U.S. dollars) to 7,200 won (about 5.19 U.S. dollars).

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