What is in the McDonald's cheese?

[luckykitty]

I hardly ever go to McD and definitely not when abroad...

Oh, I *definitely* go to McD abroad and try whatever is a "local variant". And then I indulge at BurgerKing.... they're different in the USA between the states as well. However subtle there are differences... And what wouldn't I give for a "Miami Subs"

Many have been bitten by that “it’s cool to hate McD” snobbery bug. Fortunately, I’m not one of those people, and for me it’s just a burger chain. If I’m craving for a burger in Finland, it’s usually a 50–50 chance that I’ll end up either in a McD or in a Hesburger. I don’t like either of them too much, though... I’m forever mad at Hesburger for buying out Carrol’s and ruining the whole thing.

Carrol's still exists tho, its like on the same street as Stockmann right? In Helsinki. So are they actually run by Hesburger? Cos it tastes different, i wouldn't have guessed .

Hank: Yeah the Southern Fried Chicken is still there. It's kinda like a imitation of KFC right, with less options . SFC prob uses more but its kinda oily .

Thanks for the ingredients Penelope. So it isn't local! It's from Northern Ireland . Thanks for the clarification. I guess i know why it makes me feel kinda bloated now, probably the whey flour and milk protein that i find hard to digest.

[Jukka Aho]

Carrol's still exists tho, its like on the same street as Stockmann right? In Helsinki.

Yeah, I know... but when Hesburger bought them out, they converted most of them to Hesburgers – including my local one here in Vaasa – leaving only a couple of token sites operating under the Carrols brand. (According to Wikipedia, there are only six Carrols restaurants left in the entire country now – most of them located in the capital area. Apparently their menu / ingredients / dip sauces / mayo / whatever have been changed closer to Hesburger style as well.)

Just before the 2002 buy-out, Carrols had become a very visible brand and franchise in Finland. They had opened up new restaurants in fairly central locations in many new cities and towns, had prominent ad campaigns on tv, and engaged in on-going “limited time offer” price wars with McDonald’s. Since Hesburger was seeking to expand as well, and Kesko (the owner of the Carrols franchise back then) wasn’t having too much interest in running the chain any longer, the outcome was kind of natural... but Turkuites getting the upper hand in this deal and running the Carrols sites down, only to replace them with their own colors and menus, was a sad day on the Finnish fast food front, at least as far as I am concerned...

[enk]

Like Jukka said, the condiments have changed over to Hesburger condiments, ruining
the taste of the original products. One reason I've avoided Hesburger's for years is
because I can't stand their ketchup and now they use it on Carrol's. Hyii....

-enk

[karen]

Have to agree. Carrols rocked back in the day.

[Hank W.]

I loved the adverts... like the one they had random people on the street try to pronounce Massachusetts... "thats why we named it Big Carolina"

[Rosamunda]

Have to agree. Carrols rocked back in the day.

Yes, we aren't burger people (unless they are Bambi-burgers) but we did go to Carrols occasionally. We have even stopped going to our local McD (Friisilä): that place has got so dirty... your feet stick to the floor... the burgers always arrive 10 mins after you finish your fries... and now they have stopped special coffees (used to be a good place for a cheap drive-in Latte on my way to work) .

[Karhunkoski]

that place has got so dirty... your feet stick to the floor....

Good point there Pen, IMO Hesburger started to get dirtier around 2002

I also enjoyed Carrols when it was in Jyväs, neither Hesburger nor McD seems anywhere as good But is it just happy memories?

[sinikala]

Many have been bitten by that “it’s cool to hate McD” snobbery bug. Fortunately, I’m not one of those people, and for me it’s just a burger chain.

IMO more people dislike McDonalds because what they sell is shyte, as opposed to disliking them because it's cool.

I haven't had a BigMac in about 20 years, but they were always cheaper than and inferior to the BK Whopper. Best burgers in Liverpool were from Chicken Bazooka, AFAIK an independent joint.

My missus was a fan of Carrolls, and practically refuses to set foot in a Hesburger, though IMHO Hesburger does a mean feta salad.

Only good things about MaccyD... McFlurries and the shakes.

Pizza Hut, on the other hand, is mint.