Spending more doesn’t always equate to higher quality. This is demonstrated by the budget frozen fries from a major supermarket, which earned an impressive 84/100 on Yuka.
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When they hit the table, French fries often steal the spotlight from dishes like mussels, steak tartare, and Sunday roast chicken. Whether thinly sliced or dunked in beef fat (a method beloved by our Belgian neighbors), these crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside potato sticks are among the top 10 most consumed foods globally.
In the past, lacking a local fry shop, people would peel heaps of potatoes, hand cut them into sticks, and boil them in frying oil, which they meticulously filtered for future use. Nowadays, due to lack of time, such elaborate preparations are rare. Instead, we simply open a bag of frozen fries, and dinner is served. Some of these fries, already pre-fried, skip the deep fryer altogether, needing just a quick bake in the oven or a session in the trendy Airfryer. They’re a convenient side for an impromptu burger…
Unfortunately, from a nutritional standpoint, frozen fries often leave much to be desired. While they might appear less fatty on paper (depending on the cooking method, of course), they have a significant downside: they’re loaded with additives, primarily texturing agents, which can sometimes have controversial health effects.
Are the more expensive options any safer? Not necessarily. This was the surprising finding from @insolitia on Instagram, who uses his smartphone and the Yuka app to highlight poor performers in the supermarket. While potato products from national brands and store brands often contain problematic texturizers (notably E471 and E150), a budget fries option caught his attention. Free from any additives, it scored an impressive 84/100. You’ll have to visit Intermarché and look for the Top Budget labeled bags to get them.
Don’t assume that this finding applies to all supermarkets, though. At E.Leclerc, the Eco+ brand budget frozen fries only scored 48/100, penalized by the presence of diphosphates. Now you know what to do to keep enjoying your fries…
