This was a fun little project.
What they are supposed to look like
If you haven’t heard about these, The Burger King has commissioned a new healthy treat at his “restaurants” that is marketed toward kids as a better alternative to real fries.
Basically these Apple Fries are just an apple cut up into the shape of fries and put into a typical fast food fry container… so they look almost exactly like fries.
They’re like french fried training wheels for little kids that hope to grow up and gorge on real fries when their stomachs are ready for “grown up food”.
This was my mission:
- To drive through at a BK and pick up an order of “Fresh Apple Fries”.
- To obtain my own fruit from a grocery store that costs the same amount as the apple fries.
- To skin and slice up my own apple at the same time I arrive home with the Fries.
- To find out how a real apple sliced up oxidizes, compared to our fast-food fries, and document it.
- To do a taste comparison.
First off, I’m in the drive-through. I don’t usually carry cash, so I’ve got a handful of change to pay at the window. I’m holding about a dollar because I can’t imagine them costing much more than that. It turns out, they are $1.50. You’ll come to understand how expensive this is in a minute.
I then went straight to the grocery store to see what fruit I could get for $1.50. Here’s what I came up with:
How about that?
- A medium sized “Red Delicious” apple
- Two small oranges
- And FOUR BANANAS!!!
For the grand total of… $1.56. All of this fruit… for $1.56!!!! Need proof?
Well, I can’t wait to check these things out. So, let’s take a look at the unveiling!!
How lovely! A little plastic package stuffed inside a cardboard french fry container!
Should I dare open the package?
Immediately, I cut up the Red Delicious apple I got at the grocery store.
Have you noticed yet that there seems to be a big difference in the amount of apple between the two? Guess what, I weighed them both in grams:
Hmm... looks like over twice as much for the real apple.
Now, lets see how fast they each oxidize:
Click to Enlarge
It makes me feel all warm and cozy inside to see the BK apple fries stay a refreshing yellowish/green color, days after opening, while the grocery store apple turns brown like it’s supposed to.
Lucky for us, our fluorescent fast-food apple comes with a tasty caramel sauce packet to make sure that this is truly a TREAT, because we get to squeeze a dessert gel onto our fruit!
Let’s take a look at the ingredients of the Low-Fat Caramel Sauce: (in order)
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Corn syrup
- nonfat milk
- polydextrose
- modified corn starch
- butter
- sugar
- phosphates, hydrogenated oils, flavors, etc…
Yummy!
I tasted a small piece of the BK Apple Fry immediately after opening the package, followed by a piece of the home cut apple.
The apple fry did not taste like any apple I have ever had. It’s apple flavor was very mild, and the outside had a noticeable odor and taste of something odd. I came to find out that this was probably the Calcium Ascorbate that coats the apple slices to help preserve them. THIS is what kept the “fries” the lovely crispy greenish color the entire time. I don’t want to say it was a chemical taste, but it was noticeably unnatural.
Calcium Ascorbate is Calcium and Ascorbic Acid (also known as Vitamin C). There is nothing particularly wrong with this form of it, except check out this warning on a dietary supplement:
Ascorbic acid is the acidic form of vitamin C, and even when encapsulated can cause gastric upset or diarrhea for some people. This can often be alleviated by consuming it with meals. Start with a low dose then gradually increase.
If you have a stomach ulcer, use of an antacid, buffering agent, or a buffered form of vitamin C. Calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide are effective antacids. Unbuffered ascorbic acid in the mouth may be harmful to tooth enamel.
Sounds like something everyone would want to feed their kids even when they don’t have to. But hey, it’s Vitamin C, right? Yes. Manufactured Vitamin C. Do we know what vitamin that most fruits are rich in? You guessed it.
Comparatively, the real apple had vibrant, fresh flavors. It was sweet and tart, and crunchy and juicy, all at the same time. It won’t give you gastric upset, and it didn’t cost $1.50.
This kind of product falls under the completely unnecessary food ideas that exist only because people actually buy them.
People – actually – buy – them! Remember Uncrustables?
When parents spend three times too much for an unnatural preservative coated fruit that is served in a plastic bag, at a fast food restaurant, rather than get a real, simple apple at the grocery store, then we’re most certainly headed for a WALL-E type of future.
“When parents spend three times too much for an unnatural preservative coated fruit that is served in a plastic bag, at a fast food restaurant, rather than get a real, simple apple at the grocery store, then we’re most certainly headed for a WALL-E type of future”.
Classic!
No doubt, you will hear from the defenders of everything “moderate” who will be surprised that you would question such a product. They will tell you that “surely, these apple slices are better for kids than real french fries”
They might be.
But they are both CRAAAAAAPPP!!!
Oh, and I love how certain fat sensitive members of society claim that fresh fruit is too expensive and the ‘poor’ are doomed to buying crappy food at fast food outlets.
They confuse calories for nutrition.
Your $1.50 at the grocery store is providing a heck of a lot more nutrition than at The King.
HA! That’s awesome. Who would buy those?
Haha.. what an awesome experiement. You should have done the taste test after two days!! :p
I’m fascinated that the apple fries you got do not look ANYTHING like the Burger King picture. But then again.. nothing ever does! I’ve never really thought about how much REAL fruit you can buy for the price of some crappy “healthy” choice at a fast food restaurant. So, this has been a very eye opening experiment. Thanks!
What fascinates me is not just the plastic bag, I mean, look at the WHOLE packaging stuff that comes along for a bite of sugar coated apple!
Very true, DR! Probably some poor peoples justification for eating mostly “cheap” fast food is because you do get a lot of calories for the money. I wonder what is the reason for that way of thinking… that getting your money’s worth for calories is the most important thing.
Tjasa, excellent point! I didn’t think to mention the large amount of packaging that comes for so little fruit. With a real apple, you eat the packaging!!
Holy cow, I don’t even know where to start! Actually, I’m astonished that you were able to buy so much fruit for so little money. In my area, it would have been twice that just for the bananas.
It’s the sugar addiction that’s getting most of us. Everything is so pumped full of HFCS, we don’t know what unsugared food tastes like anymore. I admit, I’m a sugar addict, but I do my best to keep it in check. I’m kind of known in the office for eating “rabbit food”. I like to bring celery and carrots with the most natural veggie dip I can find that does not list any added sugar or HFCS in the ingredients. (can you tell I’m on a campaign against the stuff??)
Oh, and love your evil Sta-Puff marshmallow man avatar!
Hey Dame, thanks for coming by!
Maybe bananas are cheaper in the south, but I am constantly astonished at how cheap they are, even in the winter. Admittedly, those were small bananas, but still… 4!
That’s a good point about everyone being addicted to sugar because of HFCS being in all processed products.
Isn’t it funny how you are made fun of for eating “rabbit food” just because you’re eating how everyone SHOULD be eating, and aren’t running to the snack machine to get Doritos and Oreo cookies like everyone else does? You should read my post Office Politics: Get your own yummy food.
I love this blog!
I heard about the “Apple Fries” yesterday and I thought exactly what you said…”we are screwed!!!”
Great article.
BCF
http://www.fitoverfourty.wordpress.com
I know it is off topic, but have you ever tried grapples?
Thanks BCFBilly!
Grapples? I saw an episode of… I think Unwrapped or How it’s made, about them. Never tried them though. You?
“Never tried them though. You?”
Yup, a bit pricey, but quite tasty.
BTW, I now refuse to eat at BK simply because their king mascot is scary as heck. That is one frightening character. He doesn’t make we want to eat burgers that is for sure.
I thought they ditched that “king” because everyone was creeped out by him. I don’t watch much tv so I hadn’t seen him in a long time. He looks like something you’d see on “The Twilight Zone”.
Yeah, he’s pretty creepy.
Here’s a couple of BK commercials that will give you nightmares:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpYLV1W1_pI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsUpKTp5iFA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqyWS7W-K68
I actually think they’re pretty funny though, but stupid at the same time.
That’s gross! And I think the burger king King is drooling in that picture!
Your entire blog cracked me up and made me sad at the same time. The info here is mesmerizingly horrifying! WHAT are we doing???
Would you stop by and share your link so my readers may find you? http://www.benaturallywell.com/blog/add-your-blog/ I think they are missing out if you don’t!
I also opened the forum yesterday. I would love it if you would consider participation. I would be glad to help you share your blog with the world!
Many Blessings,
Shelley
That is awesome! We actually have apples in our lunch room and I saw a co-worker eating the apple fries. I said “Are you stupid? We have apples here everyday?” Turns out they got them with a kids meal for their lunch, but it’s still wrong in so many ways. I’m sure these won’t sell and they will end up deep frying them… then we’ll have a winner!
what i dont understand is what does it really matter to you..
if parents want to buy them well they are gonna buy them nomatter what report people make..if you dont like it dont eat it..very simple! =]
@thats her
If only it were that simple. This is a con perpetrated on the public. Until these companies are forced to quit pouring chemicals into food (and thereby children) by people standing up and saying “Enough” none of us will be able to completely eradicate all this crap from our diets. Try to find bread that doesn’t contain HFCS. Parents are lead to believe this is a good choice for their children, when it’s not. Well-intentioned parents are still training their children to eat foods that are not only not nutritious, they are actually bad for them. It’s setting them up for a lifetime of poor eating habits and the resultant physical ailments that come with an unhealthy diet.
To put a more personal spin on it, this is part of the cause for spiraling health-care costs in this country. We are all paying for it. Hospitals now have to buy huge, structurally reinforced beds, operating tables and furniture to care for morbidly obese patients. Hospital staff need hoists to move these 500+ pound people.
See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12099676/
I’ve been giving this product some thought since I saw the commercial and thought they must have been frozen and dumped into a deep fryer. Wrong!
Bought two packs and was supprised to find apples sliced to look like fries and raw.
Ate one Friday and refridged the other. They still look fresh Sunday.
I could have bought all the stuff in the picture or a whole gallon of apple cider.
Fried apples still sound like a treat to me, after all you can buy apple fritters at the fair or someplace and they are tasty.
Thanks McBloggenstein, wouldn’t have found you if I wasn’t curious.
Hey fuzz,
Fried apples do sound like a treat, and would make more sense coming from a fast food restaurant.
I just don’t understand these places that are trying to shine up their image by offering “healthier” items, especially fruit.
I remember thinking the same thing when years ago, I believe it was Wendy’s that was the first one to offer salads. They even had salad bars at most of their locations, but they have since decided to get rid of that and only sell pre-packaged salads.
Nice bog you have here. I pretty much lurk the internet when I’m bored and read all I can about the organic lifestyle, but I really liked you view on things. I’ll bookmark the site and subscribe to the feed!
[...] BK Apple Fries caramel sauce [...]
they actually taste really good though… without the sauce though
Apple fries????!??! How about teaching kids that everything they eat doesn’t have to come from a fast food joint? Take them to the grocery store and show them what an apple is supposed to look like! Geez! Liked your experiment- very thorough!
It looks like BK is bowing to pressure from the health food nuts. Fruits and veggies are what food eats.
Thanks King for giving your loyal subjects apples that don’t taste like apples. LONG LIVE THE KING!
The bagged apple fries have been sitting in my fridge for three weeks now and they still look the same. Someday they or I will break down.
I work at Burger King and i munch on the tomatoes, jalapenos, lettuce, and apples fries all the time with water
so far I’ve worked there for 6 months and have not eaten one burger = D
BUT YES, the Appled fries do have an odd chemical taste to them.. its like a tart sourness that sits on the back of your tongue.
… Honestly as a Burger King Employee… I advice you to not eat the CRAP that comes from that place.
by the way…. Burger King has changed the KING size into LARGE
(kept the huge size just changed the label so more people would buy it)
Leave it to the King to make apples palatable. The King is a genius because normally fruit and vegetables are what food eats.
Hail Burger King! Praise the Belly God!
vonbe, I was at one time in my life also a fast food employee, I worked at Crackdonald’s. I don’t know how it works at BK, but we were given a dollar amount of food we could have for free on shift. I would make my own salads and stuff to avoid eating the normal menu items. I mean, it was FREE FOOD, so I made the best of it. I also made sandwich wraps with the tortillas they used for the breakfast burritos with nothing but a bunch of veggies and sometimes the grilled chicken. My coworkers thought I was a pain the ass, but that was alarmingly one of the places I worked where I DIDN’T gain weight. I DID gain weight when I did my telemarketing time (people bringing in snacks daily and me with less willpower back then), and ironically when I started my current work at the health food store.
I forgot to add that when I worked at the Crack, it was the time when they introduced the “apple dippers” which are the exact same thing as BK’s apple fries, except not cut in the shape of fries. And yes, the additives that made them last forever and ever were frightening.
[...] the several week old cut up potato and the 4-year old McDonald’s fry. It reminds me of my Burger King apple fry [...]
I understand the point you were making, but I thought it would have been a much better point if you had bought only apples, then peeled cored and cut up all the apples… you would have had a mountain of apples, next to those few puny slices.
Janurary 1 2009 I won. The bag gassed up and looked like it was going to burst. Two days later the bag sagged and the apple fries looked soft. I didn’t open it.
It took 4 months.
I have one issue with this article:
“Ascorbic acid is the acidic form of vitamin C, and even when encapsulated can cause gastric upset or diarrhea for some people. This can often be alleviated by consuming it with meals. Start with a low dose then gradually increase.
If you have a stomach ulcer, use of an antacid, buffering agent, or a buffered form of vitamin C. Calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide are effective antacids. Unbuffered ascorbic acid in the mouth may be harmful to tooth enamel.”
Then sir bliggity-blog goes on to say how this might be bad to give kids.
The responses of different people to the same information has been compared many times on this blog. I think that taking this disclaimer out of context without chemistry knowledge is a poor route to go. ANY acid can cause gastric upset in sensitive people; those with stomach ulcers would suffer much from acidic foods if not taken with a neutralizing agent. Same goes with tooth enamel. You know what’s harmful to tooth enamel? Lemons, oranges, and any other acidic fruit. By nature, apples *are* acidic. Consuming an apple, therefore, could harm enamel. You know what would fix that issue? Brushing your teeth. I realize the intent of this blog is to promote health, but this was the one thing that made me cringe horribly.
Considering sir bliggity-blog’s statement, “There is nothing particularly wrong with this form of it, except check out this warning on a dietary supplement: (…),” I’d say that there’s nothing particularly wrong with this form of it, period, by that reasoning.
You’re right, actually. It was a silly point to try and make, as there’s probably nothing wrong with ascorbic acid alone. Surely, apples are acidic, and it’s probably fine to sprinkle something on them that makes them even more acidic. Sounds like a great idea for children’s teeth.
You sure chose to focus on what was probably the most minor point of this entire experiment. I suppose you see nothing wrong with charging $1.50 for this product that comes with all of that packaging when you could get over twice as much apple for $.59 that would result in only biodegradable waste.
I know I was nit-picking; that’s because I agree with the rest of it. By the date of my post you can tell I recently read a LOT of your blog, Sir Bliggity-blog, considering that I cared only to post now. I think I got eleven pages in today? I just have irks with chemistry things; I generally approve.
Well, you can’t really crap all over these because where else can someone get some fresh (tasting) fruit while on the go or in a pinch during a road trip on the interstate or last minute domestic mission that took much longer than expected?
They aren’t trying to compete with the produce department for poop’s sake… no need to excel spreadsheets to point this out. …wait..you didn’t go that far, sorry. Yes, you could easily have 3 or 4 apples with you for the price. Again, if all you have time to do in an unplanned situation is hit a drive thru, it’s a worthy compromise, since time has more value than pocket change in certain situations if you need an unexpected energy boost.
As for the rest of their menu options, people know what they are getting in to, and this is at the other end of the spectrum; It’d cost you far more to make your own burger, or pretty much anything else on their item sans coffee and water.
I feel the garbage effect far more from Subway (who overtly boasts their healthy superiority in the fast food market) than I do an occasional cheeseburger, by the way. Not your point, just making it anyhow.
I can’t believe people still think “fat” is what makes people fat. Hell, the majority of take out Chinese menu items are far worse for you than a small cheeseburger. I know, not the point of this post — but unlike you, I don’t have excess time on my hands to go put every little comment in it’s proper place — I’ll just go ahead and make a safe bet there are other posts that ranted across these topics.
…plus it’s nice to not have apple skins crammed in your teeth while you are going to be stuck on the road for hours to wind up at a hotel that has no floss, but you have to energy to try to find a store at that hour because you’re a dirty hippie and refused to eat anything other than apple fries. Common scenerio. ; )
*no floss