Filet-O-Fish

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Filet-O-Fish
The Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
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.

The Filet-O-Fish (also MacFish or McFish) is a fish sandwich sold by the international fast food chain store McDonald's.

Contents

[edit] Product description

The Filet-O-Fish contains a battered fish patty made mostly from 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.

[edit] Variants

  • Fish Filet Deluxe - Another Deluxe Sandwich that failed (see Arch Deluxe), it 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, 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]

[edit] History

The sandwich was introduced by a McDonald's franchise in Cincinnati, Ohio, 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 who are more inclined towards eating meat that is Halal.[5]

In November 2007, McDonalds switched from using New Zealand Hoki to Alaskan Pollock,[6] 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[7] placed the Alaskan Pollock fisheries in a re-assesment program[8] due to catch numbers declining by over 30% between 2005 and 2008, and by-catch problems with salmon.

[edit] 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.[9] 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).[9] The commercial was written by Kristen Landgrebe and Peter Harvey from the Boston-based ad agency, Arnold Worldwide. [10]

The advertisement is catchy,[11][12] 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[9]

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.[9] It made "a big splash" for consumers,[9] has inspired a FaceBook fan page with more than 4,000 members,[13] [12] "spawned a series of knockoff ads posted online and a ring tone,"[9] increased online searches for the sandwich at Google by "100% in the past four weeks,"[9] and "has been viewed on YouTube more than a million times."[9][11]

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[12]

It has also been attracting notice in the advertising community of "Madison Avenue".[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1] Nutritional Info
  2. ^ McDonalds Germany
  3. ^ McDonalds Thailand
  4. ^ "Fasting and Abstinence". http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/abfast.php. 
  5. ^ 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 on 2007-02-20. 
  6. ^ [2],
  7. ^ [3]
  8. ^ [4]
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/retail-restaurants/e3i71419f4d58d0cd4c43fe847f012e10b3
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ McDonald's Filet O' Fish Commercial Fan Club. Accessed April 7, 2009.

[edit] External links

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