Notice a Difference? Chick-fil-A’s Waffle Fries Recipe Change Sparks Backlash from Customers

Chick-fil-A recently altered its Waffle Potato Fries recipe by adding pea starch to the coating, aiming to keep the fries “crispier, longer” but customers are not happy.

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The fast food staple shared the update on its website, calling it a “slight adjustment.”

“While the new recipe doesn’t contain any of the nine major allergens, the new Waffle Potato Fries coating does contain pea starch,” the company wrote.

Some customers on social media are now complaining that the fries have become stale and lacking in flavor. Others even suggested that the fries were better before the change. Despite the chain maintaining that their new recipe is safe, concerns about food allergies remain, particularly for those with peanut allergies. While pea starch isn’t a major allergen, some individuals allergic to peanuts or legumes may have reactions to pea-based products. Although the likelihood of a severe allergic reaction is low.

The change to the fries recipe follows a broader trend of modifications at Chick-fil-A, including a previous switch to No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM) chicken. While these updates aim to improve the product, the backlash suggests that even small changes to beloved items can alienate loyal customers.

So @ChickfilA ruined their waffle fries, i no longer have the desire to go there anymore until they reverse their decision. Bad move Chick-fil-A your fries were just perfect before. https://t.co/WPz2UdWtL5

— Shoen (@StormShoen) January 5, 2025

First the chicken and now the fries smh Chick-fil-A is cooked https://t.co/QwLaF86T8H

— Eric Schnieder (@Long_Live_Erock) January 5, 2025

Chick-fil-A has not responded to the backlash.