With currently 13,438 restaurants in the United States, according to Global Data, McDonalds is quite popular. When you think of this famous fast food joint, chances are, you imagine a burger and fries. Or perhaps the golden arches bring to mind the happy meal, a seminal childhood favorite.
Whatever you think, one thing is for sure: the restaurant has changed a lot since it first opened. Filet-O-Fish, a classic and beloved dish, was one of the most important changes for fish lovers. This sandwich includes a seamed bun, half a piece of cheese, a square fish patty, and tartar sauce. While delicious, the Filet-O-Fish comes out of the sheer need to offer a meat-free sandwich. By adding new items, they were able to meet that need and also give customers a great sauce and a great soft steamed bun.
This sandwich is interesting, and Mental Floss says it sells over 300 million of them every year, so it must be popular. From its interesting history to the tasty ways it can be customized to the fact that the fish is sustainable, the famous Filet-O-Fish sandwich is both tasty and interesting.
Fish fillets are a popular menu item at many restaurants and fast food chains. But with growing concerns over sustainability and healthy eating, consumers are starting to ask what kind of fish is actually used in these fish fillets? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular chains serving up fish fillets and see what’s really inside.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
One of the most iconic fish sandwiches in fast food, the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish was actually invented back in 1962. Created as a meatless option for Catholics abstaining from meat on Fridays, this sandwich has remained a staple on McDonald’s menus for over 50 years.
The Filet-O-Fish contains a crispy battered and fried fish fillet, tartar sauce pasteurized American cheese, and a soft steamed bun. But what fish is used for the fillet?
McDonald’s uses wild-caught Alaska Pollock for their Filet-O-Fish sandwich in the U.S. This white fish is sourced from sustainable fisheries, which helps protect ocean ecosystems.
Previously, the chain used Atlantic cod for their sandwiches. But declining cod populations led them to find a more sustainable alternative. McDonald’s commitment to sustainable Alaskan Pollock shows they are taking steps to prevent overfishing.
Long John Silver’s Fish Fillet Sandwich
Specializing in seafood, Long John Silver’s offers a classic Fish Fillet Sandwich. It features a breaded and fried white fish fillet topped with tartar sauce and a slice of American cheese, served on a toasted bun.
The fish used in Long John Silver’s fillets is Alaska Pollock. Again, this is a sustainable white fish caught wild in the waters off Alaska.
By choosing fish from well-managed Alaskan fisheries, Long John Silver’s makes a responsible choice for their fish fillet sandwiches.
Burger King’s Big Fish Sandwich
Burger King entered the fish sandwich market with their Big Fish Sandwich in 2005. It includes a crispy coated fish fillet, tartar sauce, American cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a sesame seed bun.
The fish used for Burger King’s Big Fish is wild-caught Pacific cod. This white fish comes from fisheries rated as sustainable by organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council.
So while the Big Fish Sandwich is fried fast food, at least Burger King sources their fish from responsible suppliers.
Arby’s Fish Sandwich
Arby’s also wanted a slice of the fish sandwich market, debuting their Fish Sandwich in 2016. It features a crispy fish fillet, tartar sauce, lettuce, and a slice of cheddar cheese on a star cut bun.
The fish Arby’s uses in their sandwich is Alaska Pollock. Again, this is a wise choice as Alaskan Pollock comes from well-managed sustainable fisheries.
By opting for fish like Pollock and cod from sustainable sources, major chains are helping protect fish populations and ocean ecosystems.
The Takeaway
When ordering a fish fillet sandwich from a restaurant or fast food chain, it’s good to ask what fish they use. Many major chains—including McDonald’s, Long John Silver’s, Burger King, and Arby’s—use sustainable white fish like Alaska Pollock and Pacific cod.
Sourcing fish from responsible, well-managed fisheries helps support healthy oceans while still providing diners with a tasty fish fillet sandwich. So next time you grab a fish sandwich on the go, you can feel good knowing they’re using sustainable seafood.
It was created as a response to meatless Fridays
In 1962, most McDonalds regulars would know the restaurant is largely burgers and fries. Plus, that’s not a problem most days of the week. But on Fridays, Catholics mostly avoided McDonald’s because of that. No one knew this better than Lou Groen.
USA Today shares that McDonalds franchisee owner Groen was struggling to keep his business afloat in the 1960s, and it was mainly due to the dip in sales his franchise experienced each Friday when Catholics were avoiding meat and McDonalds offerings. At that time, most Catholics abstained from meat each Friday rather than just during Lent, so this presented a big problem to Groen, whose surrounding population and customer base was 87% Catholic. A Catholic himself, Groen knew he needed a solution. He knew that the local Frischs offered a fish sandwich that did so well, its own tartar sauce was for sale in pint-sized jars. So, Groen invented his own sandwich and brought it to McDonalds headquarters. Little did he know, Ray Kroc, McDonalds chief, already had his own meat-friendly version in mind.
It’s a great source of protein
Livestrong argues that the nutritional content of the Filet-O-Fish isnt great, but the sandwich does provide a nice helping of protein. According to the McDonalds menu, the whole sandwich comes to 390 calories. It has 19 grams of fat, but that extra fatty goodness is one of the reasons the fish tastes so good. Saturated fat comes in at 4 grams with 0 grams of trans fats. Youll also get 39 grams of carbohydrates to keep your energy up with 2 grams of fiber. And, most notably, the Filet-O-Fish has a solid 16 grams of protein. Whats more, this fish affords you some omega-3 fatty acids to help maintain a healthy heart.
Because so many people eat this sandwich all the time, especially during Lent, it’s good that it’s not high in fat and carbs without also having protein to help keep your energy level healthy.
How to Fillet a Fish
FAQ
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