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McCain Foods was founded in 1957 by four brothers from the McCain family.

They founded the company in their hometown of Florenceville, New Brunswick in Canada on a decision to merge their family’s agricultural knowledge with their own innovation to produce renowned french fries. 

This unique combination quickly expanded into McCain Foods USA and its current global presence - six continents and over 160 countries.

McCain Foods makes one quarter of all the frozen fries produced in the world.

For specific ingredient information, always check the packaging of your favorite McCain variety or visit our products pages for more information on our individualized product ingredients, cooking instructions and nutritional values.

Although we do have some McCain-owned farm operations to ensure a ready supply of quality potatoes, these provide only a small percentage of our needs.

Most of the potatoes used in our products are grown by independent farmers who contract with McCain Foods before planting the year's crop.

McCain Foods agronomists work closely with these growers to help them constantly improve the quality and yield of their crops.

Yes, McCain products are best suited to be cooked in air fryers. Several benefits are associated with air frying our products:

1. Even cooking from hot air circulation
2. Requires less cooking oil
3. Convenience - air fryers heat up faster than other cooking options
4. Easy cleanup - minimizes oil splatter and residue The air fryer is a great way to cook McCain products so you can get tasty dinner-time to your table even quicker.

McCain Foods works with the Kosher certifying agencies of the Orthodox Union, Circle K and Triangle K. Kosher Pareve certification symbols are included on the front of packages that maintain that specific certification. McCain Foods works with the Kosher certifying agencies of the Orthodox Union, Circle K and Triangle K. Kosher Pareve certification symbols are included on the front of packages that maintain that specific certification.

Where our products carry the Halal certification, consumers can be assured that our products are made using approved ingredients and cooking and preparation methods.

Although we value your interest in our products, we do not distribute physical or digital coupons upon request. We work with retail grocers to periodically run in-store sales or promotions on our products. Please watch your grocer sale papers or store shelf for special pricing.

No, we do not sell directly to consumers at this time.

We do not accept business proposals, recipe ideas or marketing suggestions. We have a staff of Research & Development and Marketing individuals who develop these ideas in house.

The nutrition facts for each McCain product are based on the product in the frozen state as purchased.

Dark baking sheets absorb more heat and distribute heat more evenly than lighter ones. This helps the fries brown and crisp up and helps prevent over-cooking on the edges while ensuring the center is cooked through.

If you do not have a dark baking sheet, parchment paper can be used to cover a light baking sheet to help make fries more crispy.

For specific nutritional information, always check the packaging of your favorite McCain variety, or visit our product pages where we provide complete nutritional information for all of our products.

We do not recommend using any of our McCain potato products if they have been thawed in a manner inconsistent with the recommended preparation instructions.

For example, if a bag of frozen fries is accidentally left out and thaws, we do not recommend preparing or consuming the contents at any point.

No. For safety reasons, don't use frozen products that have thawed. Please discard thawed potato items to avoid food-borne illness.

No, none of McCain's products in the US are pre-cooked.

While some products are blanched or par-fried during manufacturing, this step does not cook the product. All of our products require additional preparation/cooking prior to eating; they are not considered ready to eat right out of the bag or while frozen.

Yes, some of our products are par fried in vegetable oil, but all McCain USA products require additional preparation/cooking prior to eating; they are not considered ready to eat.

Par frying is a hot, fast, frying method that prepares the product for the cooking instructions as noted on the package.

Freezing actually helps preserve most nutrients in our potato products, as we flash-freeze them shortly after processing to lock in nutritional value.

Soggy fries typically result from overcrowding the baking sheet or air fryer basket, which prevents proper air circulation and creates steam instead of crispiness. Other common causes include not preheating your cooking appliance, using a temperature that's too low, using a light-colored baking sheet or tin foil, or cooking fries that have partially thawed. For that signature McCain crunch, always arrange fries in a single layer with space between them, preheat properly, and cook directly from frozen!

For optimal quality, tightly roll the opening of the bag to remove excess air, secure with a "chip clip" or rubber band, and return to the freezer immediately after each use. Consider transferring fries to an air-tight, freezer-safe container if you'll be storing them for more than a few weeks after opening. Keep them away from the freezer door where temperature fluctuations occur most frequently.

There are slits in the packaging to remove the air from the bags prior to packing them in a master shipping case. Without the air, we can use a smaller case and reduce packaging and freight.

Yes, nutrition values vary across our product line. For specific nutritional information, always check the packaging of your favorite McCain variety, or visit our product pages where we provide complete nutritional information for all our products.

No. There is no BPA in McCain's product packaging.

McCain Foods USA labels product in accordance with the laws and regulations issued by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). This requires the identification of the following allergens on the packaging: milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans.

McCain manufactures various potato and snack food items using vegetable oils that have been highly refined and deodorized. According to regulations, there are exemptions for declaration as an allergen when these oils, sourced from an allergen (i.e. soybean), have been highly refined and deodorized. This process significantly reduces the protein which elicits the allergic response.

That is one option. If the store is unable to resolve the matter to your satisfaction, we are happy to work with you to find a solution. Our Consumer Affairs department can assist you by telephone, email, or letter. Contact information can be found on the bag or our website.

Visit our Where to Buy page for store names and locations of your favorite McCain® products. Our frozen fries and potatoes are available at most grocery store chains across the US.

If they are not available at your local grocery store, please speak with the store manager and share your desire to have our products made available.

At McCain, we believe in Good Food - food that is simple, nutritionally responsible, and future-focused for the health of people and planet. We prioritize formulating our products to be nutritionally responsible by limiting nutrients such as sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. Check out our Good Food page for more information.

No one is sure about the origin of French fries. They became popular in France by the late 1800s, however there are claims that they originated in Belgium. American soldiers first named them ‘French fries’, when they were introduced to them by French-speaking Belgians during World War One. It is even said that former U.S President Thomas Jefferson served "potatoes fried in the French manner" in the White House in the early 1800s.

The British, of course, call French fries "chips", and England is the land of "fish and chips". Being a Canadian headquartered company, we’re proud of our poutine roots too!

At McCain, we prioritize nutrition through our commitment to Good Food. Potatoes are nutrient-dense, containing carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium and vitamin B6. Through Good Food, we work hard to preserve the goodness of the potato by limiting added salt, sugars, and saturated fats.

At this time, our McCain branded French fries are made from a variety of potatoes: Shepody, Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank which are all white potatoes. Most recently, we have added Sweet Potatoes.