Unusual reason the United States tried to change the name of French fries

08 October 2023 , 07:00

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Republican Representatives were inspired by Neal Rowlands, pictured, and his move to rebrand French fries on his menu (Image: Getty Images)

Despite its name, the humble French fry has become an icon of American culture and fast food. However, it almost had a very different name as a politician sought to rename one of America's favourite sides due to the Iraq War.

Walter B Jones Junior, a North Carolina Republican who served in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2019 got along well with his colleagues, but he decided in 2003 that French fries needed a rebrand. It was the early days of the Iraq War, which lasted until 2011, and France had said it would not support the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Then-President Jacques Chirac said he felt that there had not been enough time allowed for diplomacy to work. Germany was also against the invasion, but it was France that caught America's ire.

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French fries are a staple of many American restaurants (Getty Images)

Mr Jones Jr was a supporter of the military action, and in response to France's opposition to the war, he took inspiration from the owner of a North Carolina diner. Neal Rowland had printed new menus for his restaurant, Cubbies, in Beaufort.

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These new menus had rebranded 'French fries' to 'Freedom Fries' and also dropped the word 'French' from French toast. Speaking to Fox News he said: "Since the French are backing down, French fries and French everything needs to be banned."

Mr Rowland said he "got the idea from similar protest action against Germany during World War I, when sauerkraut was renamed 'liberty cabbage' and frankfurters became 'hot dogs '." Despite these claims, Mr Rowland wasn't entirely accurate - the term hot dog predated WWI by around 30 years.

Restaurant owner Neal Rowland prepares to cook some of his Freedom Fries at Cubbies restaurant (Getty Images)

However, his sentiment was enough to capture the attention of Mr Jones Jr who reached out to fellow Republican Representative Robert New of Ohio, who was in charge of the committee that managed the restaurants in Congress The pair directed three Congressional cafeterias to follow suit and alter their menus in 2003.

The move made headlines, with the pair announcing their plans with a plaque reading: "Update. Now serving... In All House Office Buildings... 'FREEDOM FRIES'." In a statement at the time, Mr New accused France of "sitting on the sidelines" while "brave men and women in the American military are putting their lives on the line."

He went on to say: "Over the years, France has enjoyed all of the benefits of an alliance with the United States, and all our nation has received in return is a trade deficit and a cry for help when their appeasement efforts fail. This action today is a small but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France."

French fries were rebranded 'Freedom Fries' for a short time (Getty Images)

A spokesperson for the French Embassy responded to a request for comment on the move by wondering aloud if the situation was even "worth a comment." However, they said: "We are working these days on very, very serious issues of war and peace, life or death. We are not working on potatoes."

The proposed name change, surprisingly, didn't get much bipartisan support. Democrat lawmaker Jose Serrano called the gesture "petty grandstanding". He went on to ask: "Should we ban French wine, Belgian waffles or Russian dressing? If Mexico votes no, should Mexican restaurants also be banned?"

The move to 'Freedom Fries' was short-lived. Just three years later, in 2006, they became French fries once again. For Mr Jones Jr, he went from being one of the Iraq war's greatest advocates to one of its most vocal critics in the face of evidence that the war may have been fought under false pretenses.

Fiona Leishman