McDonald's Australia ignites a culture war after revealing they'll soon be selling 'potato scallops'

McDonald's Australia has sparked a war of words amongst Australians after revealing they will soon be selling potato scallops.

The fast food juggernaut has left Aussies very excited at the upcoming menu item, which will come with chicken salt to sprinkle over the top.

While many will be crowding around every Macca's in the country like hungry zombies when they drop, some have hit out at the way the food has been labelled.

For the uninitiated, the name of the tasty snack is hotly debated in Australia.

Depending on where you're from, locals will call it a potato cake (Victoria), a potato scallop (NSW), or a potato fritter (South Australia).

It's kind of like the debate between chicken parmy vs parma, bubbler vs water fountain, or cozzie vs swimmers.

McDonald's has clearly taken New South Wales' side on this latest offering and some people are not happy.

It's bad enough that Maccas are coming for your local Mum and Pop FishNChip shop in the first place, but then they've gone and named them Potato Scollops on the menu? That's it, Victoria, it's time for the rest of you to join my McDonald's boycott. This just isn't right.

— Notnerb Sirrah (@iambren10) January 10, 2023

I am willing to sue McDonalds for false advertising if they refer to this as a scallop. It's a potato cake!https://t.co/068JLhyb6v

— MW (@MWChatShow) January 9, 2023

The McDonald's potato scallop would be, if my genius idea was adopted nationwide, would actually fall under the "potato cake" designation (mass formed from mashed potato and battered), as opposed to being a potato scallop (hand formed with scalloped potatoes and battered)

— Brendan Johnson (@the_red_heifer) January 9, 2023

McDonald's are coming out with a potato scallop from tomorrow, so Victorians are upset it's not called a potato cake & South Australia says it should be a potato fritter. I say @maccas should just call it a McPotato pic.twitter.com/bWx7vTRGS6

— Michael Shaw (@elephino_) January 10, 2023

One person wrote on Twitter: "It's bad enough that Maccas are coming for your local Mum and Pop FishNChip shop in the first place, but then they've gone and named them Potato Scollops on the menu? That's it, Victoria, it's time for the rest of you to join my McDonald's boycott. This just isn't right."

Another added: "McDonald's bringing Potato Scallops to the menu in Australia. I hope they keep that name for their Victorian restaurants, so we can watch Victorians get outraged."

Wow, a boycott sounds extreme.

McDonald's has described the menu item as the ‘perfect combination of crunchy tempura coating and fluffy potato served with chicken salt', according to Zinc96.

It will drop tomorrow (January 11) for a limited time around the country and will be available to order at restaurants and McDelivery.

In addition to the potato scallop/cake/fritter offering, McDonald's will also be launching a few other new items.

The new look summer menu will have a Aussie Angus Deluxe burger, a McSpicy Deluxe burger and a Hokey Pokey Thickshake.

Tim Kenward, marketing director at McDonald’s Australia, said: "Macca’s is giving you another reason to get together this summer, with a menu that’s as good on a roadtrip with mates as it is at the beach or in the backyard on a summer’s day.

He added: “Whatever your plans are, we’ve got you covered, because nothing quite goes together like the great Aussie summer and Macca’s.”