Smiley fries

Smiley fries
Smiley fries on a plate
Alternative namesSmiles (from McCain Foods), Potato smiles
TypeFrench fries
Place of originFlorenceville, New Brunswick, Canada
Created byMcCain Foods
Main ingredientsPotato

Smiley fries, also sold as McCain Smiles, are a food product consisting of fried potatoes in the shape of a smiley face.

Overview

Smiley fries are made from mashed potatoes combined with potato flakes and other ingredients, which are molded into a smiley face shape. The manufacturing process is highly automated and involves several stages, including par-frying and individual quick freezing.

History

McCain Foods invented smiley fries in the 1970s to reduce the potato waste generated by French fry production. They later became a common item in school cafeterias.

McCain Smiles were discontinued in Australia in 2015 due to poor sales, but returned to stores in 2020 following public demand.

References

  1. 1 2 Judd, Rolland (2025-11-06). "How Do Smiley Fries Get Their Iconic Grin? We Found Out Exactly How They're Made". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 2026-10-16.
  2. 1 2 Paine, Hannah (June 29, 2020). "McCain brings back popular Potato Smiles after they disappeared five years ago". News.com.au.
  3. ↑ "Potato smiley faces are BACK". PerthNow. 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2026-10-16.