Burger King Stores Discontinue Satisfries as Sales Fizzle

After less than a year of being on the menu, Burger King is getting rid of its lower-calorie french fries at most restaurants, according to The Associated Press.

The Miami-based chain said in a statement that it gave its franchisees the option to continue selling the french fries earlier this week, but only about 2,500 of the approximately 7,400 locations in the U.S. and Canada opted to continue selling them as a permanent item, the AP reported.

The french fries, called "Satisfries," were a big bet for Burger King when they were announced in September, but they weren't as well received as Burger King had hoped, according to the AP.

The name was mocked in some corners, with one website referring to them as "Saddest Fries," the AP reported.

There also is some confusion about their caloric superiority, with a small order still containing 270 calories, according to the AP. A small order of McDonald's fries, by comparison, has 230 calories because the serving weighs less.

Satisfries also are pricier, costing about $1.89 for a small order, compared with a $1.59 for regular fries, the AP reported.

It's unclear whether customers were aware what made the fries lower in calories, but Burger King said Satisfries used a different type of batter to prevent some oil from being absorbed by the potatoes during frying, according to the AP.

The company did not have signs in restaurants explaining the difference between Satisfries and regular fries, the AP reported.

This week, Burger King also announced the return of "Chicken Fries" for a limited time, according to the AP. The company said it brought back the deep-fried chicken in response to demand it saw online.