Few people associate McDonald’s with the season of Lent, but the fast-food chain has played a small but iconic role in Lenten history, especially in the United States. While McDonald’s is known primarily for its burgers and chicken nuggets, the “Filet-o-Fish” sandwich has its own unique place in both fast-food and Catholic history.
The creation of the Filet-o-Fish sandwich traces back to the early 1960s when Lou Groen, an early franchisee of McDonald’s in Cincinnati, noticed something troubling. He observed that his restaurant, located in a heavily Catholic neighborhood, experienced a decrease in sales on Fridays during Lent, a time when many Catholics abstain from eating meat. According to the company, Groen proposed to McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc that he allow the restaurant to begin selling fish sandwiches to cater to the Catholic community on Lenten Fridays.
Kroc was initially skeptical about adding fish to the menu. Groen later recalled that Kroc said, “I don’t want my stores stunk up with the smell of fish!” Despite this hesitation, Kroc and Groen decided to run a test: they would offer the fish sandwich alongside another meatless option, the “Hula Burger” — a sandwich made with grilled pineapple and a slice of cheese. According to McDonald’s corporate history, the results of the test were decisive: the Filet-o-Fish sold 350 orders, while only six customers chose the Hula Burger.
The success of the Filet-o-Fish was undeniable, and soon after, it became the first new dish ever added to McDonald’s original menu. As the company says, “it has since become a popular menu item.” The sandwich was even promoted with the creation of an anthropomorphic, sharply dressed piece of cod named “Phil A. O’Fish.”
While the Filet-o-Fish is still available today, its popularity has waned in recent years. For example, AllRecipes conducted a poll of chefs to find the “best fast-food fish sandwich,” and the Filet-o-Fish ranked 10th out of 11. Taste of Home, in a similar ranking earlier this month, placed it at the bottom of its list of fast-food fishwiches. However, despite these modern rankings, the sandwich remains an enduring part of both fast-food and Catholic history.
The Filet-o-Fish’s creation is a testament to how Catholic traditions can influence the business world. Ray Kroc, ever the optimist, must have sensed the sandwich’s potential, as evidenced by his wager with his grillman Fred Turner. According to company historian Mike Bullington, Kroc was so confident that the Hula Burger would be successful that he “made a side bet with his first grillman Fred Turner that the loser would buy the winner a new suit.” The outcome was clear: “Fred got a new suit,” Bullington said, “and McDonald’s got the Filet-O-Fish.”
The Filet-o-Fish continues to serve as a reminder of how faith and tradition can intersect with even the most unexpected places, such as fast food chains, to create lasting cultural icons. Whether enjoyed on Fridays during Lent or as an occasional meal, the Filet-o-Fish remains a notable chapter in both the history of McDonald’s and the Catholic tradition of abstinence.
