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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 35 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people were dissatisfied with the products, noting a significant decline in quality. Customers frequently mentioned issues such as hard, inedible pieces, powdery texture, and a lack of taste, leading many to discard their purchases and switch to alternative brands. The value for money was also a concern, as consumers felt the products no longer justified the cost due to these quality issues. Some people also felt that the products had an unpleasant plastic smell and chemical taste, with a few even referencing past product recalls. Additionally, some customers expressed frustration with packaging that was difficult to open without spilling the contents.

What people talk about most

Product

Reviewers express widespread disappointment with the product quality. Many customers report that items like... See more

Quality

Users describe negative interactions with quality, consistently expressing disappointment. Many report that... See more

Value for money

People report negative experiences with value for money. Many consumers express disappointment, stating that... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

We have loved McCains roast potatoes for a good few years but suddenly they have hard putty like pieces in them, they are hard and un eatable, not buying them any more. Tescos are more reliable. Hopef... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I thought I would try the ready Jacket Potatoes, these were absolutely dreadful, the potato tasted like powder, my advice, buy baked potatoes fresh and pop in the microwave for 10 minutes, job done, t... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

NO stars preferred. Frozen Chips. Scrag ends. 1.6kg crinkle cut oven chips . Tasteless potato taste powdery. BUT worst of ALL vast majority in bag are TOTALLY inedible. End up discarding anywh... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What have McCain done to their oven chips? Used them for years and very happy but the latest bag of Home crinkle cut were absolutely horrible. I've thrown them away now and just won't buy any more. W... See more

Company replied


1.6

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

139 reviews

5-star
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1-star

Replied to 57% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very bad!

Very bad!! The smiley potato all Broken stupid!!’

May 17, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good afternoon,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Smiles. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute Garbage

Absolute Garbage

They taste like nothing, the flavouring congregates where its sprinkled, it doesn't spread.

They taste like neither a crisp or chip...

Avoid...or you'll end up disappointed and hungry...

May 8, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good morning John,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Vibes. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Just decided to switch back to McCains…

Just decided to switch back to McCains Hash Browns after years of having to watch my pennies, what a disappointment. I’ve thought for years about how much I miss McCains Hash Browns, now I’ll never buy them again. They’re awful, soggy, bland and the primary taste is now a horrible budget cooking oil.

April 8, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good morning Matthew,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Hash Browns. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Excellent quality frozen chips

Excellent quality frozen chips
BUT TOO MANY SMALL THIN CHIPS IN BAGS!!!

Rating would have been higher but fir this

April 4, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good morning Alan,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Chips. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Awful.…

I thought I would try the ready Jacket Potatoes, these were absolutely dreadful, the potato tasted like powder, my advice, buy baked potatoes fresh and pop in the microwave for 10 minutes, job done, these are awful...Mc Cains should stick to what they are good at....Fries. profit before quality, this company has gone downhill.

March 5, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good afternoon Steven,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Jackets. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I've used McCain Home Chips for several…

I've used McCain Home Chips for several years, but they seem to have changed the ingredients. They're now described as "fluffy"- in fact the inners are too soft and sloppy and seem more like reconstituted potato than actual whole potato.

March 14, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good afternoon John,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Home Chips. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Won’t be buying again

We have loved McCains roast potatoes for a good few years but suddenly they have hard putty like pieces in them, they are hard and un eatable, not buying them any more. Tescos are more reliable. Hopefully more people will stop buying them then maybe these big companies will stop presuming we will buy any old rubbish!

March 1, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good morning Helen,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Roasts. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Thought I'd give mcains vibes a try

Thought I'd give mcains vibes a try. Not worth the money, they go cold within a couple of minutes and a lot of faffing about preparing. In my opinion your better off with a tube of pringles.

February 26, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good morning Ian,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Vibes. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

An absolute rip off

February 6, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi Zander,

We're sorry to hear about your disappointment. Please could you contact us with the issue and pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

AVOID Their Chips used to be good but are rubbish now

They have definitely changed the makeup of their chips. Are now very dry and powder like and the chips dont cook consistent any more. Went to another make for 2 months and came back to theirs and the chips are utter rubbish. Won't be buying ever again. Im guessing the actual potato content must have decreased .

February 4, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hello Azam,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our chips. Please could you contact us with the product name and pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

From Germany

From Germany: Bought "frites deluxe" a few times and every time the package inside has a very strong smell of plastic and so do smell the fries. They even taste like plastic. Until this isn't fixed, we won't buy them again. We loved them when they were normal.

January 23, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good afternoon Kiara,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our Frites. Please could you contact us with the product name and pack details on https://www.mccain.de/kontakt and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Dealt with admirably!

I recently had cause to complain about a McCains Frozen Jacket Potato product. One of the eight jackets was blemished. The customer services team responded very quickly, fully empathised with the situation, apologised profusely AND sent double the value of the whole pack in vouchers (I could have had a cash transfer if I had wanted). In any business, things do go wrong, and it is the measure of the company how they deal with it. Thank you, McCains, for your excellent response.

January 10, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi Martyn,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. It's great to hear you had a positive experience with our team.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

These were the best but recently have…

These were the best oven chips ,but recently have lost the quality which they had. Don't seem to taste of anything. Taste dry and bland.Will be switching to alternative brand.

January 22, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Good afternoon,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with our chips. Please could you contact us with the product name and pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

McCain Frozen Quick Chips boxes

The quality of microwave Quick Chips has deteriorated. Used to be crisp and fluffy inside but now flat hard bits of potato that taste horrible. I've been buying for years but not anymore. I will have to find something else. It's a shame because they were so handy to microwave. I thought it might be a blip in production line but no, chips have been awful for months.

January 19, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi Eve,

We're sorry to hear about your issue with the Quick Chips. Please could you contact us with the product name and pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent customer service

Recently bought a product and had a problem. Contacted their customer services who were brilliant, took on board the feedback and this was being looked I to and I was reimbursed me for the product that was at fault. I can't recommend them highly enough, well done McCain!

January 17, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi Pip, thank you for sharing your feedback. It's great to hear you had a positive experience with our team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Used to buy these all the time but for…

Used to buy these all the time but for some reason they seem to have become dry and powdery. Will have to look for an alternative sadly.

January 4, 2026
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi RB,

We're sorry to hear about your issue. Please could you contact us with the product name and pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What have McCain done to their oven…

What have McCain done to their oven chips? Used them for years and very happy but the latest bag of Home crinkle cut were absolutely horrible. I've thrown them away now and just won't buy any more. Why do manufacturers tinker with successful products (er, to save money) - but people bought them because they were good so DON'T CHANGE THEM - the same applied to Heinz ketchup (became watery) and Silver Spoon sweeteners (need 3 instead of 2 now) etc etc. So, I will look for a McCain alternative and they have lost me as a customer (as Heinz did, with me preferring Branston beans and being loyal to them instead now,,,,for as long as they don't change....).

December 22, 2025
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi Malcolm,

We're sorry to hear about your experience with our Home Chips Crinkle. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

pizza slices have a weird plastic smell…

pizza slices have a weird plastic smell and chemical taste, would avoid, just googled it and saw recent product recalls due to plastic and metal contamination... how good

December 21, 2025
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi James,

We're sorry to hear about this.

Please could you provide the pack details to https://www.mccain.com.au/get-in-touch/#product-feedback and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

McCain vibes awful powdery stale starch…

McCain vibes awful powdery stale starch taste more powder in the bag than on the product would never buy again love McCain smiles though they are always a smash hit

December 13, 2025
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi Terry,

We're sorry to hear about your experience with our Vibes. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

spent £3 on horrible vibes

spent £3 on a bag of salt and vinigag vibes they were disscusting even my daughter who is a chipaholic did not eat them

December 11, 2025
Unprompted review
McCain Foods logo

Reply from McCain Foods

Hi Tony,

We're sorry to hear about your experience with our Vibes. Please could you contact us with the pack details by email on customerexperience@mccain.co.uk and we'll try to help.

Thanks,
McCain Team.

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