Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IT’S MORE SLOW food than fast food, but there’s good news for porridge-lovers in need of a quick fix.
Well-known Irish brand Flahavan’s porridge oats are to be sold in the 84 McDonald’s fast food restaurants across Ireland.
McDonald’s says it already sells around 100,000 portions of porridge in Ireland every year – working out at around 274 portions per day – and says it wants to more than double this to 250,000 per year over the next five years.
Flahavan’s have been milling oats at the family mill in Waterford since around 1785 and the company has expanded significantly over the past decade.
Porridge has become increasingly popular in recent years – perhaps to the surprise of older generations who relied on it as a cheap and plentiful staple which was especially welcome on cold days.
British sandwich chain Pret A Manger has been selling porridge for several years, while McDonald’s rivals Burger King added oatmeal to its breakfast menu two years ago.
John Flahavan of – unsurprisingly – Flahavan’s said the company was looking forward to working with McDonald’s, while McDonald’s Ireland said the company was “committed to supporting the Irish agri-food sector”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Well I work in Flahavans factory, I eat porridge every morning, very good for you, we do lots of different types of porridge,from apple and raisin to strawberry pots, multiseed, hi8 musli is also lovely don’t forget to try our flapjacks aswell, it will be good to go into Mcdonalds and choose a healthy breakfast,
John running a tight ship I see Pamela
Pamela as a Waterford man it pains me that you do not do a gluten free product. I have to turn to foreign produce which is a real shame.
They are working on that all the time, my aunt is the same she is always asking me about it, it is a pity to have to buy it outside, but I do no they are the hole time working on that,
As per the Codex Standard: all commercial oats and oats on sale in health shops in Ireland are contaminated. Aldi porridge even though it stipulates ‘gluten free’ it is contaminated as well. Wheat Starch is not gluten free unless it is Codex Alimentarius Standard, specialist gluten free products are made with this special grade of wheat starch which has had the gluten removed. You will have to stick to the spelt alternative for the moment. http://www.econatural.ie do a spelt one which is not bad.
Thanks Paul very informative indeed. It is Tesco I turn to actually and have had no problems ( touch wood) :-)))
Pamela hope that will happen sooner rather than later.
Regards
I gather you are going for the Kelkin GF Porridge, it reminds me of the porridge as a kid – turn the bowl upside down and mix cement. The spelt one sticks better. I wonder where Kelkin is purchasing their non-contaminated oaks from, since as it is manufactured in Ireland!
Under new European Union food labeling rules, only foods that contain less than 20 parts of gluten per million (ppm) will be allowed to use the term “gluten-free” on their packaging. Previously, a food with this label could have contained up to 10 times more than this. This came into law from January 1st 2012. All products within the Kelkin gluten free range comply with these standards, but alas they still contain gluten.
Many ‘gluten’ intolerant people eat Flahavan’s even though they do not have the ‘gf’ badge of approval. Google it.
It seems to be popular to criticise McDonald’s.There’s nothing wrong with having something to eat there now and again,even athletes do.It’s all about personal responsibility.
athletes do it when they are paid money to,
Didn’t Paul Scholes eat at McDonald’s everyday for years?
They’re going to sell it? I had a Flavahan’s in the Grafton St branch this morning, thought it had been on breakfast menu for a while.
It’s in Wexford too.
Comes with fries and a drink.
Probably.
Wouldn’t mind if McDonald’s did ‘fries’ for breakfast… with black pudding and all.
Pret a manger, now there’s a proper sarnie shop!
Wish they were here. If you’re ever over and get the chance, try one.
Love Pret a Manger, always go there when visit Britain, top quality food. Hope they will open here sometime soon.
Going to Mc Donald’s for porridge is like going to a prostitute an asking for a hug
Would it not be more welcome on a cold day?! Why would you want a bowl of hot porridge on a warm day- that sounds like the opposite of what i would want. I have never been on the beach half burnt to sunder in me shorts and thought ” jeez i cant wait for a roasting hot bowl of porridge now”
It has its health advantages and is not just to warm you up on a cold day!
Anyone remember the flahavans track suits?
Wow, that was an especially dumb brain freeze. Ta for the heads up Janey Johnson – I’ve fixed that now but at least it will be forever immortalised in the comments.
I even had a nice bowl of porridge this morning because it was so cold. Fail.
Laughs *flicks hair as he does so*
@Paul – laughs – eggs don’t have hair
I went into a French conversation class in the Alliance on one of the coldest December mornings of that particular year and told everyone in impeccable French that it was roasting hot outside!
Porridge is the only stuff to have in the morning, none of that fancy sugar filled stuff thats marketed at people.
Flavahan’s porridge rules, didn’t have it for years as it used to be literally force fed to us as kids, but now I welcome it every morning. Definitely worth trying Flahavan’s Crunchy Oat Raisin & Sultanas. For all those who haven’t eaten porridge in Years, give it a go, or make flapjacks from whats left.
Will they be adding Sugar ?
I’m sure the milk will have sugar added.
They are already in mc donalds and they do add sugar and dried milk and a few other ingredients they are actually really high in calories.
That’s great news. I had no idea they sold it at all…
I love porridge its yummy!!!!!
Good news for the Waterford factory… helping to keep jobs secured.
Anyone tried the Kilbeggan organic oats ? Some creamy stuff I tell ya !
Nothing good every came out of kilbeggan…
My dad is from Kilbeggan.
*awkward silence*
Kilbeggan whiskey is good.
Tis. And the racecourse is great. And the people, obviously.
Steady on there, the whiskey is by no means good. The racecourse is ok. The people… well awkward silence as you say…
Porridge has been on sale in all stores for over 3 years now, longer in some, the only new thing is swappin from Quaker to Flahavans, which again happened a few months back.
not yet in my local one I’m afraid.
good idea, a bowl of porridge is good at anytime of the day. The only edible thing they have is their chicken salad but its not great, very bland.
SHAME …MCDonald,s …NANNY STATE WINS AGAIN,
This is the first time I’ve ever seen “nanny state” used outside the Daily Mail. What’s next, “‘elf and safety”?
McDonalds aren’t going to sell porridge because the government tells them to. They’re going to sell it if people buy it, and discontinue it otherwise.
I HATE the word yummy!!
I hate when people go ‘mmmmmmm’ when they’re eating
Yummy Treat: Make some Sticky Flapjacks from Flahavan’s
Ingredients: 250g x Flahavans Oats, 100g x butter (or margarine), 100g x soft brown sugar, 75g golden syrup, 1 x tsp ground spice mix. Equipment: Cake tin, sauce pan, grease proof paper
Pre-heat the oven to 180c/350f/g4
Add the butter, sugar and syrup into the sauce pan and heat gently over a hob
When the mixture has melted remove from the heat, add the mixed spice and oats and stir well until the oats are covered. Line the cake tin with some grease proof paper so when it’s cooked you can easily remove the flap jacks to cool.
Spoon into the cake tin and flatten with the back of a spoon or fork
Bake for 25 minutes or until it turns golden brown
Remove from the cake tin, allow to cool, cut into squares, serve and enjoy!
sounds nice, must try it.
I made some today with oats, dates, apricots,raisins and mixed seeds. Mash two bananas in with a bit of melted honey, binds it all together. Lighter alternative to sugar and Golden syrup etc
Finally they decided to sell something healthy…
Good to see McDonald’s doing their bit for the economy and for our health!
I love Flahavan’s porridge oats with 20% added bran made with milk , but I wouldn’t go to McDonalds for it
Who goes to Macky D’s and gets porridge?! You don’t go to Macky D’s for health and vigour. But they will probably add sugar to it and offer it with smarties and M&M toppings.
Mc slop!
It isn’t as healthy as the porridge you make yourself there is a lot of additives in with the oats. Word of warning!
As an organic farmer, I disagree, they do a pretty good job.
So Porridge will be bad for you once McDonalds buy it????
If I see someone eating porridge on the Luas I won’t be responsible for what I do
I prefer Odlums porridge myself.
there’s always one!
Finally, something healthy!
Great news, I bring the small packets with me when I go abroad, maybe it will catch on globally .
I’ve seen it in Insomnia too, lovely stuff :)
Lyons the quality tea !
I love porridge .
Its delicious and only €2…
I get it most mornings with my tea in mcdonalds and it’s lovely.
Oh yes please. Cheaper than my local places, too.
Hopefully you can get a little thing of jam with it.
Sorry! But who the f#@k goes to McDonald’s for a bowl of porridge?
It’s on the breakfast menu.
So the same people who go into McDonalds for coffee in the morning, or pancakes. People who work places that open earlier than anyone else (or people coming off the night shift) who want something warm first thing in the morning before coffee shops or deli counters open.
Who goes for a salad or a coffee /Tea ?
Dont worry they will f@#k with it someway. It will be the unhealthiest porridge in the world.
have your say