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WORLD NEWSWednesday 4 November

McDonald’s French fries return to Venezuela after 10 months

A customer glances at a McDonalds’ banner menu showing a burger accompanied by arepas McDonald’s franchises sive than the starchy
or corn cakes, instead of fries, in Caracas, Venezuela. Fast food lovers in shortage-plagued Ven- once again after the side yuca alternative. And or-
ezuela are rejoicing they can once again buy French fries at McDonald’s franchises after the side dish went missing last win- dered on their own rather
dish went missing last winter. Sonia Ruseler, an Argentina-based spokeswoman for Arcos Dora- ter. than in a combo, they
dos, which runs McDonald’s restaurants in Latin America, says the company was able to bring the McDonald’s rolled out cost nearly as much as a
fries back by sourcing potatoes locally. the fries’ comeback on basic McDonald’s ham-
Monday with an ad cam- burger here. The fries cost
(AP Photo/Fernando Llano) paign including a count- 64 cents at Venezuela’s
down on social media black market rate, but
HANNAH DREIER CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) age-plagued Venezuela and large banners invit- $79 at the strongest of
Associated Press — Fast food lovers in short- are enjoying french fries at ing customers to swap the country’s several of-
their fried yuca, a root ficial rates. Venezuela’s
crop also known as cas- widespread and worsen-
sava, for the real thing. ing shortages are driven
Office workers in line to in part by the country’s
buy lunch at franchise in tight currency controls,
downtown Caracas ea- which make it hard to get
gerly asked one another if dollars for imports. Potato
the fries were really back imports fell 85 percent in
as they waited to make 2014, before McDonald’s
their orders. took fries off the menu at
“The customers have its more than 100 Venezu-
been coming in really ex- ela locations in January.
cited. But when we tell The company was able
them the price, not so to bring the fries back this
much,” cashier Yefferson month by sourcing pota-
Romero said. toes locally, according to
While fries used to cost Sonia Ruseler, an Argenti-
the same as any other na-based spokeswoman
side, they’re now about for Arcos Dorados, which
20 percent more expen- runs McDonald’s restau-
rants in Latin America.
Argentine minister disowns tweet in election row Some customers specu-
lated Tuesday that the
P. PRENGAMAN dirty campaign that un- 25 years of experience in tinue (to be open) if Scioli is timing was suspect. Ven-
Associated Press derscored the intensifying public hospitals, he would president. Think about your ezuela is four weeks away
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina rhetoric ahead of a runoff. never mix politics with the vote.” from hotly contested na-
(AP) — Argentina’s health “I categorically deny pub- pain that cancer causes Daniel Scioli, the chosen tional elections in which
minister on Tuesday denied lishing that expression of patients. successor of President Cris- the ruling socialist party
posting a tweet warning poor taste,” said Health The tweet from Gollan’s ac- tina Fernandez, and op- may suffer its first ma-
that cancer centers would Minister Daniel Gollan in a count was published Mon- position leader Mauricio jor electoral defeat. The
only remain open if the rul- statement released Tues- day afternoon and has Macri, will square off in a government has been im-
ing party kept control of day. since been deleted. Nov. 22 runoff after both plementing a number of
the presidency, unleash- Gollan said his account It said: “The 12 new cen- candidates failed to garner policies in recent weeks
ing a torrent of claims by had been hacked. He add- ters for radiation therapy enough votes to win in the to please consumers, in-
the opposition about a ed that as a doctor with to treat cancer will con- first round last month.q cluding forcing retailers
to lower prices.q