FACT CHECK: Facebook Image Makes Claim About McDonald’s French Fries, Bill Gates

An image shared on Facebook claims McDonald’s french fries come exclusively from potatoes grown on farmland owned by Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.

Verdict: False

The claim is false. A spokesperson for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

Gates’ California-based startup Savor has created a butter alternative using synthetic fat, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, according to ZME Science. Gates can be seen eating the butter in a video shared on YouTube, the outlet reported.

The image, which has received over 1,000 likes as of writing, claims McDonald’s french fries come exclusively from potatoes grown on farmland owned by Gates. “In case you didn’t know every single McDonald’s french fry comes exclusively from potatoes grown on Bill Gates-owned farmland,” a text phrase written on the image reads. The image does not provide a source to support its claim.

The claim is false, however. A June 2021 article from NBC News indicates Gates and his now ex-wife, Melinda Gates own more than 269,000 acres of farmland across the U.S., including more than 14,000 acres of farmland in Washington State. The Gates’ farmland in Washington State also includes potato fields and some of the potatoes grown there “are processed into french fries for McDonald’s,” according to the outlet, who cited data from the Land Report.

Likewise, according to McDonald’s website, 100 Circle Farms, the farmland owned by Gates, is just one of the fast food restaurant chain’s potato suppliers. The website references a quote from the same June 2021 NBC News article which states the potatoes are “so big they’re visible from space.” McDonald’s website names Frank Martinez and Jenn Bunger as two other potato suppliers. (RELATED: Has Bill Gates Launched A Dairy Alternative Called ‘Maggot Milk?’)

In addition, the claim is neither referenced on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s website, nor the Microsoft founder’s verified social media accounts. Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim, either. Actually, the opposite is true. On July 11, PolitiFact reported the claim was false.

Furthermore, a spokesperson for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

“To your inquiry, this claim is false,” the same spokesperson said.

Check Your Fact has also contacted McDonald’s for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.