Cold french fries are bad enough. But cold, old french fries are even worse.

That's the surprise from Ronald McDonald that one Illinois couple stumbled upon during home renovations.

On April 16, Rob and Gracie Jones were doing work on their 1959 Crystal Lake home, located about 50 miles northwest of Chicago.

Suddenly, they found a decades-old McDonald's bag behind one wall.

"Rob was in the bathroom replacing the old toilet paper fixture," Gracie told CNN Wednesday, "As he pulled the fixture out, he noticed a rolled up piece of cloth bunched up inside the wall."

The couple had no idea they were about to discover decades-old fast food.

"At this point we're both looking at each other wondering if we'd be calling the police because we just uncovered evidence from a crime scene!" Gracie said, "We were very relieved to have just found the old McDonald's bag."

They then took the bag into their kitchen to carefully open it. Inside they found two hamburger wrappers and some half-eaten, decades-old french fries — that were crispy and brown.

"We saw the fries and were like, 'This is unreal.' How on Earth are these fries still in this bag and how are they preserved so well?! It was wild," Gracie added.

McDonald's fries are usually known for their salty scent, but the couple said there was no smell to these relics.

Gracie said they picked up a few of the fries and were surprised at how sturdy they were, despite their decrepit appearance.

Researching the logo on the bag they discovered, the couple learned it was used in McDonald's production from 1955 to 1961.

They also found out that one of the area's original McDonald's was built down the street from their home in 1959 — the same year their house was built.

The bag even contained the original mascot for the fast-food chain, Speedee.

CNN has contacted McDonald's about the unusual find, and is awaiting comment.

For now, the couple has the ancient meal in storage and aren't sure what to do with it.

"We'd be happy to sell it or if not, we'd probably keep it as a cool piece of history," Gracie said.

MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio  — The McDonald's in Mayfield Heights, Ohio is back in business. The restaurant closed a few months ago for remodeling.

While the restaurant was closed, the long-time owner, Tony Philiou, continued to pay each employee.

“My employees helped me — without them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now,” Philiou said.

Philiou came to the U.S. from Greece in 1947. He was 15 years old.

After serving in the Korean War, he got married, got a full-time job at a factory and bought a house. The house needed work and Philiou needed more money.

The house was just across the street from the then newly-opened McDonald's on Mayfield Road. In 1962, Philiou got a second job at the restaurant. He earned 90 cents per hour.

“The rest is history. Nothing matters to me other than being here, because I belong here,” said Philiou.

Over the next 60 years, he worked hard, moving up the ranks from part-time worker to management, and then owner.

“He treats you like family no matter how long he’s known you. It could be one day, it could be 30 days, it could be three years. He loves the people that work here,” said Mary Conti, a 45-year employee.

Philiou hired Ed Kocsis when he was 15 years old. He is now the general manager.

“It wasn’t the plan originally. It was a job to get me through high school and through college. When I graduated from college, Tony made me an offer and it worked out very well,” said Kocsis.

Philiou, now 90 years old, says he has achieved the American dream.

“Only in this country can this happen,” he said.

This story was originally reported by Tracy Carloss on news5cleveland.com.

The McDonald's employee who was shot at a Brooklyn, New York, restaurant on Monday has reportedly died.

According to WNBC, the alleged shooter and the 23-year-old employee got into an altercation stemming from cold french fries.

Police said they arrested a 20-year-old for the shooting. He is charged with attempted murder and criminal possession. Those charges could be upgraded now that the victim is dead.

An 18-year-old was also arrested in the case. PIX 11 reports that she handed the shooter the weapon and then ran off with it after the shooting.

McDonald's McNuggets are going fowl-free.The Chicago-based fast food giant is introducing plant-based McNuggets next week. Germany will be the first market to get them.McPlant Nuggets, made from peas, corn and wheat with a tempura batter, are the second product McDonald's has co-developed with Beyond Meat, an El Segundo, California-based maker of plant-based meats. McDonald's has been selling a McPlant burger since 2021.McDonald's said the nationwide nugget rollout to more than 1,400 restaurants in Germany follows a limited-time test at nine restaurants in the Stuttgart area in August. McDonald's will also start selling the McPlant burger in Germany next week.Availability of the McPlant nuggets and burgers in future markets will depend on customer demand, McDonald's said.European customers have generally been more receptive to McDonald's plant-based meat products than those in the U.S. The McPlant burger is now a permanent menu item in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands. Last month, McDonald's rolled out the Double McPlant burger in the U.K. and Ireland.But in the U.S., McDonald's ended a test of the McPlant burger last summer without announcing any future plans for its sale.Beyond Meat began selling plant-based chicken in U.S. groceries in 2021. It has also co-developed plant-based tenders and nuggets with other chains, including KFC and Panda Express.

During the lenten season, fish fries become popular destinations on Fridays as many Americans avoid eating meat on these days.

While fish is generally healthy and recommended as part of a balanced diet, frying fish can lead to negative health outcomes, according to Beth Czerwony a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic.

She said supporting local fish fries is a good thing, but she says eating fried food items should be done sparingly.

“It’s not going to necessarily be something that you want to have all the time,” she said. “Now granted, if you have to indulge, it’s once a week, it’s something to support your parish, it’s something different. I don’t think that’s necessarily going to be a problem over the long term. But again, I think just looking at the totality of the frequency of how often you’re eating fried foods really is going to help determine how often you should visit the fish fries.”

Eating any fried foods can lead to increases in weight and cholesterol. With more Americans, especially younger ones, struggling with obesity, Czerwony said it’s important to find ways to cut back on calories wherever you can.

She says, when possible, chose to air fry fish, or cutback on mayonnaise-based condiments.

“If there are other alternatives, or certainly if they’re offering more vegetables, see if you can get a salad or a side of cooked vegetables to complement with the fish and get a little bit more of a balanced plate,” she said.

When prepared without being fried, fish can be one of the healthiest items in a person’s diet.

“I always tell people that kind of the smellier fish, the salmon and the sardines and the tuna, they have more omega three fatty acids, which has been directly correlated to having improved overall heart health,” she said. “But if we’re looking at cod, or tilapia, or Mahi, they’re really rich in calcium and phosphorus. So those are gonna be good for your bones, iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, these are also good to help decrease blood pressures, and they’re going to be good for overall immune function.”

It’s not just fish fries supporting local organizations that become popular this time of year. Even McDonald’s has long gotten in on fish fries.

The Filet-O-Fish was first sold at an Ohio McDonald’s in the 1960s because franchise owner Lou Groen noticed hamburger sales significantly dropped on Fridays during lent.

“Not far down the road was a Frisch’s and during Lent, Frisch’s had great fish sandwiches and they were just kicking his butt in competition,” Erica Shadoin, Groen’s granddaughter, told Scripps News Cincinnati.

Mariah Carey, the queen of Christmas, is partnering with McDonald's and giving her fans one of the best gifts of them all: free(-ish) food.

McDonald's is debuting the "Mariah Menu" next month, in which the fast food chain is giving away a different free menu item each day between Dec. 13 through Dec. 24. The catch is that it requires a $1 minimum purchase and has to be ordered on the McDonald's app.

"Some of my favorite memories with my kids are our family trips to McDonald's, and of course, each of us has our go-to order. Mine is the cheeseburger, and I get it with extra pickles," said Mariah Carey in a press release.

Included on the "Mariah Menu" range from a Big Mac on Dec. 13, pancakes on Dec. 18 and chocolate chip cookies on Christmas Eve.

McDonald's had a similar promotion last year, when it gave away fictional Christmas characters' favorite foods each day for much of December. This year, McDonald's said it's kicking up its popular celebrity collaboration because the 11-day long event is "more than just a meal, it's a whole menu, fit for one of the best-selling female artists of all time."

Celebrity meal deals have been hugely successful for McDonald's, which has partnered with singers BTS, Saweetie, Travis Scott and J Balvin over the past year and a half.

The company recently said that in the three months ending on Sept. 30, sales at global restaurants open at least 13 months jumped 12.7% compared to the same period last year, partially because of the celebrity meals.

The meals, along with the Christmas promotion, all use existing ingredients or menu items — creating buzz without adding much extra work for employees. It also entices people to come in and likely spend more than the $1 required to get the free food.

Rivals have taken note, too. Burger King launched a celebrity-endorsed menu in September. The burger chain has eliminated 120 artificial ingredients from its food, so the meals use singer's real names instead of their better known stage names.

Most recently, Shake Shack announced Wednesday it has partnered with NBA player Klay Thompson for the "Klay Trey," a meal that includes a chicken sandwich, fries and a chocolate shake sold exclusively on Uber Eats. Also on Wednesday, Tim Horton's partnered with Canada's own Justin Bieber for the launch of a limited-edition selection of "Timbiebs Timbits" donuts.

The “chicken wars” may be heating up again in the fast-food industry.

McDonald’s announced Tuesday that it will soon be introducing spicy chicken nuggets to its menu, an item popularized by competitor Wendy’s.

McDonald’s says it will start offering both Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce in the United States starting on September 16.

“Breaded with a sizzling tempura coating made of both cayenne and chili peppers, these craveable, dippable and downright-delicious Spicy Chicken McNuggets are joining our classic McNugget line up, and pack plenty of spice and flavor into each bite,” wrote McDonald’s in a press release.

The spicy nuggets and sauce will only be available for a limited time and at participating restaurants.

“This is the first time we’ve introduced a new flavor of our classic Chicken McNuggets in the U.S. since they came to menus in 1983,” said Vice President of Menu Innovation, Linda VanGosen.

The fast-food chain says the Mighty Hot Sauce is its first new sauce since 2017 and it will be the hottest one available at its restaurants.

“For those who care to dial up the heat, we’ve crafted our new Mighty Hot Sauce, boasting a powerful blend of crushed red peppers and spicy chilis,” said McDonald’s.

Additionally, McDonald’s says it will start selling a new McFlurry made with Chips Ahoy!

“This delicious treat features vanilla soft-serve, caramel topping and Chips Ahoy! cookie pieces blended throughout,” said McDonalds.

The Chips Ahoy! McFlurry will also be available for a limited time starting Sept. 16, in snack and regular sizes.

SOUTHGATE, Mich. — A McDonald’s manager is being credited with saving the life of a man who went into diabetic shock in Michigan.

It started as a typical September day for Susan Causey, she had just pulled in to pick up her husband from the senior center in Southgate when the red flags went up.

"I could tell just by the way he was walking to the car that something was wrong. So, when he got in the car, he couldn't even talk," she said.

Causey's husband has diabetes. His sugar was dropping, and she knew she had to act fast.

"When you're a diabetic, you can drop so fast. You can go from shock to coma, and I knew he was at a very close point of coma," said Causey.

She said the closest place she could think of to get her husband help quickly was McDonald's. She pulled into the fast-food restaurant. The indoor section was closed, and there was a line of cars, but as soon as she got to the speaker, she yelled, "'I need a large orange juice. Can you please have someone run it out to me? My husband is in diabetic shock,'" she recounted.

Inside, workers turned to manager James Dalpiaz for help.

"I ran. And I said, 'I got it. I got it. I got it. I know what to do.' So, I'm pouring sugar in there. And they said, 'Oh, she only asked for orange juice.' And I said, 'I know what I'm doing, just trust me,'" said Dalpiaz.

You see, Dalpiaz's aunt also has diabetes, and he knew just what to do. Instinct kicked in. He ran out to Causey and her husband carrying an orange juice loaded with sugar.

"I didn't even think to tell him to put sugar in it. You know, when stuff like this happens, I don't care how many times it happens, I always get shook up," said Causey. "You've got to react pretty quick to it. And he did. So, he's my little hero forever."

Causey said because of her husband’s other health issues, the day could have really turned into a disaster if it weren’t for Dalpiaz. She went on Facebook later that day to give him a shoutout on a community page. And the response was overwhelming.

"I'm really humbled by all the responses I'm getting because I'm kind of shy guy, so I feel like I don't deserve it, you know, I'm just doing what was right," said Dalpiaz.

It’s that quick-thinking kindness that Causey and her husband won’t soon forget.

"I think there was an angel on my husband's shoulder that day ... it's weird how it all panned out," she said.

This story was originally published by Alexandra Bahou at WXYZ.

HAMILTON, Ohio — A man was killed early this morning in Hamilton while crossing a street near a busy intersection, according to police.

The 46-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle about 5:45 a.m. on Witt Way. The road is near railroad tracks and behind the McDonald’s on High Street and Martin King Jr. Boulevard (Route 127).

The crash remains under investigation, according to Sgt. Rich Burkhardt. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.

The Journal-News is a media partner of WCPO 9 News.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Plant-based food company Beyond Meat will be partnering with several fast-food chains in the coming years to expand to products that could eventually include a plant-based burger, chalupa or toppings on a stuffed-crust pizza.

Beyond Meat on Thursday announced distribution agreements with McDonald’s as well as Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

The California-based food company says will develop plant-based products for all the restaurants, with exclusive menu items for each brand.

Last year, KFC previewed Beyond Fried Chicken products at a few locations. In late 2019, McDonald's carried the Beyond Burger at a few locations in Ontario, Canada.

Last summer, Starbucks started offering plant-based meat products from Beyond Meat's competitor, Impossible Foods.

McDonald's will launch its first-ever nationwide loyalty program July 8. It's aimed at expanding McDonald's customer base and enticing existing patrons to be more loyal in the highly competitive world of fast food.The program, called MyMcDonald's Rewards, is only available on its app and gives customers 100 points for every dollar spent. People who sign up will automatically get 1,500 points after their first order using the program, which is enough points for a chicken sandwich, cheeseburger or a vanilla cone.Once customers collect 3,000 points, they can be redeemed for 6-piece chicken nuggets or a large iced coffee. Large fries or a Filet-O-Fish can be redeemed at 4,500 points and a Big Mac or a Happy Meal is free at 6,000 points.MyMcDonald's Rewards was first announced last November as part of its new digital initiatives that includes automated order taking and express pickup lanes for people who placed digital orders. McDonald's currently offers a limited rewards program for coffee on its app. That deal is being rolled into the broader loyalty program.Ultimately, the goal for McDonald's and other brands with loyalty programs is to increase sales and lure in customers, ideally on a daily basis, by giving them reasons to choose them over their competitors. The programs also give restaurant owners access to customers' data and ordering habits that help target diners with customized deals.McDonald's largest rivals, including Burger King, Chipotle, Starbucks and Wendy's all offer loyalty programs. Executives at those chains all have credited their respective programs for boosting sales and downloads of their apps.

McDonald's plans to raise hourly wages for employees in its company-owned stores in the United States.

On Thursday, the fast-food chain announced that wages for entry-level employees would rise to at least $11 - $17 an hour.

For shift managers, their wages would rise to at least $15 - $20 an hour based on the restaurant's location.

“Our first value is taking care of our people, and today we are rewarding our hardworking employees in McDonald-owned restaurants for serving our communities,” said Joe Erlinger, President McDonald’s USA, in a press release. “These actions further our commitment to offering one of the leading pay and benefits packages in the industry.”

McDonald's said they plan to raise the average hourly wage for its company-owned restaurants in phases.

"Some restaurants have, or will, reach an average hourly wage of $15 an hour in 2021, and average hourly wages are expected to reach $15 an hour by 2024," the company said.

The company also announced they plan to hire 10,000 new employees over the next three months.