Onion Rings > Onion Chips
Today is National Onion Rings Day, when we celebrate the often-forgotten cousin to the French fry.
For me, the perfect onion ring is one that, when you take a bite out of it, the strand of the onion slice easily slides out of the crispy, deep-fried coating. And after you enjoy that slightly spicy piece of naked onion, you bask in the enjoyment of scooping up ketchup with the empty outer coating.
But did you know that there’s a federal law that ensures that consumers have that same experience? Yes, it’s crime to sell onion rings resembling normal onion rings but made from diced onion without informing consumers.
According to the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR § 102.39(a) – “Onion rings made from diced onion”):
§ 102.39 Onion rings made from diced onion.
(a) The common or usual name of the food product that resembles and is of the same composition as onion rings, except that it is composed of comminuted onions, shall be as follows:
(1) When the product is composed of dehydrated onions, the name shall be “onion rings made from dried diced onions.”
(2) When the product is composed of any form of onion other than dehydrated, the name shall be “onion rings made from diced onions.”
My favorite place to enjoy onion rings is White Castle. Unfortunately, not all White Castles sell onion rings. Those that don’t sell onion rings instead sell onion chips. Onion rings aren’t onion chips. Onion chips, basically bits and pieces of friend onion petals, are far inferior to onion rings.
But it appears that White Castle believes that onion rings and onion chips are interchangeable, identifying “Onion Rings/Onion Chips” (a singular, combined menu item) as “A side of oniony goodness.”
Such bait-and-switch of fried onions hasn’t caused me this much food consternation since my attempt to reconcile the differences between Somoa and Caramel DeLite cookies.
I even went as far as to Tweet the company: “@WhiteCastle inquiring minds want to know – why do some restaurants have onion chips, while others have onion rings? And what is the ratio?” I received no response from headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. I didn’t even receive a single retweet or like by similar onion ring connoisseurs.
So, what does this have to do with the bar exam?
Absolutely nothing. Just enjoy National Onion Rings Day.
