A Michigan-based bar and restaurant chain plans to change the name of its "Crack Fries" in January to distance itself from a word associated with the drug epidemic.
A post on HopCat's website by BarFly Ventures CEO Mark Gray says the recipe and ingredients of its seasoned fries will stay the same.
He notes, however, the company's "vision for creating an inclusive company ... is not compatible" with the old name.
A new name will be announced later.
Gray says HopCat picked the "Crack Fries" name more than a decade ago "as a reference to the addictive quality of the fries and their cracked pepper seasoning, without consideration for those the drug negatively affected."
Gray says the crack epidemic "is not funny and never was."
"We want to thank our guests, employees and community members who have helped us come to this realization," he wrote, "and apologize for the pain the name brought to others."
He warned "transitioning to a new name will not happen overnight" and said a company-wide menu reprint is planned for mid-January.
