McDonald's runs out of French fries in Venezuela, switches to deep-fried yuca root

CARACAS, Venezuela – Forget the French fries. How about a side of yuca (YOO-kuh) with that Big Mac?

Venezuela's more than 100 McDonald's franchises have run out of potatoes and are now serving alternatives like deep-fried arepa flatbreads or yuca, a starchy staple of the country's traditional cooking.

McDonald's franchisers blame a contract dispute with West Coast dock workers for halting the export of frozen fries to the country, though Venezuela is the only country in the region to be affected so far.

Many Venezuelans, though, assume the shortage is one of many caused by government currency controls.

The U.S. Potato Board says overall Venezuelan imports of frozen fries have dropped sharply this year.