traditionally, when the plastic serving tray isnt available, many Americans will flatten and smooth out the brown paper McDonald's bag where they will place the french fries in a pile and dedicate a separate area of the bag to a serving or two of ketchup. Often times this method of serving McDonald's fries is communal, especially when enjoyed by family groups or bonded American pairs (see: dating). However, if the burger is served in a cardboard clamshell, many Americans can be seen using the top of the clamshell as a dedicated ketchup receptacle for nuggets and fries. There does exist a small, often alienated population, who will drizzle the ketchup directly on top of the french fries. But this is often considered taboo and poor form due to convivence and the uneven distribution of ketchup.
