Beyond Fried Chicken
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

Beyond Fried Chicken, Kentucky Fried Miracle or KFC Chicken Nuggets are a food product sold by the international fast food chain KFC. In August 2019, El Segundo, California-based Beyond Meat partnered with KFC for a plant-based chicken flavour nugget. It is the first fast-food chain to introduce a plant-based meat replacement after partnering with Beyond Meat.[3]

Product

The company decided to replace chicken with a plant-based meat-like product. One version is pea-protein mixed with soy, rice flour, carrot fiber, yeast extract, vegetable oil, salt, onion and garlic powder.[4] Nuggets and boneless wings are offered. It was released in US with prices, depending on pack size, ranging from $6 to $12.[5]

History

KFC launched the plant-based food with the help of Beyond Meat in response to customer requests.[6][7]

A KFC restaurant in Atlanta first tested a product called "Beyond Fried Chicken" in 2019. The product sold out in five hours, selling more than a week's worth of popcorn chicken. A tweet by KFC after the sell out called it a "Kentucky Fried Miracle".[6]

Reaction

PETA praised KFC's decision and said that "We’re hopeful that KFC’s Beyond Fried Chicken test marks a new era for the company and that when it sees how much consumers value animals’ lives, it will work to make changes in its supply chain as well".[8]

Comparison with chicken nuggets

The Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets are reportedly better for the environment than chicken nuggets.[4]

The Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets contain fewer calories and less fat than KFC's chicken nuggets and about the same amount of sodium.[4] However, nutritionists say they should still not be regarded as healthy.[4][9]

References

  1. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154.
  3. ^ "KFC is testing plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken and it sold out in less than five hours". USA TODAY.
  4. ^ a b c d Landsverk, Gabby. "KFC now has meatless 'chicken' made from wheat protein, but a nutritionist said it's not much healthier than the original". INSIDER.
  5. ^ "KFC trials plant-based nuggets and wings". Farming Independent. 27 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b Taylor, Derrick Bryson (August 28, 2019). "What Sandwich War? KFC Sells Out of Plant-Based 'Chicken' in Atlanta". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "KFC is testing a new fried chicken that isn't made out of chicken". TODAY.com. 30 January 2020.
  8. ^ "KFC tests out vegan plant-based 'chicken' nuggets and wings". Metro. August 27, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-09-04.
  9. ^ Al-Heeti, Abrar. "Whole Foods CEO dismisses plant-based meat as 'super-highly processed foods'". CNET.
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