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]
^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). "Chapter 4: Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy". In 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). pp. 120–121. doi:10.17226/25353. ISBN978-0-309-48834-1. PMID30844154. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
