LET'S TALK CHICKEN
We've heard a lot of creative chicken chatter in our time and you probs have too. So let's find out what's fact and what's just straight up fiction
This would actually be funny if so many of you didn't actually think it was true….
The Internet is good for lots of things: cat videos, memes, and imaginative urban legends, like the KFC mutant chicken myth. This myth has been spread over several decades by a widely circulated email hoax, which claimed that KFC meat came from “mutant chicken” with extra legs and no beaks.
Um, what?
Just to set the record straight - no mutated or genetically modified chickens are involved in making our delicious KFC chicken. In fact, we're pretty sure mutant chickens don't exist. That's just weird.
You don't need to be a Colonel to know that making great fried chicken starts with great chickens.
So the answer to the question, “Does KFC use artificial hormones or steroids?” is a resounding “No way!”.
In fact, we go further, and demand high levels of animal welfare standards from our chicken suppliers, all of whom are required to be members of the Australian Chicken Meat Federation and to strictly follow the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, Domestic Poultry.
So you can rest assured, the chicken you eat at KFC is free of any added hormones, steroids or any other bad stuff!
Umm.. you know the 'C' in KFC still stands for chicken, right?
Yeah, this one doesn't even make that much sense.
There are some who think that we're not allowed to use the word “chicken” anymore because of a false rumour that we use genetically modified chicken. Are you ready…? Chicken, chicken, chicken. Yep, definitely not true.
In fact, we probably changed our name to KFC because it's shorter and easier. Imagine trying to say “Man, I could really go for some Kentucky Fried Chicken right now” on an empty stomach!
Ha! You wish.
One of the biggest trade secrets in the world is the Colonel's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices - it's so secret that not even the company that produces the blend knows the exact formula!
The spice blend is shipped from different locations in the United States before the final blending so no one ever knows all the ingredients.
Very very very few people in the entire world know the actual secret, so if someone claims they do… well they're probably lying to impress you, soz.
Hang on, what!?
Oh man, surely this is a joke entry. No? We actually have to explain why spider chickens aren't a thing? Oh boy…
Of all the crazy hoaxes about KFC, this one takes the cake. There are some who believe we use genetically modified chickens with eight legs and six wings - a spider chicken, if you will
And so, just to be super clear - KFC does not and never will use spider chickens. Spider chickens are not real. (Can't believe we just got to use that sentence for a legit reason. What a time to be alive).
Yep, he was real. And what a guy he was.
Okay we can understand this one. The man, the myth, the legend singlehandledly responsible for delivering delicious fried joy to millions of people around the world every day… it's no wonder Colonel Sanders' life has taken on a fairy-tale quality.
But trust us, he's as real as it gets. In 1930, in a humble service station in Corbin, Kentucky, 40-year old Harland Sanders began feeding hungry travellers. His delicious fried chicken was a hit and he continued to expand his empire until he sold the franchise in 1964, while remaining the face of the company.
So next time you're munching on your delicious KFC, raise a drumstick to the great man himself - Colonel Sanders, as real as you and I.
Keepin' it fresh.
This is an easy one. We're known for having the world's best fried chicken, and there's just no way we could have that reputation if it wasn't fresh.
At least 97% of our chicken-on-the-bone, fillets and strips are regularly delivered fresh (not frozen) into our restaurants from reputable Aussie chicken suppliers like Inghams, Steggles and Golden Farms.
The Colonel was famous for having high standards, and we do everything we can to live up to them and make him proud. This includes ensuring that after our food is cooked, it's only held hot for a specified, short length of time. If it isn't sold before the holding time expires, it's taken off the shelf - so to speak - and withdrawn from sale to make sure you get the best and freshest chicken, always.
Yep! Guess this one's true.
What started as one man selling fried chicken from a service station in Kentucky has grown into a global franchise with tens of thousands of restaurants. And in the same way every culture has its own unique charms and customs, so too does each KFC have its own menu items formulated specifically for each market.
In Singapore, you could order a delicious chicken congee for brekky (a local hit!). Or in India, they've got the Veg Zinger to cater to the predominantly vegetarian population. And who could forget that time KFC China brought out the Shrimp Burger?
If you've got your heart set on something from overseas (and don't want to travel all that way), then fear not! There's always a chance it might make its way onto our menus Down Under. In fact, our beloved Double was actually first released in the United States. We returned the favour and sent them our classic Zinger Burger in 2017 (except they call it a Zinger Sandwich over there… because sandwiches there are apparently very different to what we would call a sanga).
Nah… proudly supporting Aussie farmers all the way!
Honestly, it'd be pretty silly (and probably more expensive!) for us to import our ingredients when there's just so much fresh produce right here in Oz! We're committed to supporting Aussie farmers which means sourcing locally wherever we can.
All of our chicken comes from Aussie poultry farms and most of our fresh produce - such as our lettuce and tomatoes - is grown right here, as is the flour we use to make our burger buns, tortillas and dinner rolls.
The potatoes we use to make our famous chips generally come from Tassie and Victoria and the high-oleic canola oil we use for cooking them is also Australian-grown. Sometimes due to low cropping levels (e.g. caused by bad weather), we might need to source stuff from overseas, but it's not often and it's always temporary.