Secret Revealed: The Truth About KFC’s New Menu Change

Plenty of restaurants in Western New York, whether they are local or chain, have made this adjustment to their menu. Now we can add Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) to the list.

The change officially debuted on Monday, January 10th, as KFCs across Western New York and the country adopted vegan tenders as part of a permanent food option at their restaurant.

The vegan tenders are made with Beyond Meat, meaning that now you have another option to go with your vegetarian or vegan friends. 

Kentucky Fried Chicken first tested their vegan “chicken” with Beyond Meat about three years ago, using a location in Atlanta, GA for the test trial. A few more locations received the product in 2020, and now the company will offer the fried “chicken” (made of pea protein) to everyone they can!

The Beyond Fried Chicken can be ordered as a 6-piece or 12-piece and be made into a combo meal.

However, there is one thing that people seem to forget to mention: depending on how serious of a vegan you or your friends are, you won’t be able to eat this vegan substitute. 

Since the product is brand new, KFC does not have a designated fryer for their vegan tenders, meaning that while the recipes for the chicken and fries are fully vegan, the preparation cannot be guaranteed vegan due to equipment cross-contamination with meat and animal products. 

KFC has always wanted to implement a product like this, and it seems like vegan products are on the rise in both local restaurants and chain restaurants in Western New York. 

“The mission from day one was simple – make the world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken from plants,” President of KFC U.S Kevin Hochman said. “Over two years later we can say, ‘mission accomplished.’”