This week, KFC made headlines around the world when it tested Beyond Meat’s plant-based nuggets and boneless wings at a single KFC restaurant in Atlanta. The test appeared to be a resounding success, as there were long line-ups to try the new meat-free product and it sold out in five hours.
Less well-known are KFC’s plans to test the nuggets in Canada, which were revealed to the Daily Hive by a KFC Canada spokesperson:
“KFC Canada is cooking up a new plant-based creation of our own in our Canadian kitchen with our world-renowned craveable taste… We plan to test in select restaurants by the end of 2019 with a national launch in 2020.”
Of course, this is just the latest in a stunning number of plant-based product launches in recent years. Just about everyone has heard of Beyond Burgers and Impossible Burgers, but food companies (including meat companies) have been introducing meatless alternatives to bacon, sausages, ground beef and chicken nuggets at an astonishing pace around the world.
This is good news for anyone seeking to replace these fast-food staples with meat-free products. (The KFC nuggets and wings, like all Beyond Meat products are derived from plants – in this case, with soy protein, pea protein, rice flour, carrot fiber, yeast extract, vegetable oils, stabilizing agents and seasoning like salt, onion powder and garlic powder.) However, a healthy, balanced diet is not one based solely on burgers and nuggets. As dietitians and nutritionists frequently remind us, a whole-foods, plant-based diet, with lots of fresh vegetables, grains and legumes is much healthier. Beyond Burgers, they say, should be an occasional treat.
Nevertheless, the plant-based revolution that appears to be taking place in the fast-food industry should be welcomed. It’s that industry that is supplied by factory farms, where billions of animals are confined to a life of suffering before going to slaughter. Every plant-based KFC nugget that replaces a meat nugget means fewer chickens will need to be slaughtered.
For more information on switching to a plant-based diet, visit our Plant-Based Plates page.